My Birthday Comin…

This weekend is my birthday and The Big Fish and I are going to the Isle Of Wight. Its an island of the coast of Portsmouth. Its suppose to be very nice. So hopefully I’ll have some great pictures to show.

Just So U Know…

The Big Fish and I are DATING!!!!!

My Flat

That’s right. I’m in my flat and I’m so HAPPY. I live in Beckenham which is in the Borough of Bromley or Lewisham. I’m not sure which one, but who cares. Beckenham is really pretty. Some would its Very Posh, meaning EXPENSIVE. All I know is it has trees and grass, which I love.

I did walkabout this morning for exercise and I saw a whole lot. I’m right near High Street where all the shops and restaurants are. It actually reminds me of Hyde Park, but theirs a lot more shops and restaurant. I actually have 4 different grocery stores near me, so I can pick what I want from each one. How AWESOME. Oh and I have a movie theater down the street from me. It less then 4 minutes from my flat. Man oh man, I’m loving this area.

I’m sharing with 3 other ladies from around the world and they seem very nice. Char helped me get connected to the Internet yesterday. I have my own double room and it is very nice. The room is actually bigger then the one I had at home. I have plenty of drawer space too which makes me want to buy more clothes; but I won’t.

It just so beautiful. Right now I’m just in my bed typing and looking out the window at the trees and the sky. Its another beautiful warm day. Too beautiful to be stuck inside working but I have to go in anyway because my sister is flying  in this Friday for her tour. How great is that? We are gonna have such a great time. I’m so looking forward to it. I’ll post again soon. My sister wants to visit some countries while shes here. So I’ll have some pictures to show.

1 Month Later

I’ve completed my first month as a Support Worker and I just got paid; so I’m very happy. The job pays pcm which means Per Calender Month. So I get paid the very last day of the month. I almost had an attack when I found out. I never had to deal with monthly pay, but its common here in the UK. Anyway, taxes and Employees NI (National Insurance) were taken out and it didn’t bother me until I found out that the people over here don’t get TAX REFUNDS. What the HELL? So the government will take my taxes for as long as I live here and I won’t EVER get anything back. I just don’t know about this.

I should go permanent this month. I did various training classes last month. I’ve even started dispensing medication to the people I support. Last week I learnt the new way to do CPR. It isn’t 2 & 5 meaning 2 breaths and 5 chest compressions. Its now 2 breaths and 30 chest compressions and I can do for 2 minutes straight. I have a couple of more classes and then I am good to go. I should have my first sleepin at the end of this month.

To celebrate my first month and check I did a day trip to Bristol which is near Bath. I expected to see a lot of old buildings and I was disappointed. It reminded me of the US. My friend and I did see the Bristol Cathedral which was very beautiful. It had this huge Rosetta like kind of the one in the Prague Cathedral. Inside was very lovely. I kept looking at the ceiling which had spires. I think that’s what you call them. Anyway, we spent a good 5 hours there. We dined at this restaurant called Aqua. The meal not only tasted good but it looked good. It was like I was getting food from one of the shows on Food Network. It looked that damn good. For those of you that interested, me my meal was Mussels (Thai style) for starters and Cajun Salmon with Mash Potatoes and Sweetcorn Relish and a glass of Pieno White. It was just a fabulous lunch.

Tomorrow is Bank Holiday and I do have to work but I don’t mind. I’m finally starting to get some hours. I’ve also starting looking for a flat (apartment). I’m hoping to be in a flat by June. Thats my goal and I’m sticking to it unless someone gets me out of here sooner. This week I’ll put in for some time off in August. I want to go home to see my family. In June, I may go to Spain. I also plan to do another day trip this month. I want to go to Brighton, Portsmouth, Wales and Bath. I was actually suppose to go to Wales this Thursday, but I will be getting my hair done instead. Its time.

My niece graduates this month and I’m going to miss it. I could have taken time off but I want to get settled before I go back to the states. The child wants a Ipod Nano for graduation. I asked her if she was crazy. Why can’t she start thinking about her future? I don’t understand these kids sometimes.

Well I’ve written a lot and now its time for me to go to bed. I have to get up very early.

Work Starts Monday

While its Friday night and I’m just sitting in the pub. I start work this coming Monday. I can hardly believe it. Its been so long since I had a regular paying job. So what have I been doing beside waitin? I’ve been downloading Adobe and Macromedia MX Suite software. I now have Illustrator CS3 which I really like. I’m trying to refresh my skills and create an online portofolio of illustrator work. The tutorials that I’m using are so fun and interesting. Its not as boring and dry as the book. I also downloaded Corel Graphic Suite 12, InDesign CS4 (trial) and Photoshop CS2. I hope in a month I can really impress someone.

Today I bought Mobile Broadband for my laptop. Its SLOW, but it works. I just wish I could watch the Sony Ericsson Tennis Tournament going on in Miami. Hopefully the WI-FI will be working tomorrow because I actually watch TV on my laptop. I’m hoping Venus Williams wins this tournament.

I’m really hoping to be out of this hostel by late April or early May. The electricity was out for 3 days this week. I stayed with a friend so I was alright. But if this happens again I think I’ll scream. I’ll start looking for a place after 3 weeks of work. I’m going to save every penny so I can get out of this area. I want a QUIETIER neighborhood. I’m tired of the screaming. So hopefully no children around people. I need peace and quiet.

Just chilling in my temporary room at one of the locals for the night.

I had a whole double bed and room to myself. It was just soo peaceful.

Ballet Black

Well Friday night I went to The Royal Opera House to see Ballet Black and the Big Fish was my date. Ballet Black is a dance troupe consisting of 3 women and 3 men of Black and Asian ethnicity. There were 4 very different performances. In the first dance, all the dancers performed. The second only had 2 dancers performing. In that performance the guy messed up a little. He was balancing on one leg and that leg was shaking like crazy. The woman did awesome. The third and forth dances consisted of all the dancers. In the third performance, two dancers bumped into each other, but it didn’t seem to faze them. They kept dancing like nothing happened. Anyway, I thought the first and the last performances were the best. The Big Fish liked them too. He really enjoyed his first ballet.

After the ballet we went to get something to eat. Pizza is what the Big Fish wanted. Which was cool with me because I wasn’t really hungry. So we walked to Leistersquare and lo and behold, we found Pizza Hut. Unbelievable! I come all the way to England to eat at Pizza Hut. Too funny. Anyway, the pizza was ok but the company of the Big Fish was even better. I got to gaze into his beautiful eyes without any interruptions from pub patrons. Oh, there was one distraction and I tried to handle it, but the Big Fish took care of it in a matter of seconds. Boy, do I like the Big Fish.

So, what did I wear? Well, I wore my light turquoise halter dress with my my black suede heels. I accented my look with silver earrings, chain, bracelet and an Asian inspired hair pen. I found this pretty pen on Deptford High Street. I was just walking to pick up my shoes and the items in the window caught my eye. I pinned my hair up high to one side. It really looked nice. Anyway, I made my entrance at 6:45 pm and I do believe the Big Fish was impressed; as was everyone in the pub. I looked SMOKING HOT!

Pancake Day

Full after my pancakes

Today is Pancake Day. So, guess what I  ate by noon today? Thats right, PANCAKES. I made American style pancakes and they were fabulous. This is my fourth attempt to make pancakes since I got back here. The first two times were a mess because of the batter. They batter that the grocery stores sell is for Traditional English Pancakes. A traditional English pancake is very thin and is served immediately. The pancakes look like Crepes. You can make fluffy pancakes with the batter here. So I had to search for some Bisquick. I look through so many different stores and I finally found Bisquick at a Morrisons (not the restaurant). My pancakes have been great since I got the Bisquick.

Anyway, back to Pancake Day. Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins). A bell would be rung to call people to confession. This came to be called the “Pancake Bell” and is still rung today. Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.

This is what Pancake Day is all about. Its celebrated in many different places around the world. They even do pancake flipping contests. What fun.

Whats Going On?

2/19/09

Well, its been awhile. Alot has happened. First, I got a job offer as a Support Worker. I haven’t started yet, but hopefully I will next month because my finances are getting TIGHT. Second, I registered with a General Practicer. Its something you have to do. I’ve taken urine, blood, kidney and a pap test and haven’t paid a penny. I just love England. Thirdly, I weight 163 lbs. I’ve lost a total of 50 lbs and I am so thrilled. My goal was to reach 160 and I’ve just about done it. Once I hit the spot, I’ll decide if I want to go to 150. I just want to be in great shape for summer. It will be here shortly. Fourthly, the Big Fish is being SELFISH. So we have to talk. Hopefully today will be the day. We’re going to the ballet next Friday and I’m so looking forward to it. It will be a first for both of us. His first ballet and my first time taking a male with me. The dress I picked out is beautiful. It was such a great bargain.

I’m still applying for other jobs, mainly in Graphics. Here they call Graphic Composers Artworkers or DTP. I just sent a followup letter for a DTP and I’m hoping to get called for an interview. Its a 3 month contract, but it pays pretty good. I hope I get it because I really want to get out of this hostel. There is just too many crazy folk checking in. Ya’ll don’t even know half of the stuff I’ve been through. It would scare you.

My New Do

I LOVE IT!!!