Location: Haus International, Schleinig, Austria
Time: 11am, Wed morning, 15 August, 2007
Feeling: pretty good actually...
.... As I pretty farken should after 16 hours of sleep! Yep, 16 hours. How you may ask? Well, after a nice lunch in the village, we waddled back to the Haus and I contemplated taking a walk to the scenic hills just outside the village vs taking a quick nap to top up a rather inadequate previous night's sleep. I've settled for the latter, reasoning that after an hour or so I could still manage to check out the forest. Yes... and that was the end of that.
I've also slept through the visit of Augustin and Anna from Vienna when everyone proceeded to get sloshed on schnapps and cognac and generally cause havoc around here.
But geeesh I feel great now...
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Ah, the student days
Location: Haus International, Schleining, Austria
Time: 11am, 14 August 2007, Tuesday morning
Feeling: mildly hungover, seedy and paranoid
So... Here I am, living in a student dorm and having serious flashbacks to life before full-time work. It is Tuesday morning and I haven't managed to waddle out of bed before 9 to attend Denya's class. I gave it some serious thought, but I figured that I should go with the student experience all the way and proceed to skip classes.
We managed to get reasonably trashed last night - you gotta be a student to drink on Monday night/ Tuesday morning. I got to bed at 4am. Denya at 3. He has a suspicion that he may've still been drunk when he started teaching. Don't know. Wasn't there. Muahaha.
Schleining - a village of 800 people, home of the EPU (European Peace University - ~50 in student numbers), happens to have its bowling establishment inside a local pub. I just had to see it. It's kind of like mini-bowling. The "runway" (pardon dodgy terminology) is about half the length or so of a normal runway. Bowls are half the size and have only 2 holes. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera in all the excitement and thus, there are no photos. Bizarrely they had "Rysskii Standard" as the house vodka. We proceeded to severely reduce their supplies in that area. (Even Denya managed a few, in between his lengthy phone calls. Hehe)
And then we bowled...!
And then, as per usual, my memory goes a bit blank.
And then it reappears at a rather strange point which I'm not altogether comfortable sharing just yet with public at large.
And here I am now, feeling the paranoia associated with coming down from alcohol (for me anyway). It's the bit where I feel compelled to seek reassurance from everyone that I didn't do anything bad, everything is fine and people still like me.
I wonder whether this is something that would be alleviated by memory retention... I don't know...
So anyway... Just have to tough it out. It usually goes away after ~24 hours. It is annoying though how despite knowing what it is and experiencing it every single time I drink, I still get caught up in it. Farken.
Time: 11am, 14 August 2007, Tuesday morning
Feeling: mildly hungover, seedy and paranoid
So... Here I am, living in a student dorm and having serious flashbacks to life before full-time work. It is Tuesday morning and I haven't managed to waddle out of bed before 9 to attend Denya's class. I gave it some serious thought, but I figured that I should go with the student experience all the way and proceed to skip classes.
We managed to get reasonably trashed last night - you gotta be a student to drink on Monday night/ Tuesday morning. I got to bed at 4am. Denya at 3. He has a suspicion that he may've still been drunk when he started teaching. Don't know. Wasn't there. Muahaha.
Schleining - a village of 800 people, home of the EPU (European Peace University - ~50 in student numbers), happens to have its bowling establishment inside a local pub. I just had to see it. It's kind of like mini-bowling. The "runway" (pardon dodgy terminology) is about half the length or so of a normal runway. Bowls are half the size and have only 2 holes. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera in all the excitement and thus, there are no photos. Bizarrely they had "Rysskii Standard" as the house vodka. We proceeded to severely reduce their supplies in that area. (Even Denya managed a few, in between his lengthy phone calls. Hehe)
And then we bowled...!
And then, as per usual, my memory goes a bit blank.
And then it reappears at a rather strange point which I'm not altogether comfortable sharing just yet with public at large.
And here I am now, feeling the paranoia associated with coming down from alcohol (for me anyway). It's the bit where I feel compelled to seek reassurance from everyone that I didn't do anything bad, everything is fine and people still like me.
I wonder whether this is something that would be alleviated by memory retention... I don't know...
So anyway... Just have to tough it out. It usually goes away after ~24 hours. It is annoying though how despite knowing what it is and experiencing it every single time I drink, I still get caught up in it. Farken.
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Mmmm Cillian...
Ok... Since I've been going on about this for a while and people keep saying "who?", I've decided to launch a mass education campaign. And for those who DO know, just appreciate the view....
Drizzle after drought
Date: Thursday, 9 August, 2007
Location: Polina and Jack's Place, Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, Germany
Feeling: Content, relaxed and sleepy
Well... People have actually been encouraging me to write. Imagine that. An appreciative audience. Faaark me! Who would've thought someone actually reads my whingings. I'll also have to sift through random word files on my desktop as I've tended to write stuff down on occasions when I've had no access to 'net.
Well, where do I start.... It's been a long time....
After successful conclusion of my stint in Brunei, I was placed on a high-profile strategy job in Sydney for 6 weeks. It drove me to conclude that I'm an operations person. Stuff high-profile strategy - give me ops work any day. Upon conclusion of that I departed the new home-land and went to London for a few days.
People I caught up there include: Julia L, Zoya (Clive and baby Cat), Lacey, Mandy, Mischy, Corina and Martjin... Managed to miss Jules and Haiko... So have to make sure I come back through London on the way back.
Now I'm in Berlin. Very nice. I can see myself living here for a bit. Sick of packing up, unpacking, catching planes and going to the airports. *Sigh*
This is obviously work in progress - as it may take a bit to get back into the swing of blogging...
Top 3 events (aside from catching up with people after years of absence)
1) Receiving a gift of fluffy bunny ears from Michele (along with other almost equally interesting objects)
2) Walking through Hackney at 11pm on Saturday night to get to "Bentham Green Working Men's Club" and then walking back to the hotel in Euston Square (estimated travel time = 1.5 hours, one way)
3) Getting upgraded to Business Class. Using First Lounges at airports where they cook you dinner! (the platinum thing)
Bottom 3:
1) Packing
2) Going to airports
3) Catching Flights
Location: Polina and Jack's Place, Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, Germany
Feeling: Content, relaxed and sleepy
Well... People have actually been encouraging me to write. Imagine that. An appreciative audience. Faaark me! Who would've thought someone actually reads my whingings. I'll also have to sift through random word files on my desktop as I've tended to write stuff down on occasions when I've had no access to 'net.
Well, where do I start.... It's been a long time....
After successful conclusion of my stint in Brunei, I was placed on a high-profile strategy job in Sydney for 6 weeks. It drove me to conclude that I'm an operations person. Stuff high-profile strategy - give me ops work any day. Upon conclusion of that I departed the new home-land and went to London for a few days.
People I caught up there include: Julia L, Zoya (Clive and baby Cat), Lacey, Mandy, Mischy, Corina and Martjin... Managed to miss Jules and Haiko... So have to make sure I come back through London on the way back.
Now I'm in Berlin. Very nice. I can see myself living here for a bit. Sick of packing up, unpacking, catching planes and going to the airports. *Sigh*
This is obviously work in progress - as it may take a bit to get back into the swing of blogging...
Top 3 events (aside from catching up with people after years of absence)
1) Receiving a gift of fluffy bunny ears from Michele (along with other almost equally interesting objects)
2) Walking through Hackney at 11pm on Saturday night to get to "Bentham Green Working Men's Club" and then walking back to the hotel in Euston Square (estimated travel time = 1.5 hours, one way)
3) Getting upgraded to Business Class. Using First Lounges at airports where they cook you dinner! (the platinum thing)
Bottom 3:
1) Packing
2) Going to airports
3) Catching Flights
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Location: Kuala Belait
9am, Tuesday morning, 2 days to go
I don't think today is going to be a good day. The cake people were just very rude to me. This is so weird. People just don't do that in Brunei... I don't understand. I wasn't even being difficult. I can't handle that early in the morning. Can't really yell over the phone as don't want them to spit on the cake. Anyway, NOT happy. Am going to check out the other bakery and then see if I can get my money back and get a cake from somewhere else. Petty, and yet so satisfying...
The cake is for a bit of a 'goodbye' dinner tonight. We even have 8 bottles of wine and 4 packs of 24cans of Tiger beer. Should be more than enough for 17 people some of whom don't drink (obviously, not me)
So yes - if you are ever in Kuala Belait, and you need a cake, do NOT go to the Ribonette Cafe. They are mean to customers.
I am still struggling with the Blog - there are things that I want to write down but I don't think I should - unless I password protect my blog. I keep worrying about work reading it and then firing me for passing on some random bit of information I didn't even realise I was passing on.
There seem to be a number of cases cropping up in the newspapers where people get fired for the most random things in their blogs - e.g. woman putting up a picture of herself in Delta uniform (getting fired from Delta Airlines), and that teacher who had a picture of herself with a beer (who got fired for sending inappropriate message) - I mean that is totally random. Not logical. How would you ever know?
So I am thinking of password -protecting so that I can write down everything and not worry about crap like that.
What do you think? It's an extra step for people.....
9am, Tuesday morning, 2 days to go
I don't think today is going to be a good day. The cake people were just very rude to me. This is so weird. People just don't do that in Brunei... I don't understand. I wasn't even being difficult. I can't handle that early in the morning. Can't really yell over the phone as don't want them to spit on the cake. Anyway, NOT happy. Am going to check out the other bakery and then see if I can get my money back and get a cake from somewhere else. Petty, and yet so satisfying...
The cake is for a bit of a 'goodbye' dinner tonight. We even have 8 bottles of wine and 4 packs of 24cans of Tiger beer. Should be more than enough for 17 people some of whom don't drink (obviously, not me)
So yes - if you are ever in Kuala Belait, and you need a cake, do NOT go to the Ribonette Cafe. They are mean to customers.
I am still struggling with the Blog - there are things that I want to write down but I don't think I should - unless I password protect my blog. I keep worrying about work reading it and then firing me for passing on some random bit of information I didn't even realise I was passing on.
There seem to be a number of cases cropping up in the newspapers where people get fired for the most random things in their blogs - e.g. woman putting up a picture of herself in Delta uniform (getting fired from Delta Airlines), and that teacher who had a picture of herself with a beer (who got fired for sending inappropriate message) - I mean that is totally random. Not logical. How would you ever know?
So I am thinking of password -protecting so that I can write down everything and not worry about crap like that.
What do you think? It's an extra step for people.....
Sunday, 20 May 2007
PS I forgot to mention
I will be arriving to London on 1st August. I'm thinking of hanging around for maybe a week and then I'll fly down to Vienna to meet up with Denya and go off to Romania.
Anyone around London in August?
Go world peace.
Anyone around London in August?
Go world peace.
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Hives...
Location: client office, KB, Brunei
Time: 4:30pm, Thursday, 10 May, 2007
Feeling: itchy, tired and narky
My hives have promptly re-appeared upon me landing in Brunei. I am back to my brunein state of ugly spots and continuous scratching. What the hell....
Other than that I have no news... Having a frustrating week with my pet hatred of incompetency being inflamed from all angles. Why can't people just be good at their jobs?? I just can't continue to be nice to them in face of blatant incompetency. It annoys me. And what annoys me even more, is when they try to give me direction. I just can't stand that bit.
I did get a job offer though. Unfortunately, I thought they were joking and laughed. Possibly not a good thing in retrospect.
Decided to go shopping in KL on the weekend. Supposed to be quite cheap and world-class.
3 weeks left on this project. I wonder what I'll be on after that. I hope it's not Canberra...
In my spare time: reading "What makes us moral?" and contemplating investing in pheromone-based perfume... I think that it could be the answer
Time: 4:30pm, Thursday, 10 May, 2007
Feeling: itchy, tired and narky
My hives have promptly re-appeared upon me landing in Brunei. I am back to my brunein state of ugly spots and continuous scratching. What the hell....
Other than that I have no news... Having a frustrating week with my pet hatred of incompetency being inflamed from all angles. Why can't people just be good at their jobs?? I just can't continue to be nice to them in face of blatant incompetency. It annoys me. And what annoys me even more, is when they try to give me direction. I just can't stand that bit.
I did get a job offer though. Unfortunately, I thought they were joking and laughed. Possibly not a good thing in retrospect.
Decided to go shopping in KL on the weekend. Supposed to be quite cheap and world-class.
3 weeks left on this project. I wonder what I'll be on after that. I hope it's not Canberra...
In my spare time: reading "What makes us moral?" and contemplating investing in pheromone-based perfume... I think that it could be the answer
Friday, 4 May 2007
Perth, cancelled flights and whinging
Location:
Time: 4am ish (
Feeling: tired, cranky but incredibly efficient for some reason
My flight to
So, here I am. Waiting at international until domestic terminal opens. It seems so primitive – just sitting there at a café, laptopping away without internet… What good are all those lounge accesses if they are not even open when you need them the most. I could really use a sofa and some toast. Not necessarily in that order.
Chances of making it to work are decreasing at a steady rate.
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Location: Client office, Brunei
Time: 5pm ish
Feeling: de-motivated and burnt out
In need of a holiday. I think I feel this way whenever I don't get enough sleep. Everything pisses me off and I keep thinking the worst of people whenever they say something that could be interpreted in more than one way. Keep hearing snide remarks from other team members, keep thinking they are ignoring me. Keep wanting to whinge.
I think I need a good nap.
Time: 5pm ish
Feeling: de-motivated and burnt out
In need of a holiday. I think I feel this way whenever I don't get enough sleep. Everything pisses me off and I keep thinking the worst of people whenever they say something that could be interpreted in more than one way. Keep hearing snide remarks from other team members, keep thinking they are ignoring me. Keep wanting to whinge.
I think I need a good nap.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
lunchtime ponder
I was just browsing the headlines on Google news whilst eating lunch. There is yet another article about fat-busting pills and obesity with pictures of fat people walking on the street, taking a dip in a bikini which fits them like a string around a ham, eating a fast food item in such a manner which makes you think "you should not be eating that".
I began to wonder whether these are just random shots of people on the street? Did these people consent to having their picture taken with an article about overweight people in mind? Will they open the paper one day or log onto google news and think "gee, that person kind of looks familiar".
I mean, how peeved would you be? And yet, what fat person in WOULD consent to having their picture taken for an obesity article?
Anyway, I was just wondering. And not for the first time...
I began to wonder whether these are just random shots of people on the street? Did these people consent to having their picture taken with an article about overweight people in mind? Will they open the paper one day or log onto google news and think "gee, that person kind of looks familiar".
I mean, how peeved would you be? And yet, what fat person in WOULD consent to having their picture taken for an obesity article?
Anyway, I was just wondering. And not for the first time...
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