cupcakes do think pink

"To the Moon, Alice!"

2009-01-13T06:55:00.003Z

With now just a few months away, the clocks are ticking and the nail biting has turned to gnawing for poor little Soos. Wedding planning is never fun, so let's skip that part and talk about what really matters, the honeymoon.

It's not as easy as you think. If you've always known where you've wanted to go on your honeymoon, then bravo - that's half the problem sorted. If you're a bit like me and you want to go everywhere, then you may face some little difficulties in your planning. I know you may be thinking "What do you mean? You've got three months left and you haven't booked your honeymoon?!" Like I said, it's not as easy as you think. A lot of thought has to go into a honeymoon, you've literally got the whole world to pick so its easy to lose sight of what it is you need. Honeymoons are very personal, it has to be carefully planned to suit the needs of the couple, be it relaxation, adventure, romance or even just plain old fun. (Also, never criticize a bride to be, it can only go two ways: the bride breathing in a paper bag or yourself on the receiving end of ABH)

First of all to consider is timing: The bride and groom are in much need of a holiday after the crazies of the wedding and they really just want to go anywhere so long as it's far, far away from family, florists and tear jerking speeches. So do you leave on the night, waving like Dermot Mulroney (I had to google his name) and Cameron Diaz the second you've tied the knot? Or do you wait it out and travel when you're well rested? We've chosen to wait until after the last night of festivities have ended, sleep comfortably, have a big brunch and then head out.

For how long: Length of honeymoon usually varies from two weeks to a month, with the questionably lucky few going for longer. A week is too short, unless you go to one destination and plan to spend that week recovering from the wedding however you choose (the bride at the spa, the groom at the bar). Personally, a month would be too long... but maybe that's just antsy little me. A month with just one person, even if it is your spouse, can be a bit daunting. Then again, honeymoons are personal, and if your personal choice is to spend weeks on end with just one person without driving each other nuts, then so be it.

Sea or Skyscrapers: Destination is important and is very, very difficult to pick unless you know exactly what you want. If you're a "beach person" and would be happy to spend countless days lying covered in sand on a beach with nothing but your banal thoughts, then you won't have this problem picking a destination. Otherwise, I would try to plan a combination of things, including post-wedding recovery time and time to explore new things. Many newly weds seem to boast about shopping trips during their honeymoon, something the groom should be aware of.

And as a follow up from that, you don't have to pick just one place: Multiple destinations are very popular to get a real varied holiday. Honeymoon trips such as Thailand (for the resorts) and Malaysia (for the KL shopping), or Spain and Italy (going to Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Venice) are popular and fun ways to see different cities. Remember, don't over stretch yourself because you won't want a holiday from your honeymoon, make sure you put in enough time to relax so you don't over exhaust yourself.

Find out what kind of activities there are for you to do: Don't write out a detailed itinerary for your honeymoon, remember, you're supposed to relax. Just make sure you have some things to look forward to seeing or doing - perhaps a certain heritage sight or water sports, whatever it is, so long as you know what kind of things you can do if you wanted to venture out of your honeymoon suite.

Not to forget, check the weather while planning your trip: The last thing you need is to book a vacation during transitional seasons or monsoon time, once you have an idea of what kind of holiday you'd like go on all the websites, call your meteorologist, whatever - just make sure no natural disasters are going to ruin your honeymoon.

Now, for some photos to make you think:

A Book about Me?

2009-01-05T14:39:00.003Z

Auf Wiedersehen 2008

2008-12-29T11:24:00.008Z

I am happy to bid 2008 adieu and say bring on 2009. I'm ready for a new everything.

Here's what I think, in incomplete and non-exhaustive lists:

Fashion Fun from 2008
(1) Minis
(2) Leggings
(3) Shoe boots
(4) Zac Posen
(5) Cupcakes

Fashion faux pas of 2008
Tartan.

Sporting Moments of 2008
(1) 2008 Beijing Olympics, Gold Medal for Bahrain won by Rashid Ramzi (1500 m race)
(2) Manchester United 1 - 2 Arsenal (8 November 2008)
(3) Chelsea 1 - 2 Arsenal (30 November 2008)
(4) Brazil Formula1, Timo Glock leading Lewis Hamilton to become F1 World Champion

RIP in 2008
(1) Yves Saint Laurent
(2) Bernie Mac
(3) Woolworths
(4) Heath Ledger (**edit: merci June)

Revivals of 2008
(1) Britney Spears
(2) Lesbianism
(3) Take That
(4) Size 0

Notable Song Quotes from 2008
(1) "What do we do? Usually drink, usually dance, usually babble" Wiley, Wearing my Rolex
(2) "Half of the ring lies here with me, but the other half's in the bottom of the sea" Vampire Weekend, A-Punk (oh oh oh!)
(3) "We can go to the tropics, sip pina coladas, shorty I can take you there" Sean Kingston, We Can Go to the Tropics
(4) "My heart's crippled by the vein that they keep on closing, you cut me open and I..." Leona Lewis, Bleeding Love
(5) "Your sex is on fire" Kings of Leon, Sex is on Fire

Coffee Craving

2008-12-22T08:28:00.004Z

I never liked coffee growing up. My family are big tea drinkers and even now, I'd still have a mug of special mum made chai in the morning over a cup of coffee, easy. I only started drinking coffee right before I turned 18 when the first Starbucks opened up and I was still young enough to drink Mochachinos - I was all about being hip and that's what branded cups of coffee were to me at the time. Back then, I didn't know things would change; it was a much simpler time.

I started drinking coffee more regularly when I went to university. We had an artsy café on campus where I would sip on lattes in between lectures and meet with my cool art history friends. We would talk about Titian and Klimt and Proust and Nitin Sawhney and Hideous Kinky while cute bearded barristas would bring us our coffees in chipped mugs - oh the character, oh the charm! We would meet after long lectures on cold days and watched the film students float in and out, carrying cameras and tripods. We would get our coffees and crowd over books with nothing in them but different coloured blocks and gasp over the pages. I felt cooler than your regular law student, I was in with the art crowd, I drank their brew and I loved their beautiful, quirky nonsense.

After discovering that our beloved artsy café had jacked up their prices (£1.80 for a coffee? Well I might as well go have a paper cup of crappy capitalist crap! they spat), the art kids disappeared for stranger places to drink their coffee and talk randoms and I went back to my law graduate friends where I discovered The Wonderful Nescafe Machine. This machine was a godsend during my post graduate days and we all loved the Wonderful Nascafe Machine with it's tacky picture of a chocolate dusted heart on a cappacino (cute and fitting at the time). It would be late at night and writers block would leave me wandering down to the basement of my college, drawn to the glow of the Wonderful Nescafe Machine. With my hands running against the grainy walls, I'd make my way in a trance to this beautiful piece of metal that would bless me with a cup of coffee for a mere 60 pence. At 60p a café au lait I could have three little plastic cups for the price of one dirty cup of artsy café sludge served by pimply faced history majors (charm my ass!), and at any time of day - it just made so much sense. All those late nights with that machine, I have so many fond memories… For 6 months, that Wonderful Nescafe Machine helped me through my thesis and afterwards I acknowledged that cheap coffee, even if not good coffee, can be good for you at certain stages of your life.

It started getting really bad when I landed my first real job at an American law firm: here, everyone drank coffee all the time and I did too. I wrote about it and I cringe looking back at it - how did I let myself get so bad? I was drinking 6 or 7 cups a day, mastering how to sweet talk the receptionist who would buy my favourite coffee blend and then how to sweet talk the temperamental coffee machine that broke down less as our relationship grew stronger (as did my coffees). That year, I would always wake up far too early on Saturday mornings with piercing headaches and would only start feeling better when I would smell the aroma from the coffee machine in the flat - advantages of having a flatmate who always woke up earlier than you. I had to have it every morning, every afternoon and every late night I was working. It was a bitter sweet addiction that I don't think I ever broke.

There are so many places that stay close to my heart that I associate with coffee and friends and good times. There was the Café Nero on the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Tottenham Street, next to the little square with the giant mural (our Café Nero) where we spent most afternoons during law school in its smokey basement (pre-smoking ban days) moaning over our assignments and how we were never going to get jobs. There was the sweet Fitzrovia Café where a cup of coffee and a croissant was one quid in the mornings before 9 a.m.: the beauty of it was that it wasn't just a cheap coffee, the beauty of it was that I was lucky enough to catch the early morning brew before it turned into its usual Charlotte Street £3 a cup, which made it taste so much better (and the croissants weren't so bad either).

When I started my current job, I remember walking through the large glass building and trying not to squeal at the coffee shop in the entrance - subsidized corporate coffee, that's when you know you've made it. I would walk through the security gates and get my usual morning latte (extra shot, skinny, extra hot, wet - I'd sprinkle the vanilla powder on top myself), getting my little courtesy card stamped (your 10th coffee was free) and nodding to the regulars at the counter. Getting into the lift you'd see at least three other people holding the same coffee cups and you would feel like a part of a team - a tough corporate busting team. I would curse when the shutters of the little caffeine cubicle would come down at 6 p.m. because I know I would then have to resort to the vending machines in the kitchenettes, making sure not to confuse the caffeinated with the decaffeinated machines at 2 a.m. and other such possible disasters. When times were tough coffee was my friend, it kept me warm on those long, cold, lonely nights.

My friends laugh when we meet up for a coffee and I start reciting my anal orders - hey, I'm paying for all these choices they're offering, just let me be. I am marrying a man who is the exact opposite, who doesn't drink any hot drinks (unless you count soup as a drink - or do you slurp soup?) but tries to understand my need for caffeine speed. He humours me when I start flagging in the afternoon and start whimpering "I just need it..." I like my coffee extra hot, if it gets warm then I have to stop drinking it, which means that long meetings at work would leave me with a corner of my desk taken over by half filled cold coffee mugs. I like milky coffee but I hate foam, I like flavoured coffees but only if it's a hint and not too sweet. I only put sugar if I need it but I prefer without. I fold in my cappuccinos and don't touch my Turkish. I have a certain way of having coffee and I love the way I have it.

A very special mention goes to New York Coffee on Government Avenue, not only brews the nicest coffee around, but will also deliver all the way to your desk if you work nearby. They also put a piece of sticky tape on the mouth hole of the plastic cover, so no germs contaminate your coffee and no heat escapes while they walk over to bring it to you… Good fellas, you guys are good fellas…

Living the life that I can't leave behind

2008-12-11T08:52:00.002Z

New Order and Frente aside (the latter being my personal favourite), it is safe to say that I am back in Bahrain, whoop whoop.

I will probably be here for the next few years. I am temporarily ending my love affair with London.

I do miss my friends over there, more so then I imagined I would. You never realise how much fun it is to spend a lot of your working day with your friends, they made my days that much more bearable. Our daily Cake Break (which will not be known as CB) was very important for my overall sanity, especially when there is lemon loaf cake in the tuck shop - yum yum. Some of the best things about working with your friends is being able to go to someone when you're feeling down or share your feelings about certain skanks around the office (who wears multi coloured lace patterned tights to the office? Seriously, just take your job seriously). Plus coming back to a small office is difficult when you're used to being amongst hundreds of people every day, the element of anonymity is nonexistent here - but it's all about my favourite word, adjusting.

Living at home again is manageable, the promise of moving out in a few months is what is really keeping me going. Now all the grown up stuff comes along - planning a big do, furnishing a flat, sorting out little things that I never had to think of before like matching pyjamas and organising sock drawers. Can't put it off much longer, I'll be getting married in a few months to Mr. Seroo so we need to get cracking. I know that once we've synchronised our lives then things will fall into place and I can wait until then I think. I just have to keep focused at the task at hand and not get too emotional about it. One step at a time and it will all fall into place, insha'Allah (fingers crossed, knock on wood, kiss a shrunken rabbit's head and the whole lot).

I'm bored with blogging - is it now so 2004? I think so. I'm also sick of talking about the world financial crises but it seems that that is all there is to talk about so I think I can stick it out and make conversation about it for a little bit longer (remember, this is a recession and not a depression). The morale in Bahrain is no better and it feels as if people are finally realising that we are indeed destructible if the forces above chose to push us over. Depressing, but not the end of the world just yet.

Otherwise, I'm still skipping along. A few projects are in the pipeline and as always, I am doing too many things at the same time. What did you expect? I haven't changed at all.

Off again

2008-10-02T14:37:00.000Z

Back to London on Saturday for two months. Anyone who's in the Big Smoke between October and November let me know and I'll be happy to share a brolly with you.

(Ramadhan was nice, but I'm glad it's over)

Layaly Ramadhan

2008-09-02T08:32:00.004Z

When: 6 September 2008, 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Where: Fatima Kanoo Hall, Tubli (near McDonalds)

Who: Young Bahraini Female Entrepreneurs displaying a variety of goods such as women's clothes, baby clothes, jalabiyat, handbags, handmade jewellery, photograph prints, crochet house goods, home accessories, photo albums, Quran covers, cupcakes, cakes, cookies, brownies, toffee, fudge, and so much more.

Why: To raise awareness as to young talented local girls and raise money for charity. Proceeds from the event will go to food and clothes donations for Ramadhan and Eid to less fortunate families in Bahrain. Ramadhan is a time of year where we can benefit from social gatherings to make a difference for our community, let that be your reason to come by and participate in the fun.

Spread the Word, Come to the Event, Donate Money to Charity, Buy Unique Pieces and Enjoy Yourself.

Entrance Fee BD 1, Women Only.

Confessions

2008-08-21T06:42:00.003Z

I never found haviannas comfortable - I know, a summer cardinal sin, but I prefer sandals over flip flops. That didn't stop me from buying my nieces a pair each so they could be the coolest kids on the Mediterranean beach this summer. Heck yes they are.

I am never full - and I just don't know what it is… maybe I have tapeworm? I'm also always tired, I think there's a correlation between the two...

M&S underwear just isn't comfortable - finally, someone had to say it!

I had a crush on Prince Eric from the Little Mermaid - if grown men can think a half woman half fish is attractive, then an 8 year old girl can have a crush on a cartoon character. He's charming!

I like my job - which is why I never complain about the work and try not to moan about it when it gets tough. I'm proud of what I do and who I work for.

I still sleep with a stuffed toy - two actually. Bryan the mouse (named after Bryan Adams) and Charlie the bear (named after Charlie George).

I used to hate the treadmill - and now I love it. When you need to run, you need to run. It doesn't matter where you are or how you do it as long as you do it. It's the only time my mind is completely clear and sometimes I go to the gym just so I can stop worrying and give my brain a break. I also find jogging in the park on the Wii Fit strange - jogging through a virtual world? Creepy.

I don't like trance music - or house, or progressive, or whatever it is that is so popular now days. Who are these DJs? Why is this music so cool? Doesn't it do people's heads in? There is some music that I find good, but a lot of the stuff is just beyond me, I just don't get it.

I swear a lot in my mind - but not so much out loud. Sometimes I shock myself with the creative swear words I can come up with but make it a point never to swear out loud because it's not ladylike.

I don't like going to the movie theatre - unless it's a movie I really want to watch. If I do go to the cinema, it has to be with one other person and a big bucket of popcorn. Otherwise, movies can wait until they're out on DVD and I'm in my pyjamas, ready to watch them from the comfort of my couch.

I think fireworks are romantic - something about them...

I'm old fashioned - and I like it. I like men opening doors for women, polite children, sitting down at a table for dinner with your family, kissing my parents foreheads, [not swearing out loud], little rituals I don't really see anymore but try to maintain as much as I can.

I like mums that looks like mums - and not mums that look like supermodels. No sharing R&R jeans with your mother, that shouldn't be permissible.

I like expensive things - and to follow that...

I love bargains - I don't blow my credit card every time I see something I like, but the word Sale sends palpitations through my body. I blame it on being a woman.

I hate adding cold milk to hot tea - hot milk, hot tea, that's the combo.

I don't like bananas - I just don't. The texture, the smell, the action of peeling a banana makes me feel like a monkey which I am not, therefore, I don't like bananas.

I don't know if I could go back to London long term without Mr. Seroo - now what says love better than that?

Summmer is survey time

2008-08-13T08:19:00.002Z

Because the sun has fried my brains - here's some mindless "one-word-reply" reading...

1. Where is your cell phone? Drawer
2. Your significant other? Hospital
3. Your hair? Curls
4. Your mother? Superstar
5. Your father? Humorous
6. Your favorite thing? Blushing
7. Your dream last night? N/A
8. Your favorite drink? Chai
9. Your dream/goal? Unique
10. The room you're in? Office
11. Your worries? Forgotten
12. Your fear? Unknown
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Partner (!)
14. Where were you last night? Restaurant
15. What you're not? Passive
16. Muffins? No
17. One of your wish list items? Book
18. Where you grew up? Village
19. The last thing you did? Coffee
20. What are you wearing? Pearls
21. Your TV? Unimportant
22. Your pets? Nonexistent
23. Your computer? AURGH
24. Your life? Progressing
25. Your mood? Antsy
26. Missing someone? London
29. Favorite Store? Selfridges
30. Your summer? Work
31. Like someone? Love
32. Your favorite color? Pink
33. When is the last time you laughed? Always
34. Last time you cried? Forgot?
35. Person who sent this to you? Asda
36. Who will resend? Anybody

I'm super busy but here's a survey while I'm at it...

2008-07-31T09:44:00.003Z

I've been ridiculously busy since I've come back from Lebanon - not a spare moment. This week especially has been pretty hectic and has been a strain on my mental health. I'm looking forward to taking this weekend off from using my brain and maybe doing something mind numbing like (wait for it) watching a movie. Yup, you heard me right Momo, I think I need some 98% fat free microwave butter popcorn and a good filum.

Yesterday, in between waiting for things to download and people coming back to me I filled out a survey in my email. I thought I should post it here since I've got nothing else to say at the moment. Anything in italics is my comments from today... Enjoy some easy reading...

***

Best:
1. Male Friend: Mr. Seroo
2. Female Friend: A combination of my old friends and my sister - always
3. Vacation: probably driving to Cornwall with Wally

Worst:
1. Time of the day: I think it's probably 6 a.m.
2. Day of the week: Sunday
3. Color Crayon: White - it was just useless

Today:
1. What are you doing now: taking a break from reading construction contracts (Today: Actually, right now I'm stressing, just stressing)
2. Wearing: a skirt and cardigan (I'm at work) (Today: Black cardigan and a black and blue dress with black shoes)

Tomorrow:
1. Is: Thursday… thank God (Today: Since today is yesterday's tomorrow, today's tomorrow is a Friday which means tomorrow is going to be a day away from the office, fingers crossed)
2. Got any plans: spending some time with my family, going to a theme party (Today: plans for tomorrow will be to chill out... Momo, I was serious, I may just want to watch a movie... crazy isn't it?)
3. Goal: to have my car sorted (Today: My goal for tomorrow is to relax and maybe go for a spin with Momo in my car...)
4. Dislikes about tomorrow: it isn't coming fast enough (Today: no change, I want tomorrow to come now)

Favorite:
1. Number: 4, because we are four kids in the family
2. Song: At the moment I can't stop singing "We can go to the tropics, sip pina coladas…" (Today: There is no singing in my head, just zoning codes and plot numbers)
3. Color: pink, always

Currently:
1. Missing someone: Yes - my parents who I only briefly saw at breakfast and haven't seen in a few days, my brother and sister who I haven't seen since last Friday, my other brother who I saw in Dubai this weekend and won't see for another few months and my nieces and their mum who are on holiday. Oh, and Mr. Seroo who's been on call. And my friends who I never get to see because I'm always working late. And Iris who is back in London, home alone, without me. And... (Today: Case is the same)
2. Mood: Indifferent - maybe a little tired. (Today: Stressed out, but smiling thinking of getting away from it all this weekend)
3. Wanting: another vacay (Today: bigtime)

TRUE/ FALSE:
1. I am a cuddler: true, cuddles more than hugs even.
2. I am a morning person: true, I like feeling productive
3. I am a perfectionist: false - I've never thought about it so I probably am not.
4. I am an only child: False - I am blessed with 3 cool siblings
5. I am currently in my pajamas: False - my boss wouldn't appreciate it if I were
6. I am currently pregnant: False *whew*
7. I am currently suffering from a broken heart: False
8. I am left handed: False
9. I am addicted to Blogging: False - but addicted to reading blogs? True
10. I am online 24/7: True
11. I am very shy around the opposite gender: False
12. I can be paranoid at times: At times, true I suppose.
13. I currently have a crush on someone: I've got more than a crush on Mr. Seroo...
14. I currently regret something that I have done: Putting sugar in my morning oats rather than honey, tsk tsk tsk... (Today: Nothing, haven't had time to regret anything)
15. I enjoy country music: True sometimes
16. I enjoy talking on the phone: True
17. I have a hard time paying attention at school/work: True sometimes, I'm doing this right now!
18. I have a hidden talent: True - like we all do
19. I have a lot to learn: True
20. I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal: True

Anger:
1. Are you currently mad at someone? Yousif, our tailor who hasn't brought our clothes back… grrrrr... (Today: I'm angry at the Ministry of Municipalities for being vague with their planning maps.... grrrrrr...)
2. Which of your friends has the worst temper? I'm not really sure, I think everyone has their bouts sometimes..
3. Have you ever thrown something at anyone? Yup, I throw stuff at Mr. Seroo all the time
4. Ever had something thrown at you? Mr. Seroo once threw a box of chocolates at me and Iris
5. When you’re mad do you prefer to stare angrily or yell and scream? I'm not a confrontational person

Excitement:
1. Has anyone ever thrown you a surprise party for you? Yes! How fun!
2. Are you easily excited? I am ashamed to say yes :)
3. What are you most excited about? Oh I don't know, probably seeing my nieces walk through the front door every Friday morning… joy :) And getting a new car very soon inshallah!
4. If you won a million dollars what would be your first thought? El7emdillah - now I can buy myself new feet. (Today: Or take a 6 month sabbatical from work)
5. If you could have anything right now what would it be? A hug from Papaya - I miss her

Self-Discovery:
1. Name: Sara, Hebrew Princess
2. Where were you born? The International Hospital
3. What’s your main goal in life? To be good to others and to myself
4. How do you want to die? However God wills (this is turning a bit morbid, isn't it?)
Opinions:
1. Sex before marriage? I won't judge
2. Gay Marriage? Garriages? Why not?
3. Lower the Drinking age? Doesn't really matter, if they want to get their hands on it they will...
4. Recycling? A must - we need to sort out this planet of ours before it disappears

Dreams:
1. What was your latest dream? I can't remember, I've been having quite a few involving some friends coming over for breakfast… makes me feel like I should be inviting them over soon...
2. Have any of your dreams come true? Yes
3. What was the weirdest dream you’ve ever had? I had an awesome sci-fi dream with alien dinosaurs roaming the earth… it was wicked...

Personal:
1. Straight, Gay, Bi? Straight
2. Do you have a gf? I have many - yes!
3. Do you have a crush? On Mr. Seroo, he makes me swoon (sometimes).
4. How many beds did you lay in yesterday? Just one
5. What color shirt are you wearing? Just a cream cardigan, nothing fancy. (Today: A black cardigan)
6. Name one thing that you do everyday? Take off my makeup, every night
7. What color are your walls? At the moment, they're an off white.
8. How much cash do you have on you right now? maybe BD3? And AED 100 and US$ 1. (Today: Just the Dirhams and Dollars, I need to go to the bank)
9. When was the last time you saw your dad? This morning while he was having breakfast and I was heading out to the gym. I love him. (Today: Still the same, haven't seen him since yesterday morning. I took a peek to see if he was sleeping last night when I got home from work, which he was)
10. What did you have for dinner last night? McDonalds double cheeseburger and french fries and it was good but lacking BBQ sauce. Don't judge me! (Today: Leftover Kebab from yesterday's lunch, gross I know. My eating habits have gone down the drain)
11. What’s the last piece of clothing you borrowed from someone? I wear Mr. Seroo's scrubs to sleep that I've (borrowed).
12. Does anything hurt on your body right now? My arms (znood) from my workout this morning, which is a good sign. (Today: My punctured soul, I'm feeling drained)

Have you ever:
1. Have you ever failed a class? Nope
2. Have you ever sung in front of a crowd? Yes! I rapped Britney Spears' "Hit me baby one more time!" and the few karaoke tunes here and there...
3. Have you ever not taken a shower for 3 days? Probably not.
4. Have you ever slept with a night light? Yes but I can't anymore, I have to sleep in pitch black.
5. Have you ever danced in the rain? Yes :)
6. Have you ever lied? Yes
7. Have you ever had contacts? I used to wear contacts when I was much younger, I think it was a vanity thing. It only lasted a few months until I switched back to glasses.
8. Have you ever tripped over something stupid? Probably, I stub my toe a lot.

Pick One:
1. Sambosa, Pakora, Kebab: KEBAB for the meat, yum yum.
2. Bollywood, Lollywood, Hollywood: Lollywood, the industry just makes me laugh
3. Love marriage, Arranged marriage: Whichever works
4. Honeymoon, no moon: I haven't gone on one yet but I suspect I'll want to go on more than just one...
5. How many kids would u like 1,2, 3+: As many as God will give me inshallah
6. Kulfi, Ice cream: Mango Kulfi, Vanilla Ice Cream
7. Shah ruk khan, Orlando Bloom: Orlanado, my Chaucer Tale's homeboy!

"There's more to this place than ancient ruins and really good almond pastries"

2008-07-09T07:05:00.006Z

I'm off tomorrow to Lebanon to attend a wedding. The big day will start off in a dusty village in the mountains (this is how I imagine it anyway), then will move to another dusty village on the other side of the mountains before continuing onto Beirut. I am only going for a few days but I can imagine they will be busy days and nights.

Having only ever been to Lebanon once before, I can sadly say I don't remember much other than smokey restaurants and busy streets, the leething lotharios of Hamra and the delicious street food. This time, I'm more excited about the company than the actual trip since I'm lucky to be travelling for the first time with my closest friends and the Mr. - I am very excited.

I knew this wouldn't be entirely a sightseeing trip, but I still thought I'd look up what the Lonely Planet has to say about my holiday.

"Overview: Lebanon packs a lot into its modest borders: ancient cities, ski resorts, impressive architecture and striking landscapes are just the start. Then there's great food (reputedly the best in the region), and great nightlife (Beirut claims to be the party capital of the Middle East). (So far so good, I like ancient cities, impressive architecture and striking landscapes. I like good food and I'm ready to hit the nightlife)

Best Time of Year to Go: The best time of year to visit Lebanon is spring (March to May) when the weather is mild and wildflowers are in bloom. (Not good, I'll have to bear the stifling heat)

Sights

Aanjar: Aanjar is Lebanon's best-preserved Islamic archaeological site and is the only significant Umayyad site in Lebanon. It's a wonderful place to spend a day. The most impressive remains at the site are those of the great palace, one wall and several arcades of which have been reconstructed.

Beiteddine Palace: Beiteddine (House of Faith) is the name of both the village and the magnificent palace complex that lies within. The palace, perched on a steep elevation, rises from the surrounding landscape like a fairytale vision, a Scheherazadean delight rendered with Italianate flair (in fact, the architects were Italian). (more on website)

Jeita Grotto: This grotto, with its extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites, is definitely worth a visit; the ticket includes a boat ride through part of the grotto, an informative film about the history of the caves, and access to a cafe and restaurant. The vast honeycomb of galleries and ravines was first surveyed in the 19th century and opened to the public in 1958."

Lonely Planet doesn't have much else, but I'm not worried as we're travelling with some Beirutites and the itinerary we have looks pretty packed. We've been recommended dozens of restaurants that I don't think we'll be able to fit into a five day trip including the ever so romantic Julias and one of our friends has been generous enough to book a nice intimate dinner there for me and Mr. Seroo. We won't have time for shopping but if we do I'll be stopping off at some boutiques for dresses and accessories, recommendations anyone? Apparently the Virgin Megastore is excellent so I'll probably make a pit stop there for books & DVDs. Anything else we should do?

Will be back next week, looking forward to a much needed break...

Do I have to support QPR Now?

2008-07-03T07:24:00.003Z

I remember once how Michael Parkinson gave a speech on Sky Sports about how important Barnsley are to him and how important it is to support your local team. He spoke about how it's part of the social-history of the town and how you "can't choose who you support, it chooses you."

I never grew up watching local football, although I did watch our national team in "big" matches when they would almost-could-have-should-have made it to bigger tournaments. I envied people who used to spend every Saturday morning in their local stadium supporting their team, whether they were any good or not, because you could see it was a part of them. I so badly wanted a team to be a part of me too, even if they were pretty rubbish - isn't that the beauty of the game anyway?

Somehow, the English premiership was always more appealing to me. Looking up to a certain older brother and becoming best friends with an Arsenal supporter when I was younger pulled me into becoming a Gooners fan, which included watching matches on weekends and chanting the usual hooligan profanities when necessary. People were skeptical I wasn't a North London Skinhead, but eventually the regulars at my first local (Woody's) took me in. So when asked if I supported any football teams, I always said yes to the Bahraini National Team and Arsenal.

Now I read this: Gulf Air to sponsor QPR? Is this even right? I looked around the QPR official website and didn't see anything that said so - but maybe I just haven't had the time to read up on sports news. So this is a pretty big Bahrain stamp in international football, does this mean we have to all start supporting this team?

The GDN put up a sneak-preview photo of their new footie shirt:

I always liked the J-Crew Sailor stripes, so good enough reason?

Book Review: Brick Lane

2008-06-24T09:12:00.007Z

Let me introduce my friend Shahnaj: Sylheti origin, South East Kent residing, hijab wearing, fish curry loving, hippie artist. We met at a party at college and I was immediately drawn to her paint splattered jeans and her ethnic jewelry - she was erratic and all over the place, spoke an excited British-English to her friends and a loud Anglified-Bengoli to her family. She was proud of who she was and where she was from, grew up in a predominantly white community as "the only Indian family in Folkestone". And she came from a big stereotypically Bengoli family - father owned an Indian restaurant, mother was quiet and always in the kitchen, lot's of siblings and lot's of in-laws straight from Bangladesh, all under one roof. From the outside, her house looked like any other house on a quiet suburban street, but when the front door opened the smells of freshly ground spices wafted into the street and the chatter of a foreign language with English words thrown in would stop those unfamiliar with the Islam family in their tracks - others just walked on.

I miss my friend Shahnaj. She showed me a culture I was oblivious to, the "Asians" of England. They all spoke English to each other but their mother tongue with their mothers, they knew the insides of Green Street and Southall and they had community gatherings every so often that were filled with music, gossip and gorgeous food. Perhaps I am lucky to have such ethnic looks to have easily blended in the background of Shahnaj's busy household, but I am even luckier to have made such a good friend whose family took me in and showed me what made them different from the Pakistanis, Indians, Sri Lankans and definitely the English. Spending time with them involved dressing me up, forgetting I didn't speak their language and a lot of "Gi Khala" and nodding on my behalf to old aunties who pinched my cheeks - it was always good fun.

I picked up Brick Lane by Monica Ali because I had always seen it on Shahnaj's bookcase but never read it. Upon reading it, I only hoped that it had some good descriptions of Brick Lane and East London and it did far more than that - it painted a beautiful story of a young girl's life and a funny but scarily accurate rendition of living as an Asian in East London.

The book tells the story of Nazneen, a "good Bengoli wife" brought to England to marry Chanu, overzealous council worker who recites English literature at any given moment and teaches his childern about the national symbols of their homeland Bangladesh. Nazneen plays the role of the dutiful wife and mother, sometimes an outsider London but through her Bengoli roots she finds a role in the Asian community of Tower Hamlets. The story goes back and forth between her memories of growing up in a village in Bangladesh and her life as a mother to second generation British Asians. Her pull to her homeland remains with letters from her sister Hasina describing the turbulent life back in Bangladesh and her involvement with a young Bengoli activist who captures her heart.

The story is that of love, betrayal, family ties and the need to belong to a world that any reader could recognise. Ali's descriptions of walking through the neighbourhoods of East London are spot on down to the Indian shop keepers outside their windows and the teenage boys smoking on stairwells. Through her descriptions of London and Bangladesh you are taken to a busy city or the dusty village alike in such a sweet and humble manner. The story is captivating to anyone because of its painfully funny descriptions and sweet story telling nature. Even the events which are somewhat dark are written in such a simple, matter of fact way and Ali shows an extreme comparison between the lives of characters without it seeming so alarmingly disturbing to the reader but hopeful that different lives take different paths.

The characters are charming in their own way: Chanu with his corns and bulging cheeks touches your heart somehow, Shahana and Bibi, the rebel and dutiful daughters, reach out to you by how they become less traditional in times when they don't want to wash their hair with fairy liquid anymore and want to use shampoo. You sympathise with Razia, the chain smoking neighbour in a union jack t-shirt, and her problems with her son Tariq and Mrs. Islam reminds you of the creepy old woman who carries a miniature pharmacy in her handbag and coughs orders to her sons.

The film was released earlier this year, I would have liked to see it and now that I've read the book I think I will duly enjoy it. Monica Ali was picked by critics before her book was even published and for a very good reason: Brick Lane is an enjoyable read and although there is little character progression and the story doesn't come to a big-bang ending, it leaves you feeling light heartened and again, hopeful, for the characters who you could see in real life one day walking down Brick Lane.

Songs that make me cry # 26

2008-06-23T10:04:00.003Z

Wise Men say
only fools rush in
but I cant help falling in love with you..

Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin?
If I can't help falling in love with you...

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darlin so it goes, somethings are meant to be..

Take my hand, take my whole life too
for I can't help fallin in love with you...

***

I am a sucker for Elvis and UB40 alike - people just don't sing it like they used to.

Summer Sales: Buy Me, Buy Me, Buy Me

2008-06-16T08:17:00.005Z

I am not embarrassed to admit that I am one for a bargain - I am a woman after all.

The past 2 weeks have been reduction mad, from clothes to furniture and even places like Ashrafs and Yaquby stores reducing kitchen appliances and cameras - everyone's trying to get rid of all their stock in their air conditioned stores (what a way to beat the summer heat!). Soon enough all the high street stores will follow, but what has really kicked the boot are the designer sales happening around the islands… Looking at other people's baskets and bruised arms, here is a quick low down of what you fashionistas should be looking out for…

Villa Moda
50% off Bottega Venetta, Valentino, Marni, D&G, Dolce and Gabanna, and much more…

Damage: Bottega ballet flats for BD113, Bottega bracelets for BD20, Bottega Men's thobe slippers for BD100, Valentino Bags for BD500.
Where: Movinpick Hotel, until the 21st of June.

Worth it? Depends on what you're looking for… When a Marni dress is reduced from BD 800 to BD 400, you still have to think twice - there weren't as many women over the clothes as expected… The shoes and handbags went on Day 1 like hotcakes, but the clothes were still hung perfectly for people to sniff at their still expensive prices… New shipments coming in every so often and a prediction of prices falling towards the last few days…

Gucci
50% off whatever is left from the massacre (shoes, belts, handbags, tacky accessories)

Damage: Work shoes for BD92, every day clutches for BD 63, nice leather handbags reduced to BD300, a beautiful box clutch for BD220.

Where: Basement of Al A'ali Mall, until the end of the month.
Worth it? The nicest stuff was gone in the first 30 minutes of the sale with women walking out with multiples of handbags on their arms to buy - so whatever left is the real tacky stuff or things that are too bold for anyone to buy.

Ounass
40% off Paul & Joe, Manoush, Juicy Couture, French Sole and others

Damage: Paul & Joe shirts for BD80, Juicy Couture sweats for BD 60, French Sole ballet flats for BD 30.

Where: Al A'ali Mall, until stocks last
Worth it? If you won't leave your house to the DVD place without your Juicies, stocking up on a few isn't such a bad idea… Because it's not a massive sale everything is still intact with no snags on the delicate pieces and the staff are extremely smiley.

Jimmy Choo
Up to 40% (shoes and bags)

Damage: The cheapest pair of shoes were BD 147, everything else was still over BD200...
Where: Al A'ali Mall, until stocks last…
Worth it? If you only wear Choo's and only where Choo's, then it could be.

Special Mention to: Seventh Heaven 90% Sale, where I bagged two beautiful Stella McCartney dresses and two pairs of shoes, an Alexander McQueen handbag, all for 90% off. The bargains were ridiculous and for three days the exhibition center was filled with men and women digging under mountains of clothes for jeans, shoes, dresses, tops, handbags, you name it… The first day was the worst in terms of clean air to breathe in but the best in terms of bargains and after that the excitement died to a dull buzz. Most shoppers came out regretting not buying enough even after spending hundreds of Dinars - that is a sign of a successful sale.

Gymmin' It Up with the likes of Eric Prydz

2008-06-05T11:01:00.006Z

I used to be the girl who would walk everywhere, so much that it annoyed friends to come out with me because I never wanted to use any form of transport. "It's a nice walk!" I would always protest because I liked stretching my limbs. I used to take the stairs up to my office on the 7th floor and enjoyed going out for a jog in the evening. I think I could still dance all night long so I would classify myself as a generally "active person".

Things have changed since I've come back home - my expanding waistline seems to be more than happy with the absence of any physical activity and low calorie pre-packed lunches. It wobbles its satisfaction ever time I gorge it with samboosas, cake, kebabs and the array of sweets my mother strategically leaves in front of the television when I come home from work. One day I started walking over to my car to drive somewhere for lunch with coworkers without thinking that it was only a 5 minute walk away - they looked at me like I was crazy lazy and that's when I realised that something bad was happening and it had to stop. This was far worse than not fitting into clothes, which had already started happening at this point: this was sloth, and sloth is a deadly sin (according to Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, of course). The obvious solution? To join a gym and get "fit" again.

This was easy - there is a large selection of decent gyms to suit your needs, whether you're looking for a women's only gym or somewhere to go and catch up with buddies while you attempt your "fat man's workout" (quoting my brother). I joined somewhere with a decent selection of machines, a nice pool with soothing music to relax in and a variety of funny characters that I cannot avoid sneaking glances at.

There is the Determined Young Man (DYM) who is clearly obsessed with the gym. He works in a bank/auditing firm/investment company of some sort, your typical 9-6 job, in his early to late twenties and goes to the gym 3-4 times a week right after work. He has the Puma t-shirt, the Nike shoes, sometimes even the iPod arm band. And he has "The Face". "The Face" isn't evident all the time; DYM walks around more than he actually works out because he is continuously comparing his work out techniques with others. "The Face" only comes out when he is pumping iron (because they all do, they all pump iron). He usually has another DYM spotting him, either a coworker or an old high school buddy, who prompts him to push/breathe/bench/or whatever it is they do. Shortly after you can hear a loud grunt which may make you look over and spot "The Face". It is a terrifying look of pure pain and agony where DYM starts shaking as he lifts X kilos of weight before the bar plummets back down to the safety holdings and not on his neck as you would probably fear if you were watching this for the first time. "The Face" is followed by a look of exhaustion and some heavy breathing and an encouraging hetro-pat from DYM 2, who is eager for his turn next to show off his strong Y gene. When these boys are working out, they can only imagine Peter Andre's oiled six pack in the Mysterious Girl video and that's what keeps them going.

There is the Old But Still In Good Shape (OBSIGS), who speed walks on a high incline with a look of boredom on his face. He uses all the weight machines and has friendly chats with other old men about going into the steam room to cool off. They go to the gym regularly but don't beat themselves out, they have their towels around their necks and slip out of the gym as quietly as they slip in. They never make an entrance, never speak too loudly and always spend the exact amount of time in their work out - 20 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the bike, 20 minutes on various machines and 5 minutes on either side stretching. Clockwork that works. They have a routine that their round wives are secretly jealous of.

There are always a few Gym Socialites (GymSoc's) who go to the gym in their Juicy Couture or Y3 gear, stop to say hello and air kiss friends. Females check their waterproof mascara abilities between sessions and males check the gelled hair. Workouts are never strenuous and sessions are never too long because they always have other engagements. Their bodies, however, are always perfect.

And of course, there must be at least one HULK at any given time (also known as I Only Drink Protein Shakes guys, I Work Out 3 Times A Day guys or Look At My Rippling Muscles/I Put Hercules To Shame guys). You cannot miss these spectacles and most other gym-goers openly stare at them with envy. Their bodies are bulky and the have smug faces when they nod their hellos to other regulars "Yup, I wasn't born with this body, I worked for it…" Imagine something superhero-like: Each muscle is properly defined and their arms seem to spread out from their bodies because they're just so big. They saunter in, rarely ever do any substantial cardio and go straight to the weights to lift what seems to be the weight of a small car. They stare at themselves in the mirror a lot and scope out their competition. They are usually the most talkative people in the gym because they always want to give you tips and watch you fail in whatever task they've given you to do. These are the guys with the closest thing to Peter Andre's oiled six pack in the Mysterious Girl video.

As for me, I fall in the HAPOTT category (Huffing And Puffing On The Treadmill). HAPPOTT's can easily be spotted as the person with the red and exhausted look on her face. You can probably hear her terrible breathing from across the gym and pity her. She refills her water bottle at least half a dozen times and watches the cooking channel during her whole session. She tries to go as regularly as she can, she is friendly to the people who work there but still tries to avoid old acquaintances who give her sympathetic encouragement for trying to keep fit. She is also the one who you will spot at the Dairy Queen drive-thru with a guilty look on her face while she orders sinnly onion rings with extra barbecue sauce. Sympathise with her, at least she tries.

Big 25 for Soos

2008-05-27T12:01:00.004Z

I like growing older - older and wiser, I'd like to think. Funny, I usually forget how old I'm turning and have always been in the habit of saying I'm older than I really am. For the record, I am turning 25 on Thursday and that is a fact.

I remember getting birthday cards from my brothers over the years congratulating me on my 14th birthday (when I indeed turned 16). Although I made it seem like it infuriated me at the time, I was secretly happy they remembered. I'd like to think I'm easy to please like that.

I remember my old birthday parties in the garden at home, wearing big party dresses and ribbons in my hair. I think of my 5 year old niece a lot and wonder if she enjoys her birthdays as much as I did when I was her age - I'm sure she does, who wouldn't be happy with face painting and pony rides? I cried every year I was away at her birthday, her birthday feels just as important as my own.

I wonder what it's like for my parents to see me turn 25 - surely my mum is not that old? Do they remember the day I was born, do they think of it as a milestone in their lives?

I'm feeling a bit scatterbrained these days, so I think my only birthday wish is to be a little more organised, a little more considerate, a little more caring and fitter. I've been working on the last one the most.

Happy Birthday Me tomorrow, Happy Birthday Uncle Oni today.

I can't help but miss...

2008-05-08T14:57:00.000Z

Knowing the back streets like the back of my hand, the Thames and the southbank walk, fry ups on the weekend, lazy Sundays, your mp3 player being an integral part of your sanity, reading on the tube, constantly moving, free trashy newspapers, Amy and Peaches always on the front page, our little Moroccan café before the ban, Pret, Wardour Street in all its glory, the Fitzroy on a Tuesday afternoon, VQ in the early hours of the morning, match days in your local, Radio 1 and Radio 4 (and appreciating the difference), being a trendy in Notting Hill, King's Road on a nice day, anywhere on a nice day, Trailer Happiness, the Baker Street and Prince Charles cinemas, Prime Time Video on Goodge Street and the guys who work there (thanks for all the good Korean movie recommendations guys), Oxfam Books, Bang Bang and their magazine cut-out wallpapered walls, obedient dogs in Southwark pubs, discovering Bloomsbury Bowl before it became trendy to bowl, Wembley Stadium, jogging to Cutty Sark, being so busy all the time, fresh coffee and croissants in the morning, Belgian chocolate courtesy of the Belgian flatmate, the laughter that came after the mouse invasion, cooking in the kitchen all the time, milk tea on the couch with plenty of gossip, always having people over, bargain shopping trips, Selfridges Selfridges Selfridges - could there be any other heaven on earth?, Boombox and Sketch, the smell of freshly cut grass, Roman Road market, the DLR during the day, Kate Moss with all her blips, penguin feeding time at the zoo, moody goth kids in Camden, the ruckus of Borough Market and the free baklava, worrying about your 5-a-day, Big Issue guys with a sense of humour, Friday evening after work sessions at the Bridge followed by dinner at that little Thai place, Dick and Dom on a Saturday morning, running to catch a bus and making it, the beep of my oyster card, chatting to taxi drivers about the price of property and football teams (all those QPR fans, who would have thought), awful 70's theme nights when you're the only person dressed normally, seeing other people grimace at the Hare Krishna Hare Ramas, taking in shows, the Young Vic, summer dresses the minute the sun comes out, boots and macs, Khan's, walking for an hour and not getting tired, giving up your seat for older women on the bus, buskers who play good old fashioned music (like George Harrison's "Here comes the sun"), nice streets off dodgy streets, words like "Fuzz" and "Cotch", Primark, the V&A, M&S, swans on the river, bold fashion statements, the satisfaction of slipping on the tube just as the doors close, walking out of work to breath-taking views of Tower Bridge and the lights of the City, appreciating the little things, men always holding doors open for women, always seeing the bigger picture, living in the City and feeling like you're going somewhere…

And there's always more...

Postsecret Dedication: For Mr. Seroo

2008-05-05T13:12:00.001Z

Charity Dinner/Concert for the Al Wafa and Al Rashad Centers

2008-05-04T08:24:00.003Z

Charity Dinner and Concert for the benefit of the Al Wafa and Al Rashad Centers for Children with Autism.

Bahrain star Najma Abdulla will be singing a collection of Um Kulthoum's Arabic hits and all proceeds from the night will go to charity.

Date: 14 May 2008

Time: 8 p.m.

Fee: BD 20 (inclusive of dinner)

Tickets on sale at Seef Mall (Gate 1, 1st floor)

For inquiries, call 17623302 - 17795595 - 36424141

Let's help one another

2008-04-29T08:08:00.003Z

I park my car in a lot opposite the Regency Intercontinental Hotel which is run by the National Foundation for the Disabled. All the money from the car park goes to the charity and it even employs disabled people; it's a good cause that sometimes goes unnoticed.

I've been parking in the lot since June 2008 and now know the regulars who work there, a good bunch of lads who like to chat European football and always have a smile on their faces. They're forever friendly, even when they think they're done for the day and I drive up, apologetic to be waking them from their sleep to let me go - did I mention it's a 24 hour car park and there's always someone there? They do a good job those lads, they do a really good job.

I don't mind paying over BD2 a day when I know my money is going to a good cause. I received their publication appropriately named "Benevolence" (or "A'ataa" in Arabic) , a magazine with a variety of topics and news updates on different charity events and it's gotten me thinking of how else I can help.

I trawl the newspapers for upcoming events that I could participate in but I seem to be reading about events ended and not much that's coming up. I know the Internet is not the best place to look, but I'm sure there's a website or a publication that shows upcoming events and how you can participate that I haven't found yet. I've heard that now that the summer is coming up, things will quiet down so this may not be the best time to be active - or maybe it is? I have a demanding job that doesn't give me much time off, but I'm still keen to do something in my spare time when possible. Every little bit helps I suppose, even if it takes a while to find the people you want to help and organise the most beneficial way to go about it - as long as you get there eventually and you make a difference, big or small.

So, if anyone knows of a charity event or organisation that needs help, please let me know, because I'd like to contribute in any way possible. Post any events, organisations or even your interest in a comment: the more we spread the word, the more interest we can gather and the more people we can help out, in one way or another.

And if you happen to park in the lot opposite the Regency Hotel, give those lads some recognition. Like I said, they're a good bunch, even if they do support Chelsea.

Easy updates, Ea-sy

2008-04-20T15:31:00.003Z

I'm consumed at work and it's going well. I have dreams that my clients are in big trouble and I solve all their problems. They pronounce me their hero and have a parade with me on a float and confetti everywhere (it's a nice dream).
I like work here, it's good quality stuff but I miss London. I miss the office and seeing so many people every day. I miss the bigger picture of it all and unfortunately there's not much I can do about it. Luckily everyone here has been very nice to me and has made me feel welcome - almost as if I've been here for months on end. There are still many things that I miss and wish I could go back to but I will try not to think about them too much and make the most of what I've got on my plate - which is quite a lot, Thanks Godness.
I like to read aloud the stickers on people's cars.
I like spending time with Mr. Seroo, it's nice being in the same country again. It makes me happy.
I still don't understand how time here either gozza by so slowly or flies. I still haven't settled into a good regime and really want to get a good system going where I make the most of my time and spend every minute wisely. I need to fit reading, exercising and alone time back into my days.
I had a problem with my cargo. The moving company in the UK picked my stuff up from my flat and promised to put it on the next day flight to Bahrain. I kept calling them from Bahrain and they lied for 10 days and said my stuff was "in transit". When I called a little exasperated they confessed my things still hadn't left the UK and were already damaged. After much shouting over the telephone and fist banging on my desk, I sorted everything out and got all my stuff. I'm still sifting through everything to assess the levels of damage, but so far, so good.
I went to an art exhibition by high school students and I have to say I was very impressed. For real, these kids are really talented and so bold with their work, I was taken aback by the levels of creativity I was seeing. A lot of the work was very smart and it was so refreshing to see the kind of crazy angles that were taken - older generation art students would have never been able to create stuff like this, it was whacky cool. I'm telling you, things are changing in a cool way for kids nowadays.
I still haven't had a Jan Burger. I know, I know, say what you want but I'm no traitor - I'll sort it out and be in Double Jan heaven soon enough.

For how long? Indefinitely...

2008-04-03T15:25:00.003Z

That's a lie: I took the tube to the airport.

It took one decision and one week for me to pack up my life for the last seven years and leave London behind. The one decision was based on work, and of course, as if anyone could expect any different, I was back in the office the day after I arrived. Hardcore.

I've been busy at work, will be busier as I think I've been given some leeway on my first week back and have been able to go home at a reasonable hour to spend time with family and friends (and Fiance of course!). Being busier will be good, I hope that it helps my "transition" into being back here and give me some time to "adjust".

Coming back was a big surprise to many people, especially Fiance whose jaw dropped open when he saw me walk through the door - the look on his face was priceless. Many are more surprised this could be "for good". Hmmm. Let's see how that goes.

I already miss my old life behind that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to properly. Friends and favourite places still visit me in my few hours of sleep every night to tell me that they're carrying alright without me but if I need to come back they'll take me in. The Bridge misses me, or so it swears...

So now that I'm back, I will slowly give myself some time to put together my big plans and build things up for myself, maybe even to relax a little, if possible.

Here's to seeing a few of you around.

Ally McBeal wasn't anorexic, was she?

2008-03-12T16:10:00.002Z

Being a women lawyer has its pressures. It's very competitive and you give up a lot of things like your social life, time with your boyfriend or husband, everyday errands, not having grey hair, sleep. For me, one thing I stopped doing regularly was exercising, which is proof of the terrible, terrible world I live in. Going to the gym becomes something you talk about but deep down inside you know you never do ("3 times a week" you say when you really mean "3 times in the last 3 months") and you really start to feel terrible, especially when there's nothing you can do about it. I think I'm an active person: I will always walk if I have the choice rather than take transport and I like going to the gym, but lately that hasn't been the case and I've really been feeling it. Working in a city law firm isn't helping this ill feeling either, especially as I realised quite early on that there are only a few overweight female lawyers: Everyone looks fabulous and frankly, I just don't see how everyone can stay in such great shape.

When I first started, I was constantly in awe of the waif like creatures that floated around the office in their Dolce and Gabbanna silk shirts and Dior pumps. They would all turn their heads elegantly towards me to smile while I loitered nervously outside their offices for the horrors of more work. I would stand there, self conscious in my boxy suit while they crossed their pencil skirted pencil legs or lifted heavy boxes with their (deceptively strong) twig-like arms. How did they look so good? Fair enough, most of these model-like female lawyers were not junior lawyers (therefore have gotten used to the type of work and frazzle of it all), but if they were in the office with me at half past nine in the evening, when did they have time to take care of themselves, i.e. work out? They were always so perfectly presented, and moreover, they were were all "skinny".

Bar two of the junior staff who were edging on the curvy side, there are no "fat" female lawyers in my firm. These observations took months to reach a conclusion and I believe that after looking at a large number of successful, young, female lawyers, I can concur that almost all of them are slim. Most of the young female solicitors in my firm of a certain rank and above are even quite "skinny"; no matter how drab their suit jacket may be, tiny waists and prominent collar bones are abundant in the office. They all look extremely busy, too, running around, getting things done (what I would consider "corporate cardio"). Perhaps it's the stress, I thought to myself, that makes the weight drop off. Everyone was fairly busy, there were very stressful times, so perhaps with all the madness your metabolism goes up a few notches and you start burning fat like an Iranian kebab shop. This puzzled me, since most of the men seemed to be well fed, so why were most of the the women "skinny"? Surely no matter how stressful it got, you would still break for lunch and dinner, or give into that mind-block-chocolate-craving that everyone gets just before 4 o'clock...

I saw these Skinnies step into lifts during lunchtime or leave the canteen, but soon I realised I never saw them eat. You see, there were times where I spent many a late night in my office building with my only real companions being the other junior lawyers who were slaving away and the canteen staff. Come a certain time of night, I would ring the other young 'uns to see who was up for some grub: If I was still at work at 8 p.m. and it wasn't looking like I was going to be going to a homecooked supper anytime soon, I wanted to make sure I got a square meal in me right away. This was my logic, if I was still working at this time, I was entitled to take a break with some food and have all the high trans-fats cheesy trimmings I wanted. I would pile my tray high with whatever hot dinner was at offer (Lancashire hotpots and pasta bakes of the sorts) and sit down to wolf if all down in less than 20 minutes. In the mean time, I would watch the Emma's and Chloe's float in, pick up some fruit and float out. There were exceptions, some did pick up trays of hot food like me (the roast potatoes, oh the horror of carbs past 6 p.m.!) and even though I would smugly watch them sit down and pick up their forks and knives, I never saw more than a few bites go into their delicate little mouths. The rest of their 16 minutes would be spent poking and prodding at their plates until it was time to go back up to their desks, and with a knowing smile sent my way, I would wipe my plate clean of any traces of my canteen dinner and wonder how they do it.

Soon enough, I found myself inspecting my side profile in the bathroom mirrors far too many times in the day and becoming very body conscious. I too wanted to become a hard working, female lawyer climbing the ranks in a City firm, I too wanted to become "skinny." This was not good, considering I have average BMI and was never one to scrutinise my body. Suddenly, I was always digging for skirts in the morning to show my defined calves and erase the illusion of plank legs I was sure the other lawyers all had of me. I wanted to look the part, walk the walk, talk the assertive talk. I, too, wanted to skip meals when working around the clock for Client X's refinancing model or when Client Hippo's demands were my main priority, not my afternoon snacks of sugary treats.

I tried, I really did, but my stummy would cry out infront of my supervisers. "Maltesers, they're only 190 calories per pack" I would say, sneaking down to the tuck shop to pick up 3 packets of the said treats, a Diet Coke and a Geobar (I hear they're good for you). Along with your usual array of KitKats and Yorkies, our tuck shop is also equipped with all the right treats to keep you trim, with calorie indexes on everything and plenty of shiny apples to make your eyes sparkle like a horse at the Derby. Being a City firm, we also have your usual corporate coffee stand for your obligatory morning paper cup coffee: I would gallantly march my way in the queue to place my louder than usual order of "One 'Skinny' Latte, please", only to have my barrista answer back "All our lattes are "Skinny", Miss". You could not even be served full fat milk if you wanted it, you all had to aim to be "Skinny". All of you. Every, single, one of you.

My current supervisor, an exposed chocoholic, has been a great help by stealing any chocolate I leave at my desk, albeit not very sneakily as I always manage to catch him in the act of scoffing the end of whatever sad soldier I've left behind. If it's going to help me get to that high powered job in my size 0 pencil skirt, I won't say a peep, after all, being skinny and successful go hand it hand it seems in big city firms. Also, golden rule number 1 of working in a law firm is never deny your supervisor of anything on your desk, especially if you want to keep your job.

Perhaps I am looking too far into it and that it is just by coincidence that my firm hires pretty, "skinny" lawyers and sees potential in the younger, "chunky" ones. Already I have noticed a few baggy shirts and loose trousers amongst some of the girls from my intake, even though I do not witness it in myself. I can only pray that I do not remain as the exception to the rule as one of the few "chunky" ones that sticks out like a sore thumb in our group photos.

* The contents of this web site may contain offensive material towards lawyers and not-skinny people. The owner of this website has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all information provided in or through this website is complete and accurate at the time of inclusion. However, there may be inadvertant and occasional errors and omissions, for which the owner of this website apologises. The owner of this website makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information provided through this website and reserves the right to publish this information. The owner of this website accepts no liability for any direct or indirect damages or any other losses or other liability whatsoever resulting from whatever cause through any person's access or inability to access tihs website, or through the use of, and/or reliance upon any informaiton obtained either directly or indirectly from this website. Because frankly, if you were in my shoes, you'd probably be touchy about not being skinny, too, and just want to cover your own ass.

My life at the moment

2008-01-31T23:29:00.000Z

Clearly since my life recently has just been about my work, I haven't had much to say, or perhaps a better way to put it is that I just haven't had the time to sit down and blag away here so I've had to resort to showing you some measley photos I've taken and hope that it will suffice as an explanation of what it is I am up to at the moment.

Which as you can see, isn't much.

My phone.

My afternoon snack.

My walk in the morning.

My view leaving the office.

Maybe I'll do a camera phone "day in the life" as inspired by Twix. That could do it for me.

almost there...

2007-12-18T21:53:00.000Z

Au Revoir

2007-12-04T17:50:00.000Z

It's a sad day in my b'sphere. Today I have to say goodbye to the feeling of anticipation of reading new posts by someone I really admired, for many reasons, as he will no longer be writing in his blog. Your rants and raves will be missed, funny man.

Let's wave our farewell to our dear friend over here.

See you soon x

I am dusting off my Chipmunk's Christmas Special CD as we speak...

2007-11-30T12:22:00.000Z

Jinga ling ling, Christmas time is coming up. The lights are up, shoppers are going crazy and all is jolly and merry in the air. As I sit, wrapped in my scarf in this cold glass building, I sneak peeks at the Christmas fair that has gone up outside Potters Field and feel a bit better about the winter chill... Little children appear out of no where (don't they have school to go to?) and everyone rushes out in their lunch break to buy some mince pies and Christmas cards. The best thing about winter in this country is Christmas time, the whole city lights up and there's something special in the air... I love watching the lights go up, this year I especially like the Art Deco lights of Regent's street and not very impressed by Oxford Street this year. I am certainly most impressed by the decorations in our flat...

Our tree was bought last year when my flatmate went out to get a "small little jobbie from Waitrose" and came back with a huge 6 foot (fake) tree with a trunk full of decorations. She had a sparkle in her eye and infected me with Christmasitis, we had a ball putting up decorations. I always liked Christmas decorations, but I suppose coming from a place where we don't really celebrate Christmas I was initially shocked by how far my flatemate goes to decorate the flat. I'm not just talking christmas lights, a tree and some baubles - I'm talking mini little snow topped cottages on our tree skirt and plushy beefeaters, as well as a few Christmas doggy ornaments and the special coffee mugs that come out every winter. Every night we get a chance to settle on the couch to watch some tv, the first thing we do is put on the Christmas lights on the window, light up the tree, and then sit in the relatively dark living room to relax. We always have to have the tree up before SinterKlaas (my flatmate is Belgian) and we must on the night of the 5th of December put out a carrot and a drink for Santa and his horse (yes, we're not 4, but before she wakes up I make sure there are some chocolate gold coins in my flatmate's shoes... and to my surprise, when I wake up the carrot and drink are gone! Must be a Christmas miracle...).

In the office there hasn't been much of a Christmas feel until today - the day of our Christmas Ball. The jolly admin staff have already sent around an email to notify us that we cannot ruin our brand new building in any way, so we are not allowed to hang Christmas decorations - well, at all. I mean, we can put some our desks but what fun is that? Let me tell you, the secretaries are not pleased.... This means nothing from the ceiling, no fake snow on the windows, no snow flakes or little christmas teddies anywhere. I understand it's not professional, but come on... it's Christmas... and if I can't have office decorations, well then Ricky Gervais lied to me in The Office. Hmph. Scrooges.

This is our busiest time of year in my department so I haven't had much time to do any Christmas shopping or go to a Christmas Fayre, but I will make time soon enough. Although last year I had the pleasure of spending Christmas with two of my dearest friends, I've opted to go back home and spend this time of year with my family, especially my nieces. If anything, Christmas is for them (how funny for me to say "them" and not "her"... there's two of them now!) so I want to go back and just be with them... I now wonder what I would have done if I had to spend Christmas here alone (probably working) - Although it is a lovely time of year, it's the most lonely if you'd have to spend it by yourself and that I am not planning on doing... No sirree...

And while we're at it, I feel like I should put up my Christmas Wishlist for those of you who are stuck for ideas:

1. An iPod that will not die after a few months of serious usage, can hold all my photos, my music, tell me the weather, pull up maps of dingy side streets when I'm lost, look pretty... basically, an iPhone.
2. Sunshine in a jar. Comme ca.
3. Some nice leather boots
4. Perhaps a nice handbag to go along with my nice leather boots
5. A Castle (or for those on a budget, the pink Sheera castle I had when I was a kid needs to be replaced)
6. A baby grand piano
7. Gift certificates for John Lewis (sensible aren't I?)

Let's all get into the spirit now... xxx

Absolutely Gutted

2007-11-21T23:07:00.001Z

Yes you twat, cry.... hold your umbrella and sob because after tonight's performance, I really don't see how you'll be keeping your job... You may not want to resign but you'll definitely think about it when you come home to a trashed house and your car on fire...

It is completely your fault England have not qualified tonight... they played appallingly tonight... 4-3-3? What were you thinking? Why? And then watching Crouch play alone oh my... He may have scored the second goal but what were you thinking.... The whole team was absolute rubbish...

Carson... my oh my oh my... I don't think there's anything I can say that hasn't been said already...

I'm so upset... I can't believe we were clinging on to Andorra as our last chance to equalise against Russia... Andorra who haven't made it in the last 29 years were supposed to score a goal for us and they couldn't come through... All fairness to Andorra, they probably weren't as horrible as England tonight...

So much I can say but I think I should go to bed... goodnight...

Out and about: London Jazz Festival

2007-11-18T19:23:00.000Z

I really needed to chill out. Predicting a peak in what one could call emotional instability, I sent an email to a friend with a link -"jazz at lunchtime?" - to which she was quick to agree to meet on Sunday at Waterloo ready to switch off and just chill out. The long sunny week passed and when Sunday came, the weather was horrible and we had to walk far too long to get a cup of coffee, but when we finally got to the Royal Festival Hall and saw the dim light stage, we relaxed. After finding a proper seat, I slipped into a stream of rhythm and forgot about my worries and my doubts...

We attended a performance consisting of 3 of England's top contemporary jazz bands in the Southbank Centre and although we only got to see one band, it was well worth it. The band consisted of a piano, saxophone, trumpet, bass and the drums and the composition of the music was very young, very vibrant and very, very good.

The nice thing about listening to contemporary jazz bands is the different ways of integrating each individual sound together. In the band we saw, there was no singer - which I prefer only because I tend to focus on the instruments rather than the singing (and usually the piano, just my own personal preference). The type of music that was being played wasn't the type that you could write lyrics to, let alone sing along to: any attempt to add any written words would have ruined it all for me personally. The final sound that came out together was just right for the audience of all ages and very current to today's tastes.

Some people don't like this particular style of music because they don't find it uniform enough and hard to follow - there's no obvious bridge or scale and can sound off key. Every instrument plays a different role which on the surface doesn't seem like it goes with the rest of the band - for instance, the piano player sounds like she's constantly hitting the wrong keys while the trumpet sounds like it would be better off alone. But what's great is that once you dissect each instrument and musician by himself, that is a song in itself - and every musician was playing to the same subtle tune. In one song, each musician had a solo in which at the end of the mini performances, when they all came together, the song made sense and you appreciated each musical contribution separately.

Some people also think that this sort of music requires a lot of improvising from the musician. I have to disagree with this because although it may sound like a lot of improvising (what may sound like a lot of mistakes, a lot of missed keys) - a lot of the time, it's actually not. After paying attention to a whole song, you'll notice the pattern of the music that really requires talent by someone who is trained in that genre.

As I said, I tend to focus on the piano if there is one because it's my favourite instrument so my eyes were glued to the pianists fingers - she was incredible, and I could tell it was from a lot of practice to refine that particular song. A lot of funky finger rolling was going on and I was just in awe, which also made me appreciate the rest of the band because the music wasn't all in the piano - the whole band was extremely talented and I could see why they were one of the best contemporary jazz bands of the country at the moment.

Although I really love the piano, I much prefer listening to a jazz band than one musician. There is talent in playing a musical instrument but there is far more talent in synchronizing your music with someone else's, especially in a genre like this. The band was very good and very original - they avoided the whole mainstream jazz scene which is exactly what I wanted to hear. It was a good end to the week and a much needed change from the norm - I'm hoping to catch another performance soon so long as I'm not stuck in my office building too often...

The London Jazz Festival will be on until Sunday the 25th of November with events on every day. Events at the Southbank Centre can be seen here.

Forster Gallery

2007-11-13T17:57:00.000Z

You can buy me the prints. All of them.

Back to London tonight

2007-10-17T14:01:00.000Z

In a bullet proof vest
With the windows all closed
I'll be doing my best

And I'll see you soon

In a telescope lens
And when all you want is friends
I'll see you soon

- See You Soon, Coldplay

I love/hate you ESPN

2007-09-20T08:14:00.000Z

I'm not an athletic person at all. I have no competitive streak in me. The only physical exercise I partake in is jogging and I've never been in a marathon of any sort. I was never the kid that got picked last in gym class, I was just the kid that was never there. I just didn't care for playing any competitive games at all. But still, I think I can say I understand sports.

Growing up, I never interfered with football games on TV or the strange language of baseball players between my brothers. I got it - sports are important to men and that's just the way it is. It never bothered me, I never thought of it. When I went to college, I even became an avid football supporter - I became the girl who jumped on her chair and screamed in the face of a rival team's supporter when my team won an important game (Vimmel, if you ever read this, I'm not sorry). Still, I never went to play footie with the boys or try my hand at squash or hockey and at the same time I never dismissed any of it as being unimportant to anyone. I valued how people felt about sports.

Towards the end of my college years, I met this guy and I kinda liked him. He was pretty cool; he was smart, funny, down to earth, a bit of a geek, listened to some cool indie music. He was also a crazy sports fan and I thought that was pretty cool too. I actually thought it was important to like a guy who liked sports, because it gave him something to feel passionately about. Not so cool that he felt so passionately about my team's rival football team, but I pushed that aside. He had other good qualities in him. So I didn't think too much of it.

Soon enough, I started dating this guy. The first week of our official courting we spent watching Euro 2004. Our first summer was spent explaining the rules of the NFL and rugby. The rest of our courtship was filled with endless football games, international competitions and even lazy days watching darts (Phil the Power Taylor and his arch nemeses Scholten). I didn't really mind, I was pretty easy going about it. I toned down my hooligan ways and let him explain things to me I pretended I didn’t know already. It was sweet.

Me and the boyfriend then got engaged. Amazing, flowers everywhere, congratulatory wishes and everyone’s blessings. Things were great. Everyone was happy for us, we were especially happy. Boyfriend now becomes fiancé and is still ever as much a crazy sports fan. All is still cool.

Fiancées both move back home and back into their parents houses and fiancées want to live a happy engaged life together, as you do. But wait, how are we going to go about this fiancé business with all these sports on? I mean, the premier league is going to start soon... That will take away Saturdays and Sundays... Short after the Champions league will start too, so Tuesdays and Wednesdays are going to be written off as well... What now?

Male Fiancé gets an idea: He'll get a Showbox aka the-answers-to-all-my-problems-in-a-box-box. Showbox has a function where you can record TV shows to watch later a la sky plus. Excellent. No problems missing any important games. Perfect, perfect. I even call up Showtime to give them a shout so they can install his box faster, all in hopes that now we’ll be able to spend far more time together. Game’s on at 6 - that also coincides with dinner with all our friends for someone’s birthday that’s really in 3 weeks but we wanted to throw it now incase anyone travels at any point in between…? When this could have been an issue, it now was not a problem: we have the ShowDreambox…

Or so I thought.

Because then the inevitable happened. I mean, what was I thinking? That it was just going to end there? Here, let me set the timer for the United game today and then me and Fiancée can go back to being in love and… wait a minute, the Chelsea game’s playing too… Hmm… I should probably record that too… Wait, wait, I have to record the Liverpool game so I can taunt my best friend about it later… Hmmmm again… I wonder what else is on today…

You may think you got the picture but you really gotta try and picture it: Next thing it’s International friendlies. Then it’s Champion’s League games. Then it’s the Rugby World Cup. Then it’s anything where there’s people and a ball and screaming fan(s) and a whistle blown at the end and Fiancé going “Oh Wow it’s over” with a big sigh of relief like people did when someone big gave a speech or a war just ended. And guess what? If he could record them all, he would and he would spend all day indoors watching all the sports he can. Lucky for us, good-for-something-Showbox-box has a limit on how much you can record at the same time. Lucky us.

I thought I got it, I thought I understood sports. I mean, we even spent that summer watching the Ashes, remember? Wasn’t it nice? Couldn’t it have just ended there? I know that would have been asking for too much because I had to face reality: This was it, my fiancé is a sports lunatic. Fiancé has even asked that our wedding date does not clash with any major sporting events. And when I mockingly asked what game could be more important than our wedding day I should have known what would happen next: Fiancé’s silent blinking face stared at me as in his head he named all the major sporting events which he could not, under any circumstances, not even his wedding day, miss watching live.

I think I still get it, I think we’ve managed to work out a system in which we’re as happy as we can be. Sports are still being watched and fun stuff is still being done. We lay down the law as soon as we saw a potential conflict arise: Once I’m done with work, the remote control is dropped and we continue along our merry way. There are still many “but for’s”, but we’re managing pretty well so far.

I even let him read a bit of this post as I was writing it last night. He was watching some footie and flipping through the flip-through ART sports channel and he asked to read what I was typing. See, I told myself, he’s doesn’t completely zone out when the football’s on. I propped up the laptop and showed him what I was saying about him, I wanted to make sure he thought it wasn’t too inappropriate, writing out our private lives and all… In short, when he stopped reading out loud and snapped his head back to the TV screen, I knew that this wasn’t going to be a problem. I almost expected it to happen. And rather than get angry, I just laughed and finished writing this post.

There are a lot of girls that like sports. I enjoy watching sports on TV, I like the rush. I get in the spirit. But I also learned that I have other priorities in life that make sports take a back seat after a while. Men don’t really have that and I think women don’t really understand it. My only piece of advice to all girls out there is to humour them. Don’t pretend to be into it if you’re heart’s not in it, but don’t let it get to you either. It’s just sports. Don’t ever say that to your male companion either. Just find the funny side to it. Because when your fiancé starts listing sporting events that cannot, under any circumstances, coincide with your wedding day, all you can do then is laugh. Or call me up and I’ll laugh for the both of us.

1 Ramadhan 1428

2007-09-13T06:39:00.000Z

God works in mysterious ways...

My summer island hopping (Bahrain is an archipelago after all)

2007-09-03T15:46:00.000Z

It has been a hot summer here and I did not anticipate it to be otherwise. Hot, sticky and humid. It has been a nice summer.

I could have only guessed my stay here would fly by with days in the office and nights fluttering between one social event to the next. Weekends were spent with my family and his family and their family and then at various dinner parties eating Thai tidbits until 2 months flew by. I carelessly counted the days until reality told me my time here is coming to an end and soon I'll be back on the outside looking into a world I forgot I was a part of.

It's been a good summer because I love Bahrain. I love hanging out with my family and my childhood friends. I love cocktail Kuwaiti from Burair and drive-thru everything. I love the simple life here that can get you as far as you need. It's great, isn't it? My friends abroad leave me jealous facebook messages on how sunny life must be here and how wonderful it all is.

What I don't tell them is that after a whole summer here I've now got an itch that no matter how much I scratch will not go away. Who was I kidding, a whole summer here and I was expected to stay sane? With no special exhibitions in museums, no parks, no outdoors activities, no long walks, no intellectual stimulation, no anything new and no character to anything around me, was I supposed to be just fine and not feel useless?

I may have been working since day 2 of being back but I've just felt generally lazy this summer. I can't pinpoint what it was and I feel pangs of guilt everytime I try to break it down, but it just might be that I tried too hard to transition into life here and it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I miss being outdoors and exploring, I miss going for a run and then having a day jam packed with things to do. I miss being busy with "that sort of life" that a lot of people here just don't understand - "Miskeena" they say, shaking their heads "you're always running around, you don't have time to take care of yourself and relax"... all I can think is that maybe I like that kind of life...

I hated it when people said they "hate Bahrain" but I sympathise when people said it's "boring". It is boring and if you don't find ways to keep yourself busy it could drive you crazy. Life in Bahrain is far slower than many places in the world and if you don't accept it, you will go mad. I see people in Bahrain who are comfortable. They have their jobs, their social lives, their routines and it suits them just fine. I don't see myself there just yet. Where's the music, the art, the life? Or am I just being too ambitious?

And this is why I love London. I love every bit of it - even the mad bursts of sunshine in between rainy days, park lunches and all the media types of Soho. I love the side streets and the cafes, I love the Indian men in corner shops who drive Mercedes because they over charge you for a bottle of water and a Kitkat. I love the monuments, the benches, the Thames, I love everything about London. I love the Electric Ballroom and Harlem, kebab at Behesht and Kulfi from Brick Lane in Ramadhan. I'm itching to go back to the way things were when I was there... back to walking up long escalators and crossing streets like a real pedestrian. I miss our cafe nero and the beep of my oyster card, I miss shuffling through lines of slow people, I really miss it all... It's just my city and right now I feel like I need to go back.

Sometimes other Bahrainis talk about London and how much they love it, and I try not to get too possessive. I mean, not everyone knows where the best dim sum is or what it feels like to be attacked by a hobo. A lot of people don't know London overground or what buildings are teaching hospitals and elementary schools. Probably none of these people have ever worn mismatched clothes and gotten complimented on their outfit. Still, it's such a great city that it can be anyone's city - there's just so much to see and feel and taste and experience with all your senses and enough to go around for 11 million people at a time... Oh, I sigh as I write about London with a dreamy look on my face, I do love my city...

I love Bahrain but I miss my life in London. I miss being energetic, being arty for a day, being professional the next, being serious all morning and fun fun fun the rest of the time. I just haven't figured out how to bring that here.

Maybe what I need is to get away and reflect about all of this.

Maybe I'll do just that... 6 months in London again? Back to suiting, booting and commuting?

Perhaps that's exactly what I need...

On...

2007-07-24T20:13:00.000Z

... Living at Home again ... Ups include never having to worry about dinner, never have trouble ironing a shirt and never running out of necessities you wouldn't always have in your home if you lived alone, like cotton wool or celotape. Downs include the obvious living at Home again - 'nuff said, I don't think I should elaborate anymore. I'm lucky to have supportive siblings who have also gone through this all so at least they don't argue back with me when I'm near throwing a tantrum (thanks guys).

... Working in Bahrain ... I'm really enjoying it, albeit it being very busy at the moment... A lot of people have told me before that "Bahrainis are lazy" but I can't really judge since I don't really work with any. So far, so good.

... Eating out in Bahrain ... Yum yum yum says my expanding waistline.

... Driving in Bahrain... What traffic jams? Or is this only because it's the summer time and lot's of people are on holiday? I don't get it... A'holes, however, I get and I don't like. Our GCC neighbours should not be welcome in our country no more.

... Shopping in Bahrain ... don't try and yawn through this one, Shopping here sucks... I miss boutiques, I miss market stalls, I miss unique affordable clothes... I walked into a boutique and picked up a caftan dress I loved but had to put back down because of it's 200 Dinar price tag. Ouch ouch. Also, I'm not the most fashionable person I know (far from it actually) and I can tell you that the definition of what's "fashionable" or "cool" in this country is really bland. Every girl here needs someone to tell her that she can dress however she wants and doesn't have to look like her 4 other friends who are walking in a herd in the Seef Mall. And by the way, not everyone can pull of red lipstick girls, not everyone...

As you can all see, I'm still in "adjusting" mode... Unfortunately, my other half (better half?) still hasn't come back so I'm feeling the pains of Bahrain alone, which feel magnified to the power of 100. A lot of things upset me and I've been trying to keep a positive outlook, which some of my friends find amusing and predict it to be short lived. I'll continue to keep positive, look at the bright things and I do continue to thank the powers above for everything I've got - it could be a lot worse... I'll continue to put down my thoughts, when I have time, so I can look back at this a couple of years down the line at laugh at how I feel at the moment. I'm looking forward to it.

No Ped Xings here

2007-07-11T12:45:00.000Z

I got up from quick lunch at a Starbucks with a friend to head back to work one afternoon.

"Where's your car?" he asked as he picks up his Gucci shades and pulled out his Mont Blanc keyring.

"At the regency car park" I got up, adjusted myself and picked up my hand bag.

"Laish wagafteeha b3eeed min ihneey?" He asked, busy fiddling with his super cool new phone.

"Laish? That's where my parking spot is..."

"O Shlone yeetay?" we walked towards the door.

"Shino shlone? Meshait"

"You walked?!?!?!" He stops in his tracks, raises his eyebrows and mockingly drops his mouth open.

"Ee akeed" I stopped as well and knitted my eyebrows together. "Why should I drive for 15 minutes when I could walk for 5?"

He shook his head and put on his blinging shades.

"Ma7ad yamshi ihneey terra, 7u6i hai el shai fi balech"

Well Harumph to you too.

A picture can say a thousand words

2007-06-30T20:18:00.000Z

Hey Sabooch, look at those idiots in the car taking a picture of us... pssssht... wasting their time when there's 50% off at Mango...

Keep walking ladies, I think I see the new extension in the distance!

Update This!

2007-06-18T20:34:00.000Z

Ehhhh stolen internet again, this feels so good... thank you GOAT_WIRELESS* for bringing your unsecured network back into my life. Now I can go back to hours of useless web surfing when I really could be doing other things.

I've been busy and not at the same time. In the last 2 weeks I've

Left my old job

Went on an English Holiday and forgot about the polluted world

Had Real Cornish Clotted Cream Ice Cream

Saw a great play at a great venue

Saw an even greater concert at a much grander venue (MUSE AT WEMBLEY)

Became a Corporate Craving Slave

Started packing to go back home (half truth: the will is there, I can't bring myself to actually pack just yet)

I'd really love to elaborate on all of the above but right now Number 7 is apparently the most important. I know I'm going back home sometime fairly soon but I really can't bring myself to pack. It's the same sad feeling as just the thought of watching the final ever episode of Six Feet Under which is waiting for me in my DVD player - I just can't bring myself to do either, it's just so depressing. Anyway, it can't be that bad since I should be back in London by end of September to do yet another stint of hard work. So I'm not moving my whole life back just yet so I'm going to avoid the packing big for a little longer.

That's about it, I really don't feel like elaborating.

*Real wireless network connection name hidden for purposes which will allow me to continue using this free service until I leave. Like it or not, I'm stealing your internet buddy and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Not much longer left now.

2 More Days and I'm No Longer a FroggeyMan

2007-06-06T10:46:00.000Z

It just hit me this morning that I will no longer be working here next week. Wow. And that I'm probably leaving London in about 2 weeks. Wow Wow.

I should take my stuff soon - the framed picture of my parents on my desk (Christmas Lunch 2005, R's house) and my CHOCOCAT flask (for my milk tea from home every morning). I should also close all my old case files and say my goodbyes to clients. Maybe plan a lunch on Friday. Steal some stationary. Tell a Boss how I really feel about her. Slap a co-worker. Kiss the delivery man. Whatever it is people do when they leave their job.

I'll figure it out shortly. I think the saddest thing will be saying goodbye to everyone, which I've been avoiding. Hmph.

What Lyrics... # 5

2007-06-05T09:50:00.000Z

Make You Cry?

Aude Lang Syne - The New Year's Song, every time.

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
and there's a hand my trusty friend,
and gi'es a hand to mine,
we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne"

Father and Son - Cat Stevens pre-Yousif Islam

The thought of struggles between a father and son, when the son won't take advice his father gives him - it makes me cry every time.. Why can't they just reach an agreement, damnit?

Wow, just typing out the lyrics made me teary eyed, moving right along...

Salam 3alaika - Kathim el Sahir

Singing the proposed Iraqi National Anthem, always gives me goosebumps. Preferrably the live version from Royal Albert Hall in 2006- even the memory of it makes me a little emotional.

What the Snowman Learnt About Love - Stars

The music here more than the lyrics, but "I am Sara and this is my heart "
*tears tears tears*

Tell Him - Lauryn Hill

Many disputes later, Ed & I stand by our words that this song is about God, which makes me cry even more when I hear it.

"Let me be patient, let me be kind
Make me unselfish, without being blind
Though I may suffer, I'll envy it not
And endure what comes
Cause he's all that I got
and tell him...
Tell him I need him...
Tell him I love him...
And it'll be alright..."

Transatlantacism - Death Cab For Cutie

This one hits a sore spot:

"The Atlantic was born today and I'll tell you how...
The clouds above opened up and let it out.
I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole.
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,
Making islands where no island should go.
Oh no.
Those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your door
have been silenced forever more.
The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
It seems farther than ever before.
Oh no.
I need you so much closer

I need you so much closer
So come on, come on "

***********************************

This one was easy as I am a crybaby anyway. I could probably think of another dozen or so songs that make me bawl so I'll leave it up to you guys.

Your turn to shed some tears...

Concert Review: DMB is back again and heavy on my mind

2007-05-31T09:58:00.001Z

Els sent me a forwarded email early yesterday morning from one of her colleagues advertising extra Dave Matthews Band concert tickets and my reply of YES YES PLEASE ME!!! probably scared the living daylights out of her (and the score of trainees copied on the email!). After sending my over enthusiastic written out yell, I quickly spoke to heron the phone and she said I had sent the most promising reply, as a lot of people just went "errrr alright then". We decided that even though we didn't know any of the new music they'd be playing to promote the new album, we should go as old time fans together, a flatmate bonding thing with some good music we both knew...

I've been a fan of Dave (and the rest of the band, of course) for just over 10 years now (which is a little scary) and I've never seen them live... When I say "fan" I mean I'm still listening to all the live versions of his older songs on my iPod which have been downloaded over the years, and since I have "all the good stuff" on my playlists, I guess that constitutes me as one... I was speaking to the Mr. last week when he told me his friends were going to see DMB in Dublin and I was a little jealous. "Maybe we can go when they come to London? I heard they're going to Wembley?" he suggested at the time and I dismissed it as one of those things that just never happens - I guess I was wrong - thanks to my over enthusiasm and a genius stroke of luck credited by a colleague of my flatmate who bought 4 tickets instead of 2, I was going to see DMB.

We got to Wembley with the rest of the late-20s/30-something crowds... Basically, anyone who went to college in the noughties was there ready to hear some music that reminded them of that one time in their dorm room when they were hungover some girl or guy and Dave was playing on the radio... I thought we'd look silly in our suits but as it was a mid-week concert geared to an older audience, a lot of people showed up after work and hung outside the arena chatting away. It almost felt as if everyone knew eachother in a strange way and were all retelling stories of "this song reminds me of when..." It was pretty cool and Dave did not let us down...

They were spectacular to say the least... They started off slow but not too slow, with Dreamgirl and warmed the audience up with some of their new stuff. Tom Morello came on and Dave busted out # 41 and Satellite and the crowd went crazy - they were excellent and picked two great songs to play live with an awesome guitarist. Dave also did a bit of acoustics and played new songs called Sisters and the Idea of You which were both beautiful and got the suckers in the audience, yours truly, welling up with emotion. Of course sole credit doesn't go to Dave's rusty voice and squeaky guitar - the instrumental solos were fantastic, I've never seen a violinist go that crazy on a stage before... The pianist, brass players, drummer, the band was incredible... As on all their live shows they would go off on long and beautiful riffs and the crowd loved it, we danced away with the silhouettes of the other hundreds of fans in the arena and we ate it all up...

They ended the show with Ants Marching which got the whole arena up on their feet dancing... It was magical and when they said their goodbyes we stomped our feet for more until they came out to an encore of Two Step, my favourite ever DMB song... Of course I was chanting along the words and waving my arms as the music pumped my blood into my body - it was an amazing feeling that made me fall in love with Dave all over again, time and time again.

A lot of credit has to go to the lights & sound technicians - the way the band glowed of pinks and blues made them stand out as the glowing crowd of yellow and orange moved with the music... I am a sucker, I will always be a sucker, and the whole collaboration of sound, lights and atmosphere kicked me in my spine and made me choke up with a couple of tears... It was special, call me whatever you want but it was pretty damn special...

I am a sucker and I will say it: There was magic in that arena last night and I'm so glad I got to see them live... There was a lad infront of us who was at his 7th DMB concert and was telling us that this was the best he's ever seen... As we took the train home late last night I didn't doubt it - I think everyone was in awe of the performance. Rather than your usual rowdy post-gig crowd, there was happy nostalgic buzz in the tiny compartments of the tube on our way home and it was a nice feeling. His voice was still in my ears and around my neck this morning when I woke up - the live show will never compare to my measly playlist so I will commit to my memory for how great they still are.

Dave Matthews Band ended their European Tour in London last night at the Wembley Arena. Their new album will be out this summer.

Summertime Brings More Crazy People

2007-05-25T11:46:00.000Z

I don't know what it is, but summertime brings a lot more crazies in London.

So many crazy people, so little pavement space... Exiting the tube station this morning, there was a guy wearing spandex flexing his muscles for the grim group of lawyers trying to get to their even more grim offices (all dressed in black, of course). Everyone was trying to move around his bright yellow body suit and his purple Y-fronts as he growled a couple of "HUWAAAA"s in our faces. Some of the students in the group cracked smiles, all the lawyers just hissed and moved away. This has been going on for a couple of days, I'm waiting for the day one of the Slaughter & May trainees who hasn't slept in 4 nights punches him in the face.

There is also an increase of volunteers from Amnesty International/PETA/Stop Abusing Kite Flyers and other silly groups that need attention (or so they say). There's no rain or hail to stop them from trying to pull their charms as you stroll down the street - this is what they've got to do and the sunshine only makes them stay out for longer... And with the sunshine, they pull out all their cute smiles and chat up lines "Come on, you know you've got a minute for me and all the Orphans in Guatemala love..." Grrrr... No I don't but if you grin at me like that I'll give in for the orphans... Some of them follow you and do a little dance, step in your way, and there are no puddles from the rain to stop them so you'd be surprised as to how far they'd go just to get your attention... The problem with this group is that you feel bad when you snap your "no thank you" to them on the street because you know you will walk 10 feet to a park bench and sit down to have your lunch in the sunshine. They know you're not busy. They know you've got money to spare. They even probably want a bite of your M&S sandwich (and you will feel guilty for it, even if you don't like to share food). It's hard not to give when the weather is so nice and you're in such a good mood (and Oxfam hires some pretty charismatic buggers to follow you around).

You know, it's not the heat that drives people crazy (this is a nice 16 degrees not the smouldering 46 that makes you want to kill an arab on a beach with a gun* double points for guessing the lit reference) - it's the fact that the weather is nice so you can stand outside and shout out whatever you want all day. There's no piercing winds to push you down the street and indoors, so why don't you pull out your hair in minimal clothing and dance around in the streets? It's okay, it's sunny, no one minds... Go on... wanna grab a tambourine and shake it in my face? Sure, go for it! It's sunny, I don't care!

Of course, summer brings two groups of people I just can't stand: Christian Winner/Sinner Preachers and the Hare Krishna. Those "Don't be a sinner, be a winner" stand-arounds who shout out abuse when all you want to do is get into Topshop really piss you off... and you know what? Tourists love them... Don't ask me why, but they find them hilarious... They applaud them, they take pictures of them, I once saw a Japanese couple videotape one... I just don't' see it, some crusty guy standing around with a megaphone (as if we need the extra noise pollution) shouting out abuse to all the shoppers and trying to convert them all... Aurgh... Slap them with an ASBO I say and move on...

And as for the Hare Krishna Hare Rama: Don't even get me started. Please, please, please, someone send a super tornado and whisk them away to Everest and away from my sight.

Point is, summertime brings the crazies, so watch out as you're walking down the streets in your flippers, minding your own business... and watch out for when you start to get them... Hey, me and my friends get it, we go a little loco when the sun comes out too... but you know what we do? We don't harass people in the streets, we just go to the park and run around like a bunch of monkeys amongst ourselves and capture it on camera, and that's okay...

Trafalgar Square becomes one big park today and there's a mini festival in Victoria Park with lot's of cotton candy & outdoor fun stuff. Oh, and I know David Duchovny isn't in London in the picture, but someone needs to tell him grey shorties are soo winter.

What Lyrics... # 4

2007-05-22T13:34:00.001Z

Remind You Of Your Best Friend?

"I'll say "I think he likes you"
You'll say "I think he do, too"
I'll say "Go and get 'em girl -
before he gets you...
I'll be watching you from the window,
I'll come to your rescue,
if he tries anything..."

If He tries Anything - Ani Difranco

Simple Pleasures

2007-05-21T09:20:00.000Z

Finding that one empty seat on an early morning train to work
Watching sail boats swim with swans while I have my Saturday morning tea.
Finishing work on time and leaving when it's still light outside.
Hugs from Papaya.
Clean Sheets & PJs and falling asleep to the smell of comfort (in so many ways).
Manicures.
Finishing a good book.
BBQs and not having to "man the grill" because the "men" will do it.
Hand Cream.
Damn Good Music.

Michael Buble may have a funny name but he just wants to go home.

2007-05-17T16:13:00.000Z

June 8th. My sister-in-law's birthday, also, my last day at work.

I handed in my resignation last Friday, right before going out to a big dinner with my colleagues to celebrate my engagement.

I didn't tell any of my colleagues, instead I just watched them all have a good time while three of my managers cornered me throughout the night and tried to convince me to stay. It was strange. My colleagues managed to sober up by Monday morning and corner me then after I told them. That was pretty strange too.

"Why" was the big question, so I had to pull out a couple of "excuses" if you'd like to call them that. Engagement. Family. Living alone is lonely (no shit). London's too expensive (give me a huge pay rise). London isn't home (I should go back to Bahrain). The last one got them nodding their heads in approval and they all told me they understand and wished me luck, so whatever my real "excuse" is, I'll let that be my "excuse" for now.

I say it but I have to admit, I feel a little uneasy about going back to Bahrain, whenever it is I do. I mean, I love Bahrain, my family lives there, you can get cocktail juice from practically anywhere, it's fantastic. But I have been away for a long time and I'm definitely a little nervous about moving back, whenever it is I move back. It could be on June the 9th, it could be 3 months from then, at this moment, I don't really know.

A year ago, when my future was uncertain and everything was pretty much a bitch, I was chatting with a friend and she asked me if I liked Bahrain. She asked because at the time, she saw me as a city girl and she thought London suited me perfectly. This could have been because a black cab had just splashed water all over us on the street and I shouted out "W*****!" She said she thought London was a good home for me and luckily I found a job so I made it my home for a while.

"Home is where your heart is, it's where you hang your hat" See, my heart is in Bahrain, but I don't hang my hat there just yet. I don't even wear hats in Bahrain. I've been hanging my hat here for so long that I don't mind it, I'm okay about it. I go about, do my thing, never once think of myself as a stranger but just another face in the crowd. And honestly? In a lot of respects, I've been alright...

But sometimes, sometimes, when it's cold (a lot) and grey (all the time), and when I take my long journey home from work alone (every single night), I think of what it would be like to just get in my car, go to my real home and see my parents hanging out or meet up with my man for dinner and talk about stuff in person and not over the phone... I wonder what it would be like to see my siblings on a daily basis (and not yearly) or go over to an old friend's house by not having to travel for 45 minutes to get there with dead skin cells and mice (even though we live in the same city)... Sometimes I get home and it's that meal for one on that empty dining table that really gets to me and I just feel like crawling into bed and pretending that "coming home" bit was all a bad dream, and that really, everyone's waiting for me in my real home back in Bahrain.

I've made a decision and "going home" it is, along with many other things that I am still sorting out (career, relationship, get-fitter-than-my-dad plan). For a little bit, anyway. Some people have told me to come back and that it's time, others are urging me to stick out and stay abroad, but I think I'm making the right decision somehow. Minus all the panic attacks and "this is all for you!" tantrums, I'm excited about being back home. Home where hugs are frequent and there's no need to vacuum, and the fridge is always filled with chocolate milk. So I'm in, for now, and I'm excited.

The Demise of the Cassette Tape

2007-05-10T16:07:00.000Z

Take me back to 1994: I'm 11 years old and I'm going through a shoebox of cassette tapes my siblings have for me to rummage through in our play room. That was all I needed on an afternoon indoors, a box of tapes and a cassette player (our beloved Robo-Disco) and I was set. My fingers were imprinted with little square shapes from pressing the rewind-stop-play buttons so many times and I didn't mind - this was music to me. This was how it was supposed to be, you and your cassettes.

Tapes were all we had, stacked in neat little piles with their boxes and tiny pictures of the artists whose music they blared on our players - they were cool. As school kids, we'd hop into whatever car and pull out our tapes from our book bags and pass them to the front seat. "Side A, first song" - I laugh now when I remember how many times I must have said "press play press play! I'll miss the song!" Oh my...

Then there were the cherished Mix-Tapes. Mix tapes were the coolest - if you got a mix-tape from someone, well, we all knew what that meant... I remember sticking stickers on mine to my girlfriends, spending hours trying to make the perfect tape with the perfect pauses between songs and well timed to fill a whole tape and not over run (such amateurs, whoever overran with their mix-tapes). Telling someone you'd make them a tape was a commitment, hours dedicated to producing something the perfect tape for someone. There was no imaginary database filled with music and a cutesy little program let you click all your choices onto a list and ta da, it all happened... oh no Sir, there was a shoebox filled with cassettes that you had to rummage though. If you were organized (which you never were), you'd have them all laid out infront of you, with a list of songs... Then you'd go through them, listening to each whole song before pausing, putting in another tape, pressing record & play and then rummaging for another... Kids nowadays probably laugh at our ghetto ways, but ghetto is that who does not know the tape, I say... Ghet-to...

But Alas, no more... No more tapes, we then took on MD players and CDs... and from CDs we moved on to the electronic age where mp3s and iPods and compact nice BOSE speakers for our MP3 players came about... and now no one punches "stop" or "play" on a stubborn button, we all pull out our super flash, super small and super sexy gadgets and twirl our fingers around to play 18 hours of non-stop music. Sorry Maxwell, your 90 minutes mean nothing anymore...

When was the last time anyone bought a tape? I can shamelessly tell you now that the last tape I bought was Norah Jones in the summer of 2003 from Dubai for my car (which did not have a CD player, "Ghetto" I hear you kids taunting!)... I don't know if that's what's funny or that I had to explain to a friend why I was buying a tape and not a CD (not so shamelessly, I tell ya)...

The last mix-tape I received? Now this I know for a FACT: Summer of 2001 from my good friend Mai - a tape that had Side A filled with cool music at the time (whatever dance/R&B was big) and then Side B which was filled with more geeky acoustic stuff for me (shameless, I am shameless!). The tape was, again, for my car when I first got my licence and the only tape I not only took with me to college, but I listened to that Side B for 3 years... Thanks Mimi, that tape you made for the Opel was far more valued than you thought it was...!

Last Tape I heard? Funny enough, walking around my flat a couple of weeks ago, I stopped when I heard a familiar click I haven't heard in a while... I turned to look at my flatmate, who was lounging on the couch reading a book, and asked her what it was... She merely muttered "Music", nodding her head towards the stereo system.

"Are you listening to a Tape?" I asked, astonished, as the music continued (It's one of those "smart" systems, as my flatmate calls it... the type that has a car-style 6-CD changer and flips tapes when it gets to the end of the side). I stopped in my tracks and in my fluffy house socks.

"Yup" nose still buried in her book.

"Really??!?!!" She put her book down and turned to me

"Yeah, really? Why?" She was confused and so was I. I shook my head and walked away... Who still listens to tapes?

Find out how to revive your old tapes here.

It's a beautiful May Day

2007-05-01T09:50:00.000Z

M’aidez
—French for “Help me,” which is pronounced in English like “Mayday,” a universal radio code indicating extreme distress.

Taken from Margret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, I remember the story of M'Aidez/Mayday every year today. While protestors are shouting abuse towards Blair and the Labour Party (ha ha), I sit inside my office and remembers stories we read in high school that scared us of Big Brother and whether we'd all become Handmaid's one day.

May Day in England is a bit of an anti-capitalist day (it isn't referred to as Labour Day here as fondly as it is in other parts of the world) and as today isn't an official holiday, I don't see how this is a national workers' holiday. May Day grants us a "Bank Holiday" on the first Monday of May - also, not the 1st of May - so really none of it makes any sense.

Well, tying it back into The Handmaid's Tale it does. "It's a Beautiful May Day" is what Ofglen tells Offred while walking in a garden (*I really don't remember all the details, but bear with me), a hint at a secret revolutionist group in the Brave New World. And although it refers to that and all the symbolism that my perverted highschool English teacher drilled into us poor kids, my favourite part (probably in the whole book) is Offred remembering a conversation with her husband Luke about the word itself "Mayday" - a deviation from the french "M'Aidez" (or "help me"), which was adopted in World War II from all the french fighter pilots.

"M'Aidez" she remembers, and I remember, every 1st of May. As a student, it meant nothing to me as today would have been any other day in the past. But today, as I sit in an artificially lit office and I think of May Day. As much as I try to think of it as a holiday, I just whistfully think "M'Aidez"...

What Lyrics... # 3

2007-04-26T17:26:00.001Z

Make you think of your significant other?

"I'm writing you to catch you up on places I've been
and you have this letter probably got excited,
but there's nothing else inside it...

Didn't have a camera by my side this time
Hopin' I would see the world through both my eyes
Maybe I would tell you all about it
when I'm in the mood to lose my way
but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise,
with your own eyes
It brought me back to life
You'll be with me next time
no more 3 x 5 's"

3 x 5 - John Mayer

"My life
You electrify my life
Let's conspire to re-ignite
All the souls that would die just to feel alive"

Starlight - Muse

"You're my foe and my brother and lover and friend."

Romantic Comedy - Stars

"And I know that the touch of you is hard to remember
but like that touch, I know no other
and for sure, we've danced in the risk of eachother
would you like to dance around the world with me?"

I'll Back You Up - Dave Matthews Band

"Maybe I just wanna fly,
wanna live I don't wanna die,
Maybe I just wanna breathe,
maybe I just don't believe
Maybe you're the same as me,
we see things they'll never see
you and I are gonna live forever..."

Life Forever - Oasis

"and you know, for you I'd bleed myself dry"

Yellow - Coldplay

On Going Home and all the Big Things that come along with it

2007-04-24T08:59:00.000Z

It all ended far too soon.

I always knew that my 8 day vacation would fly by and I tried not to think about it too much. When my plane touched down on good ol' Bahraini land, my face stretched out into my side-ways-banana-grin and I vowed to make the most of my vacation time at home. Considering the short period of time I had, I think I did an alright job: perhaps I didn't get to see enough friends or spend enough time just hanging out with my parents, but you can only do so much in a week. To be fair, I think I did a decent job of doing a number of pretty cool stuff.

Much family stuff was in order: seeing my parents, my siblings, my little niece, it was all too good to have them back. I twirled around in my house and all its open space, leaving behind memories of cramped London flats and enjoyed being at home. So many changes to the house (our 1992 computer was finally replaced and Dad managed to move that horrid Spirit style, running horses, painting from the entrance hallway) but not too many to the neighbourhood (our neighbour's stupid well is still standing on the main street, inviting me to trash it if it's still standing the next time I'm back), which gave me a warm sense of comfort. The family are doing great, everyone looking fabulous, inches lost off waists and inches grown by the little one... My niece is fantastic and far more smart than I could imagine, I can safely say I've never heard a 4 year old criticize baby names by calling them "weak" before - I will definitely miss her and her strong adjectives the most.

Watching the F1 was a definite highlight; my first time on the Bahraini track gave me a huge adrenalin rush I didn't think imaginable. [insert teary eyes and national pride]. I don't think anyone was more proud of what this tiny little island has done than I am: The event itself was very impressive and I couldn't stop gushing at everything around me. I suppose I wasn't around to catch too much of it (only being back for the final race day) but I loved the atmosphere and the buzz on the island for that short period I caught: Bahrain, you did good, and from what I saw and heard, you threw one hell of a party.

Other Big News revolves around Big Life Decisions - for those of you who know me quite well, you'll know that I came back to Bahrain and got engaged to the most wonderful man on this planet. It was all very hectic - planning the big night, getting everyone together, fixing me up and meeting everyone - but it all went very well. Reunion of long lost friends and agreeable conversations made a relaxing evening for all, I'm very happy with the way everything turned out. I really appreciate everyone's congratulatory wishes to us both: you never think of it but it really makes a difference when you know that the people around you are genuinely happy for you in times like these. Of course, I couldn't be happier and I owe it all to the wonderful support I've received - thank you all for being a part of this special time for us, I hope I can reciprocate the love and comfort everyone has given me. And to the big oaf, I love post-us.

Lot's of other updates: Seeing old friends, making future life decisions, loving home and thinking hard about being away and how much longer I want to do this... I suppose it's all starting to come down to ground now, I've done quite a number of things I wanted to do so I guess it's time to re-write that list of "Things I want to Do When I Grow up" - maybe even think of scratching out the When I Grow up bit - and keep in mind that things are going to have to change a little... I'm a little nervous about what's going to happen next, but a nervousness that's mixed with excitement and a bit of determination to make things great.

Going home has put so much in perspective for me and made me realize how nice it is to be with your family around you all the time, even if they're a little mad. Touching down in London with the grey weather and detaching myself from everything around me again made me cry a little because I hadn't yet gotten used to being home, I hadn't had enough. It only took one long tube journey to make me numb again and take away all emotions because that's the way things are over here. I needed the break and I got it, with plenty of bonuses than I had asked for, and I am grateful for that. In true Soos fashion, I have to start my Bigger and Better plans, so watch this space for more...

Sweet Home, GuBuwa

2007-04-13T14:02:00.000Z

I can now safely say, I am completely burnt out from work. It's gotten to a point that isn't even funny anymore, it's hil-a-rious. Early starts, late nights, lot's of frustrations, lot's of hair pulling & nail biting. But that's okay, because I'm going on vacation for a week - a week!

And I'm going home.

No one here understands how great this feels - it's 3:30 in the afternoon and after my manager's meeting, I am just itching to get out of here. I can't sit still, I keep on popping out of my corner office (*cough* sounds much more glamourous than it really is) into the open plan of scattered colleagues to do a little dance and taunt those less fortunate than me, all those people who are going to be stuck here while I'm on holiday!

All it took was one little meeting: when I turned from being super stressed to just not giving a damn. A huge smile crept on my face as my manager said "Well, I guess that's it then, finish whatever it is you have to do and have a great holiday" Mouth... starts...to... stretch... At this very moment, a little part from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory comes in mind when Grandpa Joe jumps out of his bed for the first time in some decades and does a dance in his pyjamas when Charlie finds the Golden Ticket in his bar of chocolate, singing Hallelujah!! So if you can't figure it out already, I am that excited.

I cannot wait. I cannot wait to see Baba. I cannot wait to see Mama. I cannot wait to see Big Brother 1, Big Sister, Big Brother 2, Sister-in-Law, number one niece... I cannot wait for the big things this break will break and the littler things. I cannot wait to see my friends and to see my toy mouse and my patchy garden and my home.

No one here knows how I feel, but I think everyone knows how much I need this vacation... and how much I need to get outta here and go home. I've had enough, everyone here knows it and I'm going to skip out of here, with my suitcase, and sing "La La la la" and leave everything behind. Laa laa laa laaa!

Home home home home, home. Not this ugly city, I'm going HOME.

*grin*

Happy Birthday Yaya

2007-04-11T15:50:00.000Z

Love you big sister - you're the one in yellow (your favourite colour).

What Lyrics... # 2

2007-04-10T17:47:00.000Z

Best describe your feelings about your current life situation?

"This town it breathes on its own
With or without me
The skyline wakes up whether or not I get out of bed
El trains, they rumble along
And headlines will happen with no help from me
And when I can’t keep it all up
I’ll sing, “La, la, la, la”

Chicago Slow Down - Canasata

"We are here to make you feel
It terrifies you, but its real"

Soft Revolution - Stars

Taggedy by June

2007-04-05T12:48:00.000Z

Tagged by June, who knows better than to tag me, but I guess I say back to her "wot'eva" ... =)

If you don't know the rules, you can find them here, or here, or here, or here.

So, here are my 10 random facts that will probably forget 10 minutes from now:

If I could get plastic surgery on any part of my body, I would remodel my feet.
I am very snobby with the books I read and the music I listen to - I always adopt the "been there, done that" attitude which is also common in my brothers and my COUSIN HASAN.
I used to bite my toenails as a kid.
I have a morbid fear of fish heads and lizards.
I can't eat much chocolate 'cause it gives me a tummy ache. So from being a chocoholic kid I actually eat very, very little now. A lot of girls find that strange. I am, however, a good-cheese-aholic and once I start, I can't stop.
I rarely put sugar in my tea or coffee because I'm scared of being diabetic. I calorie count, fat count, sugar count, salt count, everything count, because of a subconcious fear of becoming diabetic - none of which makes sense, but it's instilled in me.
I love to cook for people but hate to cook for myself - I find no joy in eating alone. I also can't cook for one, so if I do cook, I'm also eating leftovers the next day.
There is nothing worse in the world than cold eggs. I only like my eggs one way, and if I do eat eggs other than runny sunny side up, I'm only being polite.
I was never one for fancy mobile phones - I'm very happy with my dummy-proof-nokia and I don't really want a new cool phone, not unless it does something really cool, like shoot out laser beams.
I think Chivalry is dead.

No need to tag anyone, but feel free to join in on the fun of making lists (never a boring task!).

What Lyrics... # 1

2007-04-04T14:29:00.000Z

Lyrics Survey for your entertainment.
I'll post song lyrics to answer the question below - Easy.
Feel free to input your own thoughts in comments.

What lyrics…

Are good life advice?

(jeez)

"Alright already we'll all float on
Ok don't worry we'll all float on
Even if things get heavy we'll all float on
Alright, already, we'll all float on"

Float On - Modest Mouse

"This is how it works
You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath "

On the Radio - Regina Spektor

"Boys will be strong, and Boys solider on,
Boys but will be gone without the warmth
of a woman's good, good heart.

Father be good to your daughters,
daughters will love as you do
Girls becoming Lovers,
that turn into mothers,
so mothers be good to your daughters too."

Daughters - John Mayer

It's been six years since I graduated from high school and I forgot to plan our five year reunion

2007-04-02T14:19:00.000Z

Sometimes, you forget where you've come from and feel like just another face in the crowd. It's easy, especially when you wake up and you go through the same routine: Shower, Change, pretend to intend to have breakfast but pretend to forget as you run to catch the bus, the train, the tube, get to work, slave away for 10 hours and then go home exhausted only to do it all over again. You forget that beyond the exhaustion and apathy there's actually a fun person somewhere in there that used to sit in your old self - in a sweet, innocent life before the grimaces and the struggles began: a time that was much, much easier.

***

For most, including myself, that time was high school. I forgot about high school and the fun of it all, the laughs and giggles, the traumas that really weren't so bad and the tragedies that came along with it - the lack of responsibility for any of your actions. I forgot about linking arms with my classmates and telling them we'd be friends forever, probably because it's been years since and we're not. It's only natural and it's been long accepted and forgotten: like I said, that was a different, sweeter time.

***

So I continue to walk my walk, talk my talk, do my thing here alone in this city seas away from home. I do miss my old friends but rarely have time to dwell over the memories while I'm busy doing other mundane things. I was lucky enough, over the last two weekends, to spend time with two of my dearest friends that reminded me of the fun and sweet person I used to be just by seeing how great they still are. These two have especially come a long, long way from high school and I can't say I could be more proud.

***

My first song of praise is for this girl over here who is not not only incredible human being, but also a soon to be mum. When she first told me she was expecting, I almost fell off my chair at work as I gaped at the email on my computer screen "Make sure you're sitting down.... [scroll all the way down] I'm pregnant!" I was speechless and my fingers did overtime typing out the WHYs and HOW COULD YOUs (that I really didn't want answered)... We agreed to meet on her next business trip over and when I finally spotted her, hand on belly, trotting down the Watford High Street, I felt myself bubbling up with emotion... A mum! Here she was, no longer flicking her funky 'do about in the car as she sang along to Miami but brushing her grown up fringe away from her glowing face as she told me about her pregnancy and the baby - it feels like last summer that we all celebrated her engagement and not 4 summers ago, seeing her was a definite reality check that time has passed...

***

I was awe of her all weekend... Not only was she absolutely beautiful and glowing, she was so ready for this... "I woke up one morning and I thought, what's missing? Ah, a baby" - her words gave me happy goosebumps, because although none of us could handle this, she could... She was great, shopping for little onesies and bibs while I stared at her bump the whole time. "Hey Baby" I'd shout out across whatever room we were in, "Hey Auntie Thooth" She'd mimick, and I'd start giggling about, talking to the baby about how when baby comes out, we're going out for ice cream all the time...

***

I watched her so comfortable in her new role and was so happy for a friend who's somewhere completely different than me... I couldn't compare or criticize because I knew how right this was for her and how it was the next logical step.... I hadn't seen her in six months and all of a sudden she was a mum - what a leap from being just-my-friend... It was great seeing her still the same and so much more of a super human that she was before: She'll be a great, intelligent, caring mother and I know she'll be so loving over the little one.. As will the rest of us - if it's a girl, I've already got dibs on Baby's first tiara, ballet shoes and every scoop of chocolate chip ice cream she gets...

***

The second wonderful person I spent this weekend with was one of my oldest and all time best friends... I met Chaz on the first day of the 3rd grade, when he came into our classroom (the reject class of 3 K or 3 M, I can't remember) and we were assigned to sit next to eachother as a pair. Yuck, he's new and he's a boy: I look at the teacher in despair but received no sympathy, I was forced to sit next to him for the whole year and I had to deal with it. A whole year lasted the next 10 years, where some where along the way we actually became friends and I realized that he didn't carry any infectious diseases as a boy (he was a clean freak) nor did he want to hurt me on the play ground (he was actually the nicest little boy you could imagine). He helped me with my struggles throughout school and after graduation, throughout college as we kept in touch through various email chains and long-distance phone calls... Strangely, he was always there for me, in his funny ways and I always knew I had a friend to lean on in times of self-doubt, because he always reminded me of who I truly was...

***

I will always be the one who recalls funny stories of when we were kids, starting from the sweet things he'd say in class and how the teachers always hugged him afterwards, to his perfect posture as an 8 year old. Classic story of sitting next to eachother in Arabic class and hearing him in a clear voice saying he wanted to be a Surgeon when he grew up. Back then, at 8, I definitely thought he was a weirdo, but I also knew that whatever a "Surgeon" did, he could do it. I can easily say he is one of the best people I know on this planet and he is a rare, rare breed... I knew it at 8 and although he was stuffy as a kid, he grew on me and it is reiterated every time I think of him...

***

When I saw him pointing at me across Leicester Square, my face broke into the biggest grin and I felt 17 again. We laughed and joked around like old times and it did not feel like a whole year has passed since we last met. We talked a lot about future plans, I warned him that I wanted to see him graduate with honours and no less, no brain surgeon's going to graduate from med school with just a pass... It was good fun and the throughout the weekend he'd randomly burst out with "Oh My God! [I can't believe it!] I'm sitting here with Sara and [other friends]! How amazing is this?" And we'd all laugh, because truly we knew that he was the one full of wonder and we were happy to have him with us...

***

Sometimes, a length of time will pass without seeing or hearing from people you considered close to your heart, but it's only sad if you when you see them it truly has felt like years and you've both moved on from your friendship in that time... With these two, it was an incredible weekend.. We laughed, we joked around and we reminded eachother of the times when we were together in the past... And what they did was they reminded me of that person I still am, after all these years... I still have a lot going for me, I'm still young, I still want to conquer the world and I still will... It's amazing the impact one person, let alone two, can have on your morale when you're feeling a bit of a slump. It's amazing how friends can remind you of how lucky you are to have such cool people in your lives...

***

Thanks guys, your weekend trips meant a lot more to me than you can imagine... I'll keep pushing forward as long as you guys keep throwing me high fives along the way...

Gamers hugged themselves and each other and said: "Sony we love you"

2007-03-23T09:33:00.000Z

Coming into work this morning was actually pleasant and I was surprised to see how many smiling faces there were. Probably because it's a Friday, I mused, as I involuntarily squashed myself between two big burly men with bags underneath their eyes. They were smiling too and after (again, involuntarily) listening in on their conversation, I knew why:

"I am so tempted to call in sick, everyone else in the house has and they're glued to the TV... I'm definitely coming home early to play it..."

I smiled as I listened to the story of how this young man hadn't slept all night because his housemate was one of the first people in the country to buy a PlayStation 3 and he couldn't let go of it all night. They were joking around about hugging it, taking turns kissing it and how lucky they were to have it. I completely understood, even though I'm not a gamer - although they did get a couple of strange sideways glances from some people on the train.

******************

The PS3 was launched last night in the Virgin store on Oxford Street (Corner of Tottenham Cout Road) and the gaming world is overjoyed. I may not be a geeky little kid (glasses not thick enough) or a 20something city bloke with a 9 - 5 job (doesn't matter how old you are, you're still a little kid on the inside), but I understand how big this launch was. Gamers have been waiting for too long for the launch of yet another console that will take up all their time and cause problems with girlfriends and spouses. Previous launches of the XBox 360 and Nintendo Wii drew just as much attention but also a lot of complaints to the companies that didn't provide what their customers wanted.

In this case, no one has yet to complain of the ridiculous antics pulled by the company who launched the console. Unlike Nintendo and Microsoft, Sony didn't dupe their customers by only providing a small number of consoles in relation to the demand. Sony actually provided more consoles than expected to sell AND the first 100 customers at their Virgin Launch last night received HD flatscreen TVs worth £2,500 - for free. This is all just for being great customers and being patient enough to stand in a queue for 48 hours.

You read that right - readers in the UK or US might find it normal to hear of people queuing for days to get their hands on a gaming console (people in Japan right now are probably laughing at people who don't). I remember the launch of the XBox 360 at midnight when a laser show was taking place as the doors of GAME flung open and people ran to grab whatever they could - it was crazy. Problem was, some people were queuing for ridiculous hours and when they got to the front of the queue found out there weren't enough consoles to go around. If that were me, I would have probably gone ape shit, start kicking demonstrations and staff and even my own shadow from having to wait around for nothing. Many times before, gamers have complained to reporters on site (yes, because this does make the news, contrary to what some of you would agree to what should be branded as "news") of waiting for hours and not getting anything at the end. I don't blame them. I have been on many awaiting list for the Ninetendo Wii (a joint christmas gift) and many times have I run to the GAME in Canary Wharf to find a group of people standing around and a spotty member of staff shaking his head in embarrassment. It's March and I still haven't gotten one, must to my (and my christmas gift receiver) disappointment.

Sony was smart enough to put away gimmicks/laser shows/juggling marmoset acts and make this a basic launch. Okay, so they did launch the product at midnight but that's actually pretty smart because you don't have to take time off work or school. Also, Sony recognized this wasn't about marketing as much as about getting the product out to the customer, so they didn't have any flash celebrities around or fancy displays - instead they provided their customers with Coke and Caffeine in the last 24 hours of waiting (super bonus) and gave everyone a pretty cool gift for being so dedicated.

What's cool is that they even provided more consoles than they anticipated selling because they didn't want people to buy consoles and turn around and sell them for double the price on eBay - respect to that. No one should be so desperate as to surf eBay at 6 a.m. to buy a gaming console, it's just not right.

************************

I hope this makes a lot of gamers happy - I for one, have lost many hours of my life listening to the same complaints from a certain someone about this whole launch of consoles... Complaints such as corporations not caring enough about their customers, not taking into consideration certain populations and demographics in comparison to others, debating markets like Europe vs the Japanese, the Japanese vs the Americans, the people vs the corporation, my sanity vs rant rant rantrantrantrant... I think Sony's done good this time, maybe this could mean people can finally purchase something and be satisfied with it...

Read the BBC report here, which has put me in a good mood for the rest of the day.

Happy Gaming Kiddos xx

Sunday Dedication

2007-03-18T21:59:00.000Z

from post secret

Number 41: Real Milk Tea

2007-03-14T18:44:00.000Z

I've been here for too long. I missed my niece's fourth birthday party this saturday and I internally sulked at the fact I couldn't be there to paint faces or dress up like some cool character that she would remember forever. Yeah 3amee, I'm definitely jealous I wasn't there and this doesn't make you anyone's favourite, alright?

And it's a wednesday and I'm feeling funny and the only thing that's keeping me going is that in exactly one month I will be back home. Awesome eh? I can't wait. All I can think of is how I'm going to spend lot's of time attaching myself to various people I've missed over the past year and how much crap I'm going to bring back with me. Coldstores and supermarkets beware: Sara is coming back - no jar of PUCK cheese will be safe.

List of things I miss about home:

1. Not scrubbing limescale off anything.
2. Constant sunshine - no better way to wake up
3. Mum's food and funny ways.
4. Mum. And Dad. And my brothers and my sisters and my neice.
5. Playing pretend with my niece and having her "read" me stories. I even miss it when she corrects me if I skip something - I miss her bossiness and her hugs.
6. Being woken up in the early morning to have breakfast with everyone in the house before they go to work. Watching my sister fuss over herself in the mirror in the kitchen before she leaves, my brother drink his chocolate milk/banana milk/coffee milk. Mum reading the newspaper absent mindly and Dad asking about the expiry dates over everything on the breakfast table (but still eating it all).
7. Meeting friends in 15 minutes all the time - wherever we are.
8. Late night runs to Burgerland for Shawarma
9. Making nice dinner plans and not having to pay more than 15 squids for it, ever.
10. Reading the GDN and tearing apart the crossword puzzle.
11. Driving over to Saar for a lazy afternoon - I love morning drives on empty roads because I have yet to experience the horrendous traffic everyone speaks of.
12. Making cakes that someone will eat
13. Even when there's "nothing to eat at home" the kitchen is still overflowing with goodies to munch on.
14. Honking your horn outside a coldstore, buying something and then waving my "Thank You" - I know the asian men appreciate it as much as I appreciate their service.
15. Hong Kong on a Friday - even if the food isn't as good as it used to be and most of the staff have changed. It's the principle of it, and the Baskin Robbins ice cream that must follow afterwards.
16. Long drives and the talks that go along with it.
17.Never getting the style but loving it anyway.
18. Hearing the label "So Bahraini" and how people always want to be different than that. It makes me smile, some people who live in Bahrain just can't accept the fact that you are what you are.
19. Lgaimat and Mihyawa
20. Taking your shoes off before you walk in anywhere, such a sign of respect people in the rest of the world lack.
21. Space. Spacious cars. Spacious Houses. Spacious streets. OPEN SPACE.
22. Going over to my gran's and finding more kids than I remember being born running around and causing general ruckus.
23. Formalities in the Arabic Language.
24. Stopping to say hello to people and not having to rush off anywhere else.
25. Being able to rent any DVD that's out before than in the UK. Hah, beat that Blockbusters and your crummy, crummy selection of movies.
26. 500 fils coins and notes, either, and the value that they have.
27. Al Jazeera Supermarket for stocking Lucky Charms and Count Chocu-ula.
28. Buildings, Tall Buildings =)
29. Swimming and Beach Days and the smell of the sun
30. Coming home somewhere nice and getting hugs for it. I miss you, crazy family.

That's it. I can't come up with any more or else I'll start balling my eyes out to poor Meredith who won't know what hit her.

One month, folks!

Happy Birthday 'Shoo

2007-03-07T22:20:00.000Z

Excerpt from my Diary, Dated 29th April, 2004

I'm listening to one of R's favorite song... It reminds me of this one time back home, one of those times that was super insignificant but will alway stick in my mind as just one of those nice days spent with my big brother... I remember waking up that cool morning in December and finding him sneaking into the house his pyjamas.... Sneaking into our house to steal some movies to watch while he bunked off from work...

"I'm supposed to be sick today..." he would say to me, smiling ... "and i'm also supposed to be too sick to come over for lunch.. so don't tell mom I was here" he smiles again, holding his fingers to his lips... I would laugh, he always made me laugh like that.... "What are you doing? do you want to come over and watch movies with me?" How funny he was! Why not?

Here he was, whom I always thought was the most responsible of us all - sneaking behind around to do something so silly: steal some movies to watch because he just didn't want to go to work and didn't want to have to explain... I knew it, he woke up, watched his wife get ready and take their daughter to her play group while he coughed and droned how tired he was... watched her leave the gates, turn the corner to the club and then he would run to the car to escape... didn't even have time to change out of his blue striped pyjama pants ...

And here I was, aiding his escape, finding the newest rentals in the house to watch and jumping into the car with him... driving in the early morning sun that still wasn't hot enough to cause discomfort, it was just right... As we drove away from the house he just about to explain why he was faking his illness when out of the blue, this song came on the radio...

"I love this song!" he shouts, raising the volume... are the villagers looking, I wonder? Who cares... I look straight ahead and sing right along with him...

You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measures, cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign...
Cruel to be kind, it means that I love youu... baaabyyy... you gotta be cruel, you gotta be cruel to be kiiiiind...

It will always be one of my favourite memories, singing along in the car to some good old music we both loved... We got back to his house and he called his wife, admitting of his little escapade... I heard her laugh and tell him we might as well walk over to the club to pick them up... We walked over, found his wife and his daughter waiting and I watched him reunite with his family... Smiling together, pushing the little one's pram and just enjoying the simplest of times...

Truly one of my favourite days, favourite memories... Even the simplest of days are the best: spending time with my big brother... how cheesy but true... I miss him a lot, I hope he's still not bunking off work to watch stupid movies at home...

Happy Birthday, Love Lot's

Seroo x

mmm mmm good good!

2007-03-05T13:08:00.000Z

I was never a soup person. I was just never that into soup.

I guess I always preferred having the lamb chop or the cheese burger or the tikka (notice a trend) and never really the watery slurpy soup.

Perhaps it has something to do with it being too filling for before a meal and then not filling enough on its own. Whatever it was, I was never too big on the soup & salad combo (just the salad, thanks) or the soup and sandwich (just a bigger sandwich, thanks again) - I simply was never a soup person.

Then one day, things changed, and on this particular day, I was cold. On this particular day, I noted that winter was upon us and there's no denying that fact: as I stepped outside the building and pulled my coat tighter across my waist and cursed Mother Nature for giving us 4 seasons instead of one (Spring of course). I wasn't hungry but I needed something to warm me up and I've had enough heartburn from numerous cups of tea and coffee all morning. I needed something else. A pie? I looked at the queue in the tiny eatery and decided against it, walking to the Sainsbury's and keeping my face down, away from the piercing wind. What could I get?

"Get some soup" Charlotte retorted 5 minutes earlier in our office when I pondered aloud as what to have. We wrapped ourselves up in layers of dull coloured mixed wool and made our way out the building for lunch.

"I don't know..." my voice trailed off, thinking of the stringy chicken soup mums force down the throats of their sickly children. "Where's the chicken, Mama?" I'd ask, playing with the steaming liquid infront of me, unsure of why I was drinking something I should be chewing on - especially as a child, the concept of a meal you had to drink wasn't at all appealing unless it was space food. Looking back at it, perhaps it wasn't the fact that it was soup but more the fact that it was chicken (and I'm not so hot for the chicken) and that I was sick and sometimes funny things like that carry on with you for the rest of your life and you can't really explain why. Perhaps.

I could get soup... I looked at the alternatives: Sandwiches? Nothing satisfying. Baked Potatoe? Never really fussed about a potatoe before... Greasy Chilli Con Carne on long grain rice? Pass. Soup it is then.

I turned the corner to the fridge and I have to say, I was impressed. Soup isn't the boring cream of tomato it used to be. Oh no, soup has now evolved into so many different things as I looked at all the possibilities. Hearty Broths and Chunky Chowders, even the boring Chicken Corn Soup had been given a face lift and there was the bold Red Thai Chicken (even soup has become Thai-a-fied! Incredible!).

I hung around the soup shelf shyly for a couple of minutes, mulling over the possibilities. Minstrone or perhaps the Winter Warmer? So many choices and the clock was ticking - I was somewhere between the begining of lunchtime and the middle of rush hour, so I had to make a decision fast. I decided to go for the Vegetable Mulligatawny Soup - seemed safe and had some chunky vegetables and some rice, so I could do a bit of chewing and ease myself into it. Would I be disappointed? I bit my lip as I paid for my veggie soup and wondered whether this was going to be a bit mistake - in a flash, I imagined having my first spoon of soup and feeling so revolted I'd spit it out at my co-workers in disgust. I shivered at the thought of stringy chicken soup and vowed to give this a try.

And disappointed I was not - My Mulligatawny soup was just the right mix of veggies, rice and broth and was satisfying til the last spoonful. I was overjoyed - one less food not to like! And the days that followed after that were filled with different soup adventures: the chunky chilli veggie, the carrot and corriander - perhaps a multi-grain bagel to go with that? Sure!

The key element to take back with you is that soup is perfect for those cold winter days. Unfortunately, today the sun was shining and I was stuck for choice of lunch so just ran in to get my dependendable Carrot and Corriander and bagel only to find it bland and unsatisfying. This was probably because the sun was out, and when the sun's out, there's no need for the warmth of soup. Maybe tomorrow, when it's cold and grey and there's a chill in the air, I'll go back and have some nice chowder. If not, it's okay, at least I know Soup Isn't Just For Sick People, it's also for those with the winter blues.

Sad little Robot Me

2007-02-22T22:54:00.000Z

This past week has been tough. But fret not, this broken robot will be fine tomorrow, because:

(a) it will be the weekend

(b) two of her faaaaaaaaavourite people come into town this weekend

(c) two of my faaaaaaaaaaaaaavourite people will remind me that I'm not a broken robot nor do I have a square head and that they love me anyway (i love you guys)

Happy Friday everyone... you know, I really do think robots are cool...

"I've made a decision, I'm gonna live in Morocco for one year. I need a new crowd. Do you wanna come? "

2007-02-16T21:48:00.000Z

** Double points to whoever can guess where the Title is taken from **

This post is long overdue but the memory of ElMaghreeb is still fresh in my mind... I better document it before the smell of sweet oranges in the streets and the rumble of tiny taxis escape me...

From the minute we arrived at Marrakech airport, we were welcomed by a swarm of people that were really welcoming other people and not us. It was post-Hajj and all the pilgrims were returning from Mecca, their families awaiting them at the gates of the airport with flowers and kisses (and stares to the tourists). Our first task of exiting the airport was crazy enough to want to send is back into the comfort of the cramped EasyJet airplane, but we managed to push through the crowds with the help of security guards who were literally holding back the crowds of families. After walking through the masses and down a non-existent path only led by some government official, we found ourselves in an abandoned parking lot staring at the masses of people and looking around for whispering taxi drivers. Seemingly the only tourists around at this time of year, we were passed around one taxi driver to the next until we found a man sitting in a bumper car with a bewildered look on his face. Our journey had just begun!

Our first taxi driver was a funny one who pointed out land marks and horse-drawn carriages, knowing he would definitely score a tip with the three foreign girls in the back. We began snapping our cameras at everything we passed and immediately fell in love with the old town. Funny thing about Marrakech: Everyone seems to own tiny dirt bikes, or "bu6bu6a"s as I warmly refer to them. They seem to be the most popular mode of transport, especially if you're an old lady in a hoodie. England would be ashamed.

As soon as we arrived, we had the pleasure of being shown around the market square (Jaam3 elFnaa) by our two semi-resident friends. We walked into open squares and "ooh"ed and "aah"ed at street performers, henna painters and the inevitable snake charmer. As everyone else will tell you, tons of photo opps around and we soon found ourselves drawn to a cave of small streets and treasures galore. The inside market was incredible and filled with everything you can imagine to find: from jalabiyat to soaps to tea to shoes to belly dancing outfits and crockery, really anything you could sell to a tourist that had a camera around their neck. Walking through the tiny alleyways of market stalls and vendors shouting out to their potential customers, you feel a rush of energy to be quickly replaced by an immense overwhelming feeling and then absolute exhaustion. And this is all from just looking at the goods! Everything is jam packed and as soon as our tour guides left to take their afternoon siestas and we were left alone to do our shopping, the three amigos announced in unison that we needed a coffee to tackle the rest of the day! (that and we were sick of people shouting out "HELLO! FISH AND CHIPS!" in their best English accents)

Coffees were had with my new friend Mahmood Al-Yousif and the lovely Samar at a cafe where we relaxed and chatted the night away. Biggin' it up to the Big M, he is definitely a cool cat and it was a pleasure meeting him in such beautiful surroundings...!

Coffee was preceded by dinner - food gets a huge mention in Morocco... The square which was filled with various forms of entertainment was transformed into a huge out-in-the-open food market, with dozens of stalls only identified by their number (Biggin' it up to stall # 30 and the sweet Rasheed!) Apologies for their being no pictures of the square at night, there were just too many to put up...

The oranges get also special mention - never before have I seen so many orange trees everywhere that excrete such a sweet smell through the streets of a city! In the market square we found this very nice man with the nicest and sweetest oranges (and no Moroccan sweet talk to go with it! He must have been the only one!)

Just to give you a little background: Our trip to Morocco was primarily to attend a dear friend's wedding, so after a day and night in Marrakech, we hopped onto a rickety train for our 5 hour journey to the capital, Rabat. We got to Rabat and were a little disappointed at how modern things were but managed to find our hotel, get ready & hop into another cab off where the Henna party was at. The Bride's directions to the first leg of the fun was "Next to Service De Mile, you'll find us." With no street name or no GPRS to guide us through the neighbourhoods of Rabat, we started to panic as our taxi driver crammed in 2 car's worth of passengers and began driving in figure eights around a residential area. Nail biting and prayer reading lasted a little longer than we expected, until we turned an unexpected turn to find these chaps shown below in the street doing their thing and a good couple of dozen women partying right there. We yelped, we jumped out of the cab and we joined the start of the party, right there in the street pres de service de mile.

Amongst the crowd was a parked car with the fidgety bride waiting in the passenger seat, whispering "This has all gone terribly wrong, hasn't it?", waiting for her prince in a shining dishdasha to find his way to her. And he did, escorting her out of the car and through their neighbourhood. The band followed, still drumming, clapping and singing away, and so did we. Down the street, into the building, up five flights of stairs and into the newly wed's new home. All by candlelight.

The Henna party was great - the two ladies got straight to business on the bride, paining her hands & feet away and applying glitter and gems which I've never seen before (but quite liked). All the girls quickly got in line to get their hands painted too - I got a special YE YE YE YE when I sat down to get my hands painted, which the bride told me means not only am I special but it's my turn to get married next! Good job Soos!

The night carried on with much dancing and meeting a lot of the Bride & Groom's family that had flown from all over the world to celebrate with them... The party went on til late and we woke up early to get ready for the actual wedding...

I must say, Moroccans really know how to keep you entertained at their parties: The wedding was a fancy affair and not only were there 3 different bands to keep us dancing throughout the night, the bride made 6 entrances (with 6 different outfits!) and was carried into the hall like a Queen by four men! We were stunned at how beautiful she looked waving from up above while we all took pictures and danced around her...

Another thing I really liked about the wedding that there was a sit-down dinner, none of this buffet bull we get back home... There was no pushing and shoving to get your plate of luke warm casserole, as waiters came to each table with huge plates of food for the table to share. First course was a seafood bastilla which was very good, followed by the main meal which was a carnivores dream: A whole lamb pierced with skewers of chicken pieces (and cheese samboosas for your touch of dairy). Yum-my. Of course, I have to point out that each course was huge and plonked in the middle of each table for everyone to eat from together, which was a bit of a problem for our veggie friend who had to fill herself up on nuts and sweets while we all dug into the carcass in front of us.

The wedding was incredible just about after 6 a.m. when they served us a delicious breakfast of meat soup (I probably have gout now from all the red meat I had this trip), we watched the Bride and Groom leave the hall... The wedding slowly came to an end and we rushed back to our hotels, back on a train, back to Marrakech, and eventually back to London... our hearts sank as we touched ground in the pouring rain and we all sullenly went back to our lives behind desks and between cold walls...

Writing this all makes me nostalgic for that sunny place I was in a month ago... Again, apologies for getting this out late, but when you take such a great trip there are too many pictures and too many memories to try and retell to your audience, so I suppose the best way to end this is to take it from me, there's magic in that land over in Africa, some real Moroccan magic...

Good time memories: Getting hurled abuse at by taxi drivers, becoming bargaining queens, all the Rasheeds, the mad-woman on the train back (Aysha, it was definitely not a pleasure meeting you), the hammam experience and all the dirt that came along with it, all the cafe au lait and paninis, the im-sem-in-a's and the mint teas, the jumping on the beds, shouts from passer by's and all the mad, mad dancing...

Wishing the Bride & Groom a happy life together wherever they settle in the world... wishing for my travelling partners many more trips together to come...

Best Valentine's Day Celebrity Quote

2007-02-15T12:29:00.000Z

Matt Bellamy, Muse, won best British live act at the Brit awards, and included in his speech:

"Thanks to our girlfriends for putting up with our schedules. Happy Valentines Day."

Well said.

Other updates should follow shortly.

El Maghreeeeeb baby, El Maghreeeeb!

2007-01-16T21:32:00.000Z

Just a quick post to let you all know I'm going on my first proper vacation away from work (proper vacation meaning to a destination that's further away than 50 minutes!) with my girlfriends to MOROCCO BABY YEAH!

We've planned this trip to one of our dear friend's wedding, so we'll be in Marrakech for a night of exploration, then we head over to Rabat for a couple of days of wedding frenzies and general moroccan madness... ooooohhh I cannot wait... ooohhhh I'm staring at my empty suitcase with a big panicky grin as it's already 9:43 and I don't even know how many shoes I'm taking!

Just for your fun (and incase you're not an informative blog surfer like I am), here's a (stolen) image from our friend Mahmood Al Yousif who's beaten me there already! Perhaps we'll meet and then collectively blog cool pictures of all the fun things we've seen... ooh I'm excited already at the prospect of taking pictures let alone the whole TRIP!

MOROCCO BABY YEAH!

Top 10 List of 2006: Top 10 Flashbacks and Good Times

2007-01-05T15:31:00.000Z

10. 14 July 2006: Walking up a hill in Finchley Road with my parents, to a house that was long forgotten by my Dad. I watched him so expertly turn around corners and stand infront of the residence that was his home for 4 years. Someone showed us around that house and I got to see where my Dad lived as the young man I can't imagine he once was. Stuck in my mind: My dad pointing out a bus stop that he used to stand at every wednesday night with his friends who are now married to eachother. He used to walk over with his friend (now husband) who would be walking the pretty girl (now wife) to wait for her bus to take her home. Very sweet indeed.

9. 21 September 2006: Panic! @ the Disco with Ahmedi. Stuck in my mind: Going hysterical when they covered Smashing Pumpkins and RadioHead so well and lecturing Ahmedi how these are songs that "Define my generation" and that he should listen to them. =) Remembering what "My Generation" is and how things have changed, making me feel a lot older than little me really is.

8. A collection of nights out with the LLO6 gang, including Chinawhites, the Gardening Club and good ol' times at the trusty College Arms. Special shout out to the house warming that never was and the horrid ending to Niksi's awesome birthday which made us all realize we're good kids and even better friends. Stuck in my Mind: Taking a rickshaw home from Soho and gaining the nickname "Princess Sara" for the rest of the year.

7. That night as I sat in the back of the cab and listened to some pretty foul language come out of someone's mouth. And prior to that, happier times when we all danced like monkeys, like that night in Dunes when everyone showed up. You know what I'm talking about, when we all snuck into the bathroom to escape the racial congregation in the kitchen and told jokes until the morning. Stuck in my mind: Warnings that if we were too loud "The Lord will come and get us!" and the giggles that would not stop.

6. March 2006: Watching Kathim croon in the Royal Albert Hall. 'Nuff Said.

5. My sister's birthday lunch with the whole extended family, and more importantly, my immediate family all together. I have a group picture of us crowded around a birthday cake and it makes me smile. The icing ofcourse was being my niece's "Pink Sister" for the day, she melts my heart.

4. Sitting in my kitchen in Sehla with my beautiful all time indispensable friends, drinking tea, having Jan, making cup cakes, talking, talking, talking, reminiscing and missing, looking forward to the new. I miss you girls x

3. Running and Jumping in the Park: Hands down, most beautiful day in London ever. Not only was the sun shining hot hot heat and the grass as green as it could be, but the company brought some good times which we all will never forget. Stuck in my mind: Watching Girl, Interrupted & Lunar Chick whispering on the grass together from a distance, looking so relaxed and pretty, and thinking of what great friends we've become. And then attacking them both =)

2. Driving to Waterford along the coast on that blindingly sunny day. A smile escapes my lips everytime I remember our route, our music and our near tone-deaf voices singing along to songs that should have stayed in 1995. I remember looking over to the driver's seat and telling myself "this is how it should be..." I am truly blessed to have you babe.

1. Will always stick in my mind: That cold day in September. Leaving my first and very demeaning interview, Sajni gave me a call and asked to meet up somewhere and gave me the wrong address: I arrived at Embankment only to find out after calling her, lost, that I have to cross the bridge towards Southwark to get to her. I cursed her until no end, how could she not know which station she nearest or where she was? I had just had a room full of stupid Essex HR girls tell me the chances of getting this job were slight to slim and I came out feeling drained, I did not need to run around the city to meet a friend for comfort. I was feeling so let down that things were so tough and I was just stuck in the middle and just needed some tlc and even that was hard to get because this little Miss didn't know where the hell we were supposed to meet! This is supposed to be her home and I knew it better than she did! I was angry at Sajni for not knowing where she was and angry at myself for not knowing where I was either: What was I going to do next? Here or There? Did I keep looking for a job in this strange city and fight my best years away, or did I pack up and go home? I was in a state of limbo as I found my bridge and walked across the River Thames, slowly fighting back the urge to hurl my binder of papers into the murky waters below me. I slowed down halfway down the bridge and looked around me: To the left was the Square Mile and Canary Wharf at a distance. To my right was Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, St. Pauls... Before I knew it, I was naming all the buildings, all the sights, quickly recalling times when I did this or that over here and there, and fighting back the tears that came surging before I could realize that this was my city. Of course I knew it better than Sajni, because London is mine. It may not be mine forever, but it was at that moment and I knew that it wasn't just time for me to leave yet. I looked around me at a tiny ray of light that fittingly beamed across my path between the grey clouds and made my way to a trusty chain venue where a comforting friend was waiting for me with a big hug and lot's of encouragement. 3 months later I'm still here, trampling these grounds, thanks to all the support I got from everyone around me. I love you guys, I'll give it up when it's time to give it up.

Honorary Mention Goes to: All Those Times With The Mice, All Those Times in Our Moroccan Place and The Wardour Street Adventures.

A Christmas Tale (and other stories from the Holiday Season)

2007-01-02T14:03:00.000Z

It's 2007. Yeah! I remember how weird it was saying "2004" or "2005", or even "1997" and that was 10 years ago. Anyhoo, without any delay, I wish you all a bright and successful year ahead as I do for myself. At least I'm honest about it.

This was my first "holiday season" in England and I got to spend some quality time with friends - something I haven't done in too long. So when our very own resident Parisian catwalked through the Waterloo terminal on Christmas Eve morning I ran to her with open arms. Then I sniffed her.

"Err" I stuttered.

"IT'S THE CHEESE, SOOS" she barked back with a smile. I broke into a huge grin and jumped her again. She brought me the cheese! And not just any "the cheese", but all "the cheese" I could ask for! We then made our way back home (which unbeknownst to us, would be our smelly sanctuary for the next 2 days), giggling, reminicscing of old times and planning our break together. Of course, the second we got into the flat we tore open her near empty suitcase that was half filled with the goods. The camembert, the roquefort, the second favourite which was clearly my first favourite... the good stuff. Needless to say, I couldn't take any pictures as i consumed most of it without any delay, so I had to resort to a google image to show you a taste what I've been gorging on for the last week.

Oh yeah, I can see you drooling. Take that and times it by 6 different pasturised blocks of heaven. And of course, for the next 2 days, every other sentence that came out of our mouths had to comment on the smell of feet coming from the fridge. Oh, it was a good smell to me, but by the end of Day 1, my christmas companions did not agree.

So it was Christmas time and our main mission was to feast, which we did with pleasure. Christmas Eve was a feast of nibbles and when Christmas Day came we were ready: Time to cook our birds. Our mulla friend had kindly explained her special slaughtered diet in advance and we were ready for it - although we couldn't find the right turkey, we did find his Muslim cousin The Chicken and found it fit for the job. This meant that since we clearly weren't going to have a whole chicken and a whole turkey (and the fact that I heard some people DIE from eating Turkey that isn't cooked right and I freaked out on Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve! I was one of those people who freaked out on Christmas Eve!), we resorted to a nice slab of Turkey Joint for us electrofied meat eaters. Yummm.

The Chicken had to be stuffed and someone had to do the job:

Note, those are not my pretty white hands as I'm of the brown variety - but those hands did a lot of poking and it was well worth it. Our Chicken was cooked to a perfect crisp, our turkey didn't kill anyone (whew) and our sides were de-licious. Unfortunately, CARROTS were our enemy this christmas but I'll let it slide as we did manage to cook up a feast fit for a
dozen baby Jesuses.

Nice eh? I'm feeling a sense of pride at our meal. We ate until we sweat gravy and couldn't eat anymore. We were all in our PJs, watched some Christmas movies (including Elf, every christmas needs some Will Ferrell) and spent time together dancing to Christmas Carols. As I write this now from work, I miss rockin' around the Christmas tree and nasal singing "Santa Babyyy... tooo dooo dooo doo dooo too too too too!" Good times...

Of course, no Christmas in London is complete with the obligatory rib-crushing-boxing-day-excursion. Yup, the next day we bundled up in our most comfortable clothes and decided to see what the fuss was all about way too late to enjoy it. We were crushed, stepped on and shoved aside to grab clothes/handbags/shoes/cutlery/body parts/you name it... Everything was on sale and everything was up for grabs. We went, we saw, we got trampeled on. I would put up a picture of my exhausted fake smile while waiting for my Senchen Phad Thai that evening but I'm scared someone would recognize me as "That Cow that was in my way in Selfridges". Apparently, we were in everyone's way the whole 15 minutes we spent inside.

Overall, it's been a good week. I went back to work for 2 days where I managed to bill a helluva lot more clients than they would have liked (Merry Christmas!) and then took some time off for a nice and quiet New Year's celebration. Unfortunately, no pictures there but I assure you it was just lovely. That period was spent relaxing, reflecting and eating good cheese (you thought I'd leave it out, didntchya?): Now let's see if our predictions for 2007 will come true.

Lot's of love,

Soos x

Merry Christmas

2006-12-22T17:08:00.000Z

To quote the Cure:

Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff

It's Friday, I'm in love

It's Friday, I've got a long weekend. I'm in love with the idea of stripey socks and DVDs and cheese. The eating kind.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

Soos xxx

(ARYRSE: I miss you guys. Now that is cheesy)

coughing in a winter wonderland

2006-12-21T15:51:00.000Z

Bah Humbuger, my darlings!

The Christmas spirit is upon us all here at Froggymen's as my immediate team all stretch out after our Christmas lunch. I clutch my side and relax; postponed a conference call because of an important "team meeting" that "ran over" which was due mainly to the fact we couldn't decide whether we wanted the bannoffee pie or creme brulee; after all it's Christmas, we're allowed to take it a little easy.

'Tis a season to be jolly and celebrate indeed: our office Christmas party was 2 weeks ago with the awesome theme of Boogie Nights - I know my cheesy sister is nodding her head in approval somewhere... Oh you would've loved it - it went the whole 51 yards with disco balls and bell bottoms everywhere. It was a fun night and an excuse for everyone to let their hair down or into a fake afro and just have a good time. And hey, everyone looks good in an afro after a couple of alcopops. It was a good night and got to boogie down with my colleagues who usually all just hide behind their computer screens in stress (hey, I'm one of them, too) - good times, definitely good times.

Since then it's been one christmas 'do after the other. Big lunches with work, dinner with the sweet flatmate and drinks with friends of friends and their friends. Soon though the big day will roll around the corner and I'll be celebrating my first ever Christmas in England. Yes, for this Christmas, I'm entertaining in my own home and will be cozying up on my couch with my dearest girlfriends. This will mean that I'm going to have to go on a mulla slaughtered turkey hunt this evening and start planning how I'm going to cook this bird. I sure hope I'll be able to find such fowl and I'm sure there's someone out there who'll do the job. Wouldn't the butcher find it comendable and a bit of a challenge, or will he shake his head at me for mixing too many rituals in one? Hmmm... I'm sure my local ASDA will find a way to cater to its good Muslim shoppers who like turkey. Why limit yourself to halal chicken or mutton (how I hate that word)? I suppose if all else fails I'll settle for a Jewish Christmas with some chinese takeout and a good movie... Now, if that isn't mixing I don't know what is...

Eid's coming up, Hannukah's near an end and Christmas has been and will be upon us for some time now... It's a nice time to celebrate, so happy holidays for everyone who likes to celebrate, and go scrooge yourselves for those who don't.

Ethiopians must laugh real hard when they pee all over our starbucks coffee beans

2006-12-07T15:53:00.000Z

We got some new coffee today for the coffee machine on my floor - Starbucks Christmas Roast. Yum. Shame, I've only just perfected the microwave latte and really beginning to enjoy it. This is probably something I get from my mum, but I absolutely hate adding cold milk to hot drinks. See, in order to go around this, I would add my milk first into my tea cup and then add the tea/coffee. This still doesn't taste that great, I don't really know what it is, it's probaby something to do with the way the milk breaks down when added to hot water, I don't really know. Hence comes in dried/instant milk/creamer, which I love (CoffeeMate is my mate too!). People at work think this is strange - that I don't add cold fresh milk to my tea or coffee and insist on doing it a multitude of different ways but the one way everyone else does it. I think people at work also find this amusing. None of this bothered me until I recently ran out of CoffeeMate for my afternoon coffees and needed my caffine. Don't fret, I was only temporarily stuck until that one and only cartoon lightbulb above my head appeared with the approrpriate ring of our microwave oven. I figured it out: I started by microwaving the milk first and then adding the brewed coffee (Make sure everything is piping hot - I also cannot stand warm, let alone lukewarm, beverages. There is only one way, and that is hot-te) and ta da, I have a lat-te (almost, well, not entirely, but it's cool). Good stuff, I know. I was really proud of myself. I was drinking 3 or 4 extra cups an afternoon. Y up. But now it's over, we have the Christmas Blend. So I'll be drinking that, black. Straight up. No milk, no mates. Nada.

Oh well, from one sham to the other, I wonder what's next here at FroggyMen's.

Out of the trenches with Muse

2006-12-05T11:39:00.000Z

Swivel my thumb around the dial, click the button.
Push through to the sliding doors and wait with head down.
Look up at the moving darkness through the glass, moving slower, slower: then comes the light.
Things will now come to a
stop.
I straighten myself and look forward.
Time stops, momentarily, there is a pause.
One, two, three, four... the doors open
and we surge forward.
The rush, the rush, no one stops to look,
no one dares to stop for anything.
We all swarm straight ahead -
I'm up at the front and I move just as fast as everyone around me.
Quickly down the stairs,
quickly turn that sharp right corner
and quickly down the narrow corridor.
Quickly before the mob gets to us and
quickly back up to open space.
No one thinks anymore of where to go
what steps to take next
we all move in
unison in the same direction.
twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen steps,
Turn, One, Two, Three, Four,
Pause,
Five, Pause,
Six,
Escalator.
We know what we're doing and there's no time to waste.
If you blindfolded us all
forced that poison down our throats,
no one would stop for orientation
and no one would clutch onto another for help -
no one will stumble to find their way up
and out.
Like the back of our hands
the curve of a lover's back,
we know
every contour
and every line.
The electric stairs slowly disappear and once again it's
One, Two, Three, Four, Turn,
Pause, Five, Six, Turn, Pause,
Push through on-coming human traffic.
Almost there.
Focus,
there's no other way
but out.
Electric Stairs, the long ones this time, and
up, up, up we go.
No time to stop, everyone moves up,
one impounding step after the other and we're almost there.
Your legs begin to ache at the last dozen steps or so
but you don't stop,
you never stop.
Four, Three, Two, One
and the steps begin to disappear.
The dull light of day comes to sight and you reach into your pocket
swiftly touch in and touch out
your blue sleeve to the yellow disc.
It beeps,
it opens
and without any interruptions
you're out of there.
"Together we're invincible"
Only to be back again tomorrow.

AIDS AWARENESS DAY

2006-12-01T09:58:00.000Z

No wants wants to talk about it but it is a reality: Around 40 million people are living with HIV throughout the world - and that number increases every day. Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease and we need to spread awareness.

Wear your red ribbon and break the silence.

I think happiness is a mat outside of a doorstep.

2006-11-30T17:40:00.000Z

My hectic week is slowly coming to an end. I will now pick up the phone, answer personal emails, go out for coffees and lunches and me time. I will walk slower. I will stay out with friends until unreasonable hours and not with my keyboard. I will wear nice clothes (like jeans). I will not wear my glasses. I will be fun again! Super! I will not want to bash Charlotte in the face with my telephone!

I will not be mean and have no evil thoughts. Promise.

Friday is almost here... so close I can taste it.... in the form of some bubbly at a client cocktail party...

Soos on the first day of the week - pooped

2006-11-20T10:02:00.000Z

I need a weekend to recover from my weekend... Monday mornings are always a drag and this does not make it better: a starbucks credit card? It depresses me to no end to think that we can't even have the time to fish for change in our purses because Starbucks have found a way to take away those few peaceful moments paying for your coffee - that and put you in debt by not realizing how much money you can spend at a Starbucks.... I can hear the corporate lemmings cheering from their cubicles, sadness...

I suppose I can only leave you with some fun from the Surrealist with their movie quotes... who ever thought Soos could do so much?

Happy Monday people, it's almost over...

The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world soos didn't exist.
(The Usual Suspects, 1995)

A Vodka Martini, please

2006-11-17T15:23:00.000Z

This weekend baby: CASINO ROYALE!!!

Bond pre-his licence to kill... oh... I am... slowly... dying....

Daniel Craig is well hot... He's the first actor under 40 to play James Bond since George Lazenby and if you can't tell, I am very excited... For those of you who think Bond can't be blonde, let's not judge him until we've seen the movie.. and I for one am looking forward to a change for the first ever Bond...

I've already heard tickets are fully booked this whole weekend, let's hope I get my hands on one SOON....

For all car lovers, head over to Harrods where you can see the 2007 Aston Martin DBS in their store window, along with Bond's suit, his cigar and his layday... woooo...!

Bond on love: "I have no armour left. You've stripped it from me. Whatever is left of me - whatever I am - I'm yours. " wooooooo...

Happy Friday!

Breakfast Run

2006-11-15T17:32:00.000Z

Recently, I had to come into work fairly in the morning - an hour earlier than usual - for a conference call that could have been without my breathing over the telephone. Being able to sit in a dark empty office all alone is nice; checking the emails and organizing the works for the rest of the day, all in absolute peace... the only noise in the office this morning was the scribbles of my pen and the grumbling of my stummy.

The race to make a call early that morning justified my race for a Starbucks treat before everyone started filing in... Breakfast is very important to me... It's that morning warm drink, be it a milky chai or a nicely brewed coffee, that gets me going in the morning... then there's the cereal, the toast, croissants, eggs (only cooked one way), bacon, sausages, the yum yums... I'm a breakfast person, as a lot of my friends can tell at 8 a.m. while we sit in someone's kitchen and my stomach sings its happy song as I flip some pancakes... ah uni days, days made for waking up for a nice full english and nothing else...

I hadn't had breakfast and it looked like I wasn't going to have lunch, so I thought, "half assed cappacino? Never" and proceeded with my order... A coffee, a panini and a muffin... Mmm... My mouth watered as they raised the melted mozerella from the press and proceeded to wrap it in its special oragami package just as my lips tingled watching the temprature rise of my extra-hot-wet-skinny-toffeenut-latte (fairtrade, always fairtrade)...two of my all time favourites that only come with winter time and when I allow myself for a treat...

They're really not the best breakfast foods - mozerella panini with sundried tomatoes and pesto shrugs a knock off riviera lunch and the latte is skinny for a reason (not everyone can stomach full fat milk my friends... not everyone...) so it's not entirely breakfast, so sue me (and take me back to the 90's, please!) but it's good sustienance for the rest of the day... and I deserve it for having to listen to a Sharon and Amit argue at 8 a.m. in the morning...

One of my favourite articles about breakfast foods is by the Daily Mail which is awesome - puts down everyone's perception of the skinny bluberry muffin in Cash Cow Coffee that isn't really that skinny... we like it when they trick us, don't we? We allow it all the time and I'm not exception... Anyway, it's a fun article to read when you're thinking of what to grab for a quick breakfast... (here)

What keeps you going for the rest of the day?

(Dedicated to the gorgeous breakfast at a said-so trendy hotel which was an absolute treat - thank you St. Martin's Lane!)

For Zoosh

2006-11-13T17:55:00.000Z

don't forget everything you've learned

don't forget

to love

live

give

look deeper between lines

but not in your own stories

look further than what's in front of you

but still within the walls of your new home

be strong

safe

smart

good

build a new life

on a strong foundation

of family

good friends

and a stronger you.

There's a lot out there waiting for you... so go grab it with both hands and take it all in... It's time for a brand new beginning and we're proud of you...

always...

I am a tiger defying the laws of gravity...

2006-11-10T15:41:00.000Z

You know how a lot of "bloggers" post "lyrics" on their "blogs". Yeah.

It's Friday and I've got a buzz in me, so there's only one way to start off the weekend: with some Freddy. This is my lyrical tribute is to one of the greatest out there who would have turned 60 last month if he were still alive. Sixty. Imagine what kind of world we'd live in if Freddy Mercury were still alive and turned sixty this year. Wow, the thought blows me away - Hasoon, I think you agree with me.

Here it is: some of the coolest lyrics ever. No one else can pull it off the way he did. Only a good metrosexual friend comes close, but still no where near.

RIP Farokh Bulsara. Let the weekend begin!

*******

Tonight Im gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world turning inside out yeah!
And floating around in ecstasy
So dont stop me now dont stop me
cause I'm having a good time
having a good time!

I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by like lady godiva !
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me

Im burning through the sky yeah!
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me mister fahrenheit
I'm travling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you

Dont stop me now
I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball dont stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call

Dont stop me now (cause I'm havin a good time)
Dont stop me now (yes I'm havin a good time)
I dont want to stop at all

I'm a rocket ship on my way to mars
On a collision course
I am a satellite I'm out of control
I am a sex machine ready to reload
Like an atom bomb about to
Oh oh oh oh oh explode

I'm burning through the sky yeah!
Two hundred degrees
Thats why they call me mister fahrenheit
I'm travling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman of you

Dont stop me dont stop me
Dont stop me hey hey hey!
Dont stop me dont stop me
ooh ooh ooh (I like it)
Dont stop me dont stop me
Have a good time good time
Dont stop me dont stop me ah

I'm burning through the sky yeah!
Two hundred degrees
Thats why they call me mister fahrenheit
I'm travling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you

Dont stop me now
I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball dont stop me now
If you wanna have a good time just give me a call
Dont stop me now (cause I'm havin a good time)
Dont stop me now (yes I'm havin a good time)
I dont want to stop at all

Queries and thoughts

2006-11-08T13:43:00.000Z

(of which I know all the answers to...)

1. When am I going to take a long, deserved break? When Optimus Prime fights the Misfits in Castle Greyskull...

2. How come I hate the word "blogger" so much...? 'Cause it's stupid.

3. How come there's so much bad writing out there by so called "bloggers"? 'Cause they're stupid... no, it's not that, it's because the quality of our live has gone down in every way... We're breathing shittier air, eating shittier food, toiling away at shittier tasks and reading shittier material... and accepting it overall... I don't think people 100 years ago would have accepted the crap we accept today...

4. Why do the managers get Paul's to nibble on in meetings when I have to have bloody Typhoo tea? Because most of them are gay and probably knob the bakers.

5. Is it coincidental that everytime I try to write in my "blog" someone walks in, or is it co-incidental? Both.

6. Why won't my credit card let me buy my holiday ticket? Because someone up there is laughing at me at trying to book a holiday.

7.Will my family remember me during the Jewelry Arabia exhibition? Always, they are truly awesome. Love you guys.

8. When will I catch a shooooting staaaar.... I'm no Toni Braxton

9. Will I ever get my fun fun bags of fun life back? Perhaps...

10. Why do we revert to asking questions when we're stuck rather than try and solve them? Because asking a question is easier than acting on one...

I heard my niece had a pyjama party at my house last weekend... am very jealous... then again, she did remember I had a red door & lived in "W1" and no one can take that away from me...

Reading an awesome, awesome book and loving it so much I didn't want to get off the train for two mornings in a row because I'd miss out on the pleasure of reading in an invisible box between dozens of people... it's such a good book I'm so tempted to pull it out, hide underneath my desk & read it with a bag of mini weetabix... so lesson of the day: if you hear an empty desk crunching away, feel sympathy for your work colleagues - they don't think you smell, they just want to read a good book...

Nicest thing someone said to me today: Soos, you are a muffin... they're so happy... oui ma petite pêche, I am a muffin...

Eid Mubarak

2006-10-23T14:58:00.000Z

As I sat on my balcony and watched the Diwali celebrations accross the river burst into the sky, I said a little prayer to all my brown friends out there who are celebrating some sort of religious holiday today...

Eid Mubarak & Happy Diwali

Remember, Eid is a time to be celebrated with friends & family, where we all appreciate the long, hard month we all endured & thank God for the return of that much needed mid-morning snack.... Don't forget to count your blessings...

Sport's fan quote of the day (with picture)

2006-10-18T14:11:00.000Z

"Maybe Spanish referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez can see something in Henry that the rest of us can’t?"

Thanks to Gunnerific for this awesome picture, and to last night's ref, bite me.

The Crackberry

2006-10-17T15:40:00.000Z

Working with different jurisdictions means two things: 1) you learn how to sweet talk in different cultures in order to get something done for you and 2) work doesn't stop when you do. Working with people all over the world means when you go to work early one morning you will probably have a fright-of-a-sight of an email inbox with furious chains of "Where the hell are you? I need this right now!" sent at unreasonable times - times when you were trying to catch up on your crochet or One Tree Hill (admit it - even the toughest of you watch it)... Working with different parts of the globe means you have to find people when they're available and make sure you're catching someone during working hours in order to get your own work done. Of course, all of this can be resolved if you live in the office (insert sarcastic laughs from Clifford Chance trainees) or you've got a Blackberry.

I have to admit I did really wanted one... It just seemed so cool to be scrolling down your emails with your thumb on the train while everyone else looked sullenly on... Men were so much cooler, women so much more powerful, everone seemed to have this cutting edge that I didn't have because they were furiously thumbing away on escalators/movie theatres/bathroom stalls while I was just wondering what surprises my email inbox held for me...

Of course, I wanted one until I started working. You see, only a number of my bosses here that have a Blackberry actually use it - some choose to ignore it. Why, you may ask, Why would they want to bang their little office in a pocket against the wall? Reason would probably be because you're literally at your client's mercy with it. Anytime, any place, you're forced to answer back emails and calls from clients whom against you can't use the excuse that you were "unreachable" (To which they'll probably reply, Bull-Shit). And this I know, as I've received emails from my Boss at 00:08 a.m., answering back queries from NY and much to my pleasure, have pestered co-workers on the other end of the world to make sure my clients are happy in the wee hours of the morning, their time.

So here I am, stuck in a Catch 22 situation: I want to look cutting edge and fiddle around with my Blackberry Pearl but I also don't want to sell my soul to my company - where do you draw the line? After much contemplation, I can solemnly state that these things are little Monsters. Oh, and definitely a little intimidating, especially after reading this article here of how addictive these things are. Anyone who actually has one will agree - and those who don't are better not knowing what sleepless nights are like because of a little twinkling tone.

**
Slow start to the week which is fine as I'm not feeling too well - waiting to see what madness the rest of the week has in store for me...

MOVIE REVIEW: The Departed - a far departure from the original...

2006-10-16T14:57:00.000Z

Applause, applause, I managed to get over to the theatre this weekend to watch Martin Scorsese's latest movie, "THE DEPARTED". The only reason I actually got to the cinema and wasted three hours (yes, three hours) of my time was the curiosity to watch Scorsese's Hollywood adaptation of the Chinese blockbuster "Infernal Affairs" - and to see whether he's mucked it up or not.

Infernal Affairs is a story of an undercover cop in the Triads and a Triad mole in the police force - it's the story of two young lads who started out together and went their separate paths working for different ends of the police force. Due to some seedy scams, they're forced to seek eachother out from the instructions of their superiors (also big time cops) without getting themselves discovered. It's basically an intense, skilful crime thriller in the streets of Hong Kong done by the famous Chinese director Andrew Lau (War of the Underworld, A Man Called Hero). The leads are played by Andy Lau and Tony Leung (you can feel the Chinese girls swooning already) and they do an excellent job of portraying the good cop who's not really a cop and the bad cop who turns good cop. The script is clearly written for a Chinese audience and is definitely not a made-for-Hollywood Oriental film - don’t expect this to be anything artsy and include some computer enhanced martial arts. This is a Chinese action film, not what you'd watch at your local world globe theatre before drinks with some wanna indie cover band members.

Rather than the streets of Hong Kong, The Departed is set in Boston with native Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio running up and down the Charles. I must note that this isn't entirely a story about the police force, but a story about the Boston Police Force and the Irish Mafia that exist within it. It was an interesting insight into what could be going on, and the star studded cast including Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Marky Mark Wahlburg and a chubby Alec Baldwin, definitely had you entertained with their fake Bostonian accents. "Get in the caaah. Get in the feckin' caaah!"

Scorsese follows the original script quite well, with a few additions and extractions of his own. Scorsese's neglects to build up the relationship between Martin Sheen's character and DiCaprio's - definitely something he shouldn't have taken out as you don't really understand the dynamics of their relationship. Also, the original includes the extra character of May (Chinese pop star Elva Hsaio) who is only in the film for a brief scene, but definitely includes a sweet touch to the thriller as Tony Leung's old flame. There are a small number of new twists and turns but The Departed sticks to the original's production quite well, with the main scenes being almost exact the same as the original. Also spot a lot of scenes in china town = much appreciated by fans of the original.

Part of the excitement of the original Chinese film was the fact that it's filled with subtleties - nothing is spelled out for you and the story unravels as you watch the struggles of Tony Leung's character cope with being an undercover cop and you understand the relationship he has with Mr. Wong, with brief flashbacks of the young student's upsets at the Triad Academy. This was the main problem with The Departed - the original movie was about an hour and forty minutes while this version was stretched out for an extra hour. A whole extra HOUR. Mainly because Scorsese's must have though American audiences wouldn't be able to keep up with the plot and had to explain every detail while Chinese audiences were left sitting at the edge of their seat, taking in every detail in order to piece together the story. Entirely necessary? Perhaps Scorsese's thought he could put forward extra scenes with cussing and some flesh in order to keep his audience focused on the plot (perhaps).

Another disappointment: Scorsese's didn't bother milking out the emotional scenes (Mr. Wong/Martin Sheen - don't want to ruin it for you) to replace them with some tactlessly placed sex scenes with Jack Nicholson involved. Grr. I do love The Shining star - his facial expressions in random bursts of irish song are brilliant as the main villian in the film - but was it completely necessary? Picture Nicholson, naked but for a leopard print silk robe. Think hard now.

Overall, I'd say the movie was "good" for an adaptation of a chinese film to for a western audience. It definitely over simplified the plot and did put in some extras that weren't entirely necessary, but again, overall, it was good. "Very good" for those who haven't seen Infernal Affairs and won't compare it to the original. "Not so great" for those who look down on Scorsese's not having seen the original when deciding to film The Departed. "Disgusting" for those die hard Andy Lau fans who think Matt Damon is no equal.

Rating: 3.5/5

More about The Departed here, and Infernal Affairs here.

I can't waaaaiit... for the weeekend to begiiiiin...

2006-10-13T12:27:00.000Z

Weekend Stuff:

- Steady's coming over - much missed after a 2 month departure (yes, it's been that long!), looking forward to having a chinese & a chat with my narcaleptic friend. Sometimes we think Teddy's Deady when he passes out, but lucky he's not this bad.

- OCTOBER 14 - DOOMSDAY - card-game night at my place, prepare yourself for some dog-eat-dog-rummy. I don't have a name for our game, could someone give suggestions, err... please-gesstions?

- Preparing for the London Film Festival coming up next week - looking forward to seeing some good British films, especially Venus, which is a collaborated work of one of my favourite writers, Hanif Kureshi, and with Peter O'Toole in the lead. That and Breaking and Entering with yummy Jude Law. Yummay in ma Tummay. If I do end up going to a movie, go over to Coffee & Dates to read my review and then applaud me for actually sitting through a whole movie in the cinema & not thinking it's an absolute waste of time.

- Tom the temp (who was also my advocacy opponent in law school) is leaving today, I will be very sad - no one to take countless coffee & tea breaks with who will complain about the quality of coffee & tea with me.

- Weekend means sleeping in - fun!

Andre the Giant Lives!

2006-10-11T13:41:00.000Z

He does - in the form of a courrier man from DSI! Minus the Spandex, of course, but it was definitely him. I almost wanted to jump out of a building and fall into his arms, wearing a floaty dress (that's me in the dress). It didn't happen - he didn't even crush someone with his bare hands - because someone else gave him their package to deliver and I just stood their dumbfounded by my Fezzik. Nonetheless, I am in shock; happy, happy shock.

Speaking of happiness, if you can't seem to find it in the heart of your tiny weeny little heart, buy it here for the small price of $4.99. I don't even want to know what these people have bottled up but I'm curious: their site says they sell different types of happiness... Sooo... do they have, say, ecstasy perhaps? Perrrhaps?

Happy Wednesday's almost over - big E4 night, sadly, I don't have E4. Boo hoo. Lucky for me tonight it's not too much of a problem as it's England v Croatia tonight and I will be watching, along with my whole nation of yobs. Love you lads (innit).

So, as in the words of So Solid Crew: Sticky icky flicky.

Just so you know, while you were gone yesterday, I'm answered the phone like this: "Bob's Country Bunker, Bob speaking."

2006-10-10T08:20:00.000Z

After a nice night out with family friends & lot's of chats, I wonder how I crawled out of bed to get to work today when everyone's made plans to go to the Dorechester for tea (and I'm on bloody Kingsway! Pitiful!)

Link of the day: Somehow I don't think my boss will appreciate any jokes this morning... Click here for some office humour

Happy tuesday, people... x

Get rid of 'em - co-workers can be vermon

2006-10-09T11:40:00.000Z

Seeing as I work with a lot of relocation companies (and I've had mice), this conversation kept me entertained as I thought of how to get rid of a couple of people I work with (who look like rats, too)...

Funny conversation here

Link This: London's Calling

2006-10-05T08:22:00.000Z

Fancy learning a little bit more about London? Link yourself up to

Coffee & Dates

where I myself am a contributor to whatever we see, hear and by golly, take part in here in the nation's capital...

It's still being played around with so check it up on a daily basis and leave your comments!

Other contributors are awesome and opinionated - you'll love 'em!

That's it for now - crazy days - when aren't they?

Peace x

(PS. So Wenger admitted selling Viera & Edu in the same year was a mistake... true to a certain point, their position was missing and that did put a lot of pressure on Fabregas... but what's done is done, and we're back up there.... quoting The Boss "I’m convinced that we can fight for, and win, the Premiership title. I’m a competitor so my aim this season is to win both the Champions League and the Premiership." Amen.)

London you make us chortle

2006-09-27T20:15:00.000Z

Taken from Timeout's The Laughter Issue (No. 1866 that sits in my bathroom for the reading pleasure any guests), here's a couple of things that make us chuckle at "the world's most uptight, stressed, maddening and yes, sometimes side-splitting city)"...

- Bus drivers on drugs (That's the powdy, white, mad drugs. Is there any other explanation for how they drive?)

- The rumour that Sir Norman Foster had the idea for the Gherkin in the bath.

- People pretending to drive the DLR.

- This announcement "The District Line is suspended between EArl's Court and Whitechapel. The Northern Line is experiencing severe delays after a signal failure at Camden. The Waterloo & City Line is closed until 2007. Central Line trains are not stopping at Marble Arch due to a customer taking ill. And the Bakerloo Line is temporarily clsoed. All other services are running as normal."

- Ken (For getting away with it)

- Non-smokers sitting outside pubs on Tottenham Court Road. It's the A400 - one of the most polluted roads in the world.

- Guy Ritchie.

- The homeless gent on Charlotte Street who has incorporate teh Catch-22 concept into his pitch "I bet you a quid you won't buy the Big Issue"

- And the fact that you can go to a place called Catford and there really is a bloody great cat there. Ditto Elephant & Castle.

- Watching skateboarders and BMX-ers fall over on the South Bank. Or better still, crashing into one of the people pretending to be a statue.

- The 'nobody can see me if I move quickly with my head down' walk that provincial businessmen adopt when leaving Soho sex shops ith black plastic bags. They are wasting their timne, as all Londoners know the only thing that comes in black plastic bags is hardcore pornography (dedicated to Sarah).

- Names like Cockfosters. Back Passage. Ass House Lane.

- Out-of-towners moaning about the congestion charge, It's supposed to discourage you.

- Tottenham Hotspur: Ofcourse tradition demanded that they lose out on fourth place htis year to Arsenal, but who could have expected them to turn the process intoa Farrelly brothers-style gross-out comedy? (lol x 100)

- Tooting (still sounds funny!)

- Big, strapping, hooded youths riding around on kiddy motorbikes.

- The macho, uniformed London transport teams who descend on bendy buses. You are ticket inspectors - you will never, ever be in the Special Forces. Although you will always be arses.

- 'When everyone stopped on Tooting High Street to cheer on a shoplifter being chased by three security guards. People were clapping and shouting encouragement, I was so proud, I nearly cried' Joe Wilkinson, comic

- This really bad joke: Avoid Highbury tonight becuase there's been a fire. People think it was Arsene.

- The man whose phone went off in the reading rooms in teh British Library, Yes, it was Crazy Frog.

- Terrible cocktail bartenders in mid-level London bars. Particularly if they call their trade "mixology" (x 100)

- South London girls vomiting on bouncers' feet.

- The man with diabolo sticks in Soho Square: clearly jobless, committed to his art, there whatever the weather, all year round.

- All young, white males in Battersea. We're sorry, but you are white.

- Pigeons having sex in Soho Square.

- The hairdresser in Bethnal Green called "It'll Grow Back".

- The glorious, glorious memory of London's reaction to David Blaine and his see-through box.

- This announcement from a driver on the Central Line: "Why don't you stand in the way of the closing doors? I've got all day"

- The tapir (a strange hybrid of anteater and cow) in London Zoo that urinated over an American lady. It went in her mouth too.

- 'Little girls in Peckham saying in esasperation "Oh My Days!" They haven't had any days yet - they're about seven' Stuary Goldsmith, comic

- Celebrity offspring of dubious talent - Stella McCartney

- Celebrity offspring of no talent - Jade Jagger

- PR stunts in Soho Square going horribly wrong as out-of-work actors dressed as traffic wardens/weightlifters/ballerinas end up in genuine fights with tramps. Or pigeons having sex.

- Shop assistants in trendy boutiques. Sulky, eye-rolling bastions of bad manners trussed up like neo-Nazi fashion turkeys.

- Camden Town with its Faux punks sitting on the canal bridge looking a bit cross because there are still three hours to go till they get the train back to Suffolk.

- The Wibbley Wobbley comedy boat (mainly because it's nice to say)

- This station announcement "Mind the gap, this station is Oval"

- John Lewis "It still thinks there's a war on. Not just any war, but World War II. You can buy mothproofer and swimming goggles and wool. In one purcahse, in one shop" Natalie Haynes, comic

- Cyclists being arrested: a rare treat, but worth waiting for.

Today I...

2006-09-25T14:29:00.000Z

... started my new job!

... became a guppy in a sea of commuters!

... have gotten used to my new place (which I love)!

... am fasting!

... will probably steal internet off the unsecured wireless connection I picked up at home!

... will break my fast with my little cousin!

... got in touch with another blogger!

... discovered the term "blogger" confuses me!

... miss my family!

... miss my friends and family!

... will pay bills!

... handed in my payslip with work! yay!

... saw an old college friend in the office!

... need to eat!

Yeah... that pretty much sums it all up... Peace xx

Goodbye Smallest Street in Fitzrovia...

2006-09-17T21:52:00.000Z

I walked home to my little flat for the last time tonight... The familiar route down busy streets passed too quickly as I looked around my soon-to-be old neighbourhood for the last time... Tomorrow night I'll sleep in a different bed between different walls and to different sounds I won't know...

A year ago I came to the city without a clue of where I was going to live... The flat hunt took one tedious day and one last viewing to make me fall in love with a tiny little flat I'd call home for the next 14 months... I remember moving in my things up those horrid stairs and exploring the neighbourhood with such wide eyes that everything was beautiful until it was drenched in polluted rain... How fast I learnt all the shortcuts, where to get the best fruits (that stall outside goodge street station) and where I can get a cheap cup of coffee & fresh croissant in the mornings I was running late to college (Fitzrovia Cafe on Tottenham Street)... I learnt quickly that Oxford Street is bearable on a weekday morning but to be avoided at all costs on a weekend at any time... That old plumbing needs patience & once you get the technique right your tempremental shower will be nice to you for as long as you need it to be... I also learnt that mice only come when you speak about them & old fashioned traps don't work - those buggars are smarter than you think...

A dear friend wrote something very sweet for me over here, and I think it's a good description of what went on this past year... along with dinner parties, long talks, sleepless sleepovers and lot's and lot's of love... Thank you lulu, I know this place was just as much mine as it was yours - I think we did good here, I think we did a lot of good... :) Perfectly situated in the middle of the city, this place was a haven for a lot of passer-bys, I hope it made them just as much at home as it did for me... I know the tea & blankets helped :) I'll be sad to move so far away but it's time for a change...

It's hard to say goodbye to a home, especially when it gave you the warmth you needed to come back after a long, cold day... I just hope my new place will be just as welcoming as this place was...

Thank you for the memories - it's time to move on...

Beep Beep Beep

2006-09-16T09:55:00.000Z

Reason why I haven't written - I'm moving... moving house that is, from my gorgeous little bedroom in Fitzrovia all the way to the Isle of Dogs (Dags? Dags you say?)... I'm going to greener pastures (of fake buildings) and bluer seas (truth: my new place overlooks the water & it's stunning).

I'm sitting in my flat right now that's near empty - there are the odd few things that are lying around (trusty A-Z, half eaten box of chocolate dates I'm resisting) and I'm waiting to see whether it'll all pick itself up and get on the tube to canary wharf... come oooooooooon, you can do it...

Another truth is I'm exhausted... I'm knackered beyond control and tired, tired, tired... I've still got bits and bobs to sort out, so as soon as I set up an internet connection at the new place I'll start updating again...

*sigh* So much to do in such little time...

Sweat Free Review: Madonna's Tracksuit Line for H&M

2006-09-05T11:43:00.000Z

She's done it again - Today, we're giving it up for Madonna, Queen of Pop. The world's best selling female artist has now gone out and done something completely random to market her ever growing empire of music slash dance slash children's books slash kabalah slash red string around wrists slash political fundraisers (apparently Madge was quoted saying "The future I wish for my children is at risk" in the 2004 US presidential elections - Wesley Clark 2008 it is then...) - Madonna is now marketing her every so lovely Madonna brand of tracksuits at the Swedish fashion label H&M.

Now, we all know she isn't the first to do it... Madonna is following the string of famous designers who have contributed a cheaper version of their own label as a line for our beloved Hennes... Karl Lagerfield and Stella McCartney have been favourites, and a rumoured Viktor & Rolf will be coming up sometime this November with their own line... True, Madonna isn't even a designer, but H&M's previous contributors have left lasting memories in our wardrobes and not in our wallets and have been one big hit after the other. The point was to get tip top designers to create a line of crazy sexy cool and so fashionaaayble line of affordable clothes for the high street shopper - who wouldn't want a karl lagerfield design for less than £100 in their closet? Big Big Success, in every way...

So here we go: Madonna for sweatpants? People weren't as much skeptical as they were curious... True, Madge is a Yogini after all (that's a female master of yoga, fyi) and she's got the body of an 18 year old gymnast, but what would these sweatpants look like? Would there be cones involved? Perhaps a cross that went on fire? Controversial? Sexy? Damn right indecent? Well, be prepared for none of the above as no one even bothered flocking to Oxford Circus to see the launch of our resident's new creation. Shoppers around the world waited for some excitement from Madonna and were left disappointed: Instead of the cool kistch sexy designs we expected, we were left with dry mouths at the bland and unimaginative trackies with the silly label "Madonna heart H&M". Trackies is what they are - Madge's concert ticket prices caused more of a stir around the country than her line of clothes, and the teenbop/yummy mummy consumer world is left disappointed.

Starting with the display, it was your average humdrum clothes rack at a highstreet store, nothing extravagant, nothing great. The trackpants are going for £14.99 while the sweaters are going for £19.99. Not expensive at all for nylon-mix trackpants at H&M that are made in Turkey. The design is simple, zip up sweater, scrunched at the middle and regular fit trousers that did not feel anymore special on your bum than your average H&M track-bottoms. Nothing special - the outfit comes in Clorox white, black and that dark shade of purple that seems to be in every shop window this season.

And that really is about it: There's nothing more to it. There was no stampede as witnessed before at H&M Designer launches or rush to grab the last size 10 trousers; there was more of a silent shift around the display to get to the 2 for 3 wifebeaters and headbands we all so desperately need. Madonna's design lacks creativity and imagination - There could have at least been a print or a little label that broke the boilerplate copy she's produced. Her creation in no way competes with other now-made-fabulous tracksuits that have taken over the fashion industry, such as Madonna's favourite pair of Juicy Couture's. She could have done so much but instead decided to promote a bland pair of trackies that doesn't say much, if anything at all, about her new disco diva style. H&M can do no wrong in our eyes and here all the fingers point at Queen of Pop Madge Ritchie - poor, poor work.

Madonna's tracksuits have been available since the end of August and the way we see it, will be around until the sales in an H&M near you. Viktor & Rolf for H&M is predicted to come out Mid-November.

"Why is there a Dutch flag outside their window?"

2006-09-05T11:38:00.000Z

... and other funny things my sister has said while visiting... I miss that girl already!

All the Leaves are Brown...

2006-08-28T17:03:00.000Z

It's pouring outside and there's a chill in the air... No one needs to say it, but you know it's a fact: Summer is over here in the capital... Summer Sales a distant memory of the past and winter coats have replaced bathing suits and sarongs in shop windows... Not just Back To School ads on television break our hearts, as there are a number of signs that the sun's going to be leaving us for a long,long time... I've compiled my list below, got any additions?

Signs It's The End of Summer in London:

1. Big Brother Seven - After 93 days of watching a group of people live their lives in the BB7 House and forgetting to live ours, Tourette's Sufferer Pete Unsurprisingly Wins the Hearts of Millions (and the £1000,000 cash prize), does his one only interview with Hello/OK! magazine (I forget the second I pick it up) and our summer celebrities fall into a black hole of obscurity never to come back to the lime light again... No more watching a group of wannabe tv presenters lounge around a pool in thier skimpiest bathing suits all day long - well, not until next summer that is, when the brilliant folks at Channel4 find another group of hopeful chavs to keep our long summer days entertained with meaningless tasks... Say your goodbye to your summer tv stars, becuase who knows when you'll ever see them again... *serving you at a Tesco's next November* "Nikki? NIKKI? Is that you? OHMYGOSH you look so faaabulous! What happened? No modeling contract eh? No E4 presenter job? Ouch... Hey, I'm sorry love, you were fantastic... those tantrums? So real! Your hair & makeup so professionally done at every hour of the day! My God you were fantastic... Err... could you not bag those eggs with my sausages, mate? Cheers..."

2. No More Arabs - I can't say no tourists, because London's a city that's always buzzing with holiday groups in their bum-bags and brick Reebok cross trainers, no matter what time of year. However, June always welcomes that influx of Arabic families that lazily waddle down the streets and bang into everyone with their dozen or so shopping bags in hand. It's almost like it happens overnight - one day you hear the weather's going to clear up, the next you're pushing your way through loud, obnoxious (and usually obese - I don't know why) crowds of arabic families who are either a) eating shawarma or b) trying to hail a cab to Edgware Road from Marble Arch corner. I won't miss you when you're gone.

3. No more '99s on Oxford Street - I will miss the glowering vendors on every corner & the grownups who run to them before you cay say "Diabetes"... Ah that soft ice cream with the perfect flake and the funny stories of how its name came about... No, it was never 99p but we can still scowl at inflation on England's biggest shopping street... However, the disapperance of everyone's favourite ice cream cone is excused: it also takes with it the fake south american musicians/dancers who sell you their homemade CDs for a tenner. These people must camp out in some crack in the pavement (all 8 of them) until they spot a good amount of tourists loitering around... and BAM! Before you know it, they've popped out with their keyboards and maracas. I swear I hear them speak Tagala to eachother in their cheap fabric-micro fiber faux suede ponchos... LIARS! BE GONE!

4. The End of the Flip Flop - NO MORE FEET. Summer marks the beginning of bare feet - Muji maxes out on this season with their awesome flip flops for under a fiver and cityfolk go crazy. Now, as someone with not-so-pretty-slave-girl feet, I try not to exhibit my monstrosity often, but summer is an exception. This is a strange phenomenon as walking around in flipflops in London is really an act of bravery - do it, spend a sunny day out in the city in yer flippers & then take a look at your feet at the end of the day. Gross - it's as if you've been walking on soot all day long, you'll be scrubbing your feet clean for hours. Still, it's a drawback people are ready to take on to exhibit their feet. The weather's clouded over and I'm pleased to see people wearing closed two shoes again - no more big foot spottings down TCR.

5. Notting Hill Carnival / Bank Holiday Monday - This really is the last weekend of the summer... If people haven't already migrated to sunnier spots like Cornwall or Margate, they'll desperately head over to Notting Hill where they'll take part in the last crazy festival of the summer, and get mugged in the process... Fun, colourful and full of drunks, perfect way to end your summer...

How do you know your summer's over?

The Subservient Chicken

2006-08-27T15:10:00.000Z

I never thought I'd be endorsing in anything to do with Burger King but this is just too funny.... boring Sunday? Get the Subservient Chicken to do whatever you tell him... !
If this doesn't put you off a processed chicken burger, I don't know what else will...

Sport's Quote of the Day

2006-08-26T13:46:00.000Z

Arsene Wenger says he has no intention of saying goodbye to Jose Antonio Reyes:

“It’s like you wanting to marry Miss World and she doesn’t want you, what can I do about it? I can try to help you but if she does not want to marry you what can I do?"

Brilliant!

Reason No. 323

2006-08-26T10:26:00.000Z

I almost thought this site was a joke until I discovered they were right: CNN, The Da Vinci Code and Paris Hilton are all signs that we're in trouble...

They may have been bitter, bitter people to write out 10,000 Reasons Why Civilisation is Doomed, but it's worth looking at - some of it is so true...

Oh, and I don't like No. 307 either: Excessivly Negative People? They suck!

http://www.10000reasons.org/

2006-08-25T22:56:00.000Z

Pancakes!

23 year old James Proven is a genius - he put together a video tribute to everyone's favourite breakfast food.

IHOP eat your heart out.