Happiness? Priceless

I'm happy, because:

My boss listened to one of my concern regarding the business and took action accordingly; I like being taken seriously, I'm not just a pretty face you know?

My dear brother was giving up hope of coming to France for Christmas; but I found a solution and Hope is restored that they can make it afterall.

I received a progress report from my little sponsored kid, Jonas, and he is doing very well; and it delights me, that my little help has given him so much more; he is doing very well at school and looks very well too. The only other picture I had of him, he looked... tired and angry; look at him now! He likes football, dancing and gospel music; sounds like mighty fine hobbies to me. And he drew a truck for me. Awwww! I'm smitten.

A summer routine

Going along the slow and lazy flow of summer, enjoying every moment of sunshine and stillness.

I've gone to Goodwood Horse Racing Festival. I've finally got to wear the dress I had bought for Nadine's wedding, that I did not get to go to, I looked beautiful and I got complemented by everyone, which was sweet. Although i did not win at the races, I had a lovely day, lots better than last year, it must have been the ladies, I get along very well with customers Heena, Liz (to my left) and Brian and I got to meet Anna (to my right here) who was great fun.

I read one the best books in a long time; the House at Riverton by Kate Morton, already a Best Seller. I love these books where the story teller isn't necessarily the main character, but everything around her is the story, the people, the place, the economy, the country, the history, love, drama, death and happiness. I only ever found another book of this magnitude, Empress Orchid by Anchee Min; if you can recommend any other please do.

I watched again Lost in Translation, I never tire of this film. I truly love it, I think it is because I can very much rely to it. At different stages of my life, I have found myself quite lost in translation. I do not mean literally, but just like in the movie, lonely, curious but shy, without friends, communication breakdown, insecure in love and life... And this time, I discovered a great song by Jesus and Mary Chain, Just Like Honey.
My baby went to Berlin while I was away on business trips; he had three great days discovering the war torn German Capital.

He met Knut the Bear at the Berlin Zoo, both famous because he was rescued from his mother who tried to kill him as a cub, but also because Bear is the symbol of Berlin. Here the teenager is taking a nap. Discover Berlin through my baby's eyes.
Summer finaly came in August, so last weekend we made the best of the first gorgeous weekend of the summer by having a picnic at Hampton Court gardens with Seow Ling and Nils. I was very excited to use my French basket for the first time (other than for decoration), I made tomato salad, taboule, Ham and salad and Salami and Coleslaw sandwiches, and Seow Ling was in charge of the dessert with fruits and brownies, she also brought a pasta salad in case we'd be missing, but we weren't...
The three of them took a nap after the heavy lunch, while I was reading the wonderful book The House at Riverton.
We had a perfect blue sky and I completed my book while getting a discreet tan. It was an absolutely perfect day, and I was humming the song of the same title by Lou Reed on the way home...

The rest of the month including Nicki's birthday lunch party, anther perfect day by the river in London; followed by a night out with Alex, where before going to watch transformers, we played bowling and a Time Crisis kind of game at the arcade below the cinema.

I went to a tea party at Nadine's where I put my foot in my mouth teasing her friend Bridget. See, Bridget got engaged, but she was upset because her engagement was not exactly what she expected, because her fiance James did not give her the ring and told her to fly back to South Africa on his air miles because it is cheaper to buy a diamond there. As far as I am concerned this is awesome, so I teased her about being upset, but I guess it was sensitive topic and I feel bad about it cos there was no harm intended. I took my first golf lesson and now I suck more than before the lesson, so lots and lots more practice is in order. There was a rumor going around the office that I may be pregnant, but I've set them straight before finding myself wishing that I was... huh?!

I caught up with my cousins Nicolas and Emilie about their new life as parents with awesome little Antoine; as well as with Chloe who seems to have put her life on hold in Limoges, she doesn't like it and waits to move back to Saintes to continue living; which is a shame, because experience taught me that the more you wait for something the less it happens, I told her so, I hope she will move on in Limoges, then Saintes will come around.

I spoke to my lovely boy Jacques who was 7 yesterday, he is very eloquent now and I am darn proud of him, he also enjoys conversing which new to me. Miss them all very much and I am simply looking forward to my holiday in France to meet Antoine and for Christmas to spend it with all my family.

The Return of the Geek

Ha! I had promised myself not to expose my dark side to ya-all, but you already kinda know; so I'll admit that I went to watch Transformers last night and I went to the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars at the Star Wars Celebration Europe, ExCel Centre London, 14 July 2007 and I loved it!!!

Shame you can't see the features, he had Han Solo's smile and his eyes... sigh.

Of couse, I could not resist pausing with the super duper better looking than Ewan McGregor, Obi-wan Kenobi

That Darth Maul was way into his role, bad ass at is best.

I could not help but get this cool shot from Bobba Fett none the least
At work & On a break

I liked the sandmen, they looked very cool.

Woo-hoo It's the weekend!

Ya-people, the week has ended, all problems are now gone solved or unsolved, whatever and who cares; it's done, gone, in the past, ain't nothing gonna change it now and I feel good.

Alex is coming back from his trip to Berlin and I can't wait to catch up with him; weird that I'd miss him after only a couple of nights, but it surely must be healthy for the relationship.

Since I confused some people with my last post about a nightmare, I thought I'd give you a glimpse in the background as it is in fact pretty funny even though the nightmare itself deprived me of a much needed night's sleep.

A couple of weeks ago, the office lunch conversation abruptly turned from what should be done with the over crowded jails to which movie star we would sleep with given the opportunity. Owen Wilson is my mate of choice: cute, funny, laid back, sexy in a non gorgeous way.

Coming home that night, I told Alex about the conversation, mostly because of one interesting choice from a colleague who named Nick Nolte!? (not sexy if my memory serves me right). And out of curiosity, I asked my dearest husband, which actress would be his choice. He chose the beauiful Scarlett Johansson and I even approved his choice, she is drop dead gorgeous and so very cool; I absolutely love her since Lost in translation, and if I wanted to look like anyone, it'd be her.

However in my over-stressed week and restless nights, the thought crept in my dream of Alex having sex with a gorgeous blonde that wasn't me and I awoke feeling fairly upset even though relieved it was just a dream.

'fess up people, for which star would you break your wedding vows in your dreams? ;)

Going down fast, baby!

Do you know these kind of days?

The kind where you wish you had stayed in bed that morning?

The kind where comes Monday morning you still have not recuperated from the week before and you've got to start another week with an even busier schedule?

The kind of day where you know a lot of crap is waiting for you at the office but you might as well face it now?

The kind of day when you can't fall asleep because you're too tired, and wake up too early because of a nightmare?

This day was today.

Last week was hectic, bringing work home and meeting tight schedules; juggling between all major accounts who all seem to have yesterday as a deadline. I certainly can't blame my social schedule, as it is seriously reduced to two friends, a 34-year old obsessive compulsive woman, Sandy Shortt, who is obsessed with finding lost things and missing people in 'A Place Called Here' by Cecelia Ahern; and a 90-year old woman, Grace Bradley, recalling her days as a housemaid in 'The House at Riverton' by Kate Morton.

Today was faced with so many problems that apathy dawned on me; I just walked out. I was not angry or frustrated or sad, I just felt nothing; pure helplessness. I was stressing about today because I had to prepare four important presentations and finalise a corporate hospitality event due next week. Of course everything went wrong; the hotel room booking was the wrong dates; the menus are not confirmed, customers cancelled, Ron wanted his presentation first; but could not sit 5 minutes with me to check it. And to top it up, an important magazine editor is trying to get products off me, for which my boss said no to, but the editor keeps coming with dozen of proposals and I feel awful for saying no, because it ain't such a bad thing and I don't want bad press, I feel a bit black-mailed. Of course I could have stayed late, but for the first time in two weeks I had a social dinner planned with my colleagues in the occasion of one's birthday. It was a pleasant distraction from today.

I am so tired. everyday. My nights have not been helping either, with nightmares of lost friendships, missing my nephews and my dear hubby betraying me (it's actually a funny story that caused that awful nightmare). I can't find the much needed peace of mind on evenings either, because I have been preparing for my driving license test as it is required by the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) after driving one year on my international driving license. Last Tuesday was my theory test, which I passed, and Saturday afternoon, was spent with a driving instructor correcting all the bad habits that settle in with the confidence one gets from driving for the last 13 years, like multi-tasking, which is apparently not the right procedure. That was bloody well stressful and threw me back to when I was 16.

Oh well, just for those of you who know me well; we all know how that's going to end, don't we? I'm going to get overwhelmed, and I'm gonna get very angry at the lack of respect from my boss and colleagues and clients; and I'm going to blow and make a fool of myself and despise myself for the next 6 weeks or more. Which prompts some words of wisdom from dad; pressure is like a pile of tokens, when the pile gets too high, that's when it collapses and that the burst of anger erupts; so I need to tackle each token one by one until the pile remains manageable. So here is my plan of action:

1) Ask Martin to sort me out regarding the editor; it will take him one phone call.
2) Ask Julie to help me sort out the hotel booking and meal arrangement for next week; while I complete my presentations and proposals to the customers I'm seeing this week.
3) Stop stressing about the driving test, I bloody well know how to drive and am a very cautious driver, so keep cool and book the test.
4) Apply for holidays; just a couple of days here and there to catch my breath and take the driving test.
5) Sort out the next regional meeting with Julie. Same thing as last year, can't be that complicated to repeat.
6) Sort out the upcoming Rugby World Cup corporate hospitality; that one will be two emails and one phone call. Hotel is booked and all I need are names for transport - responsibility of the sales managers.
7) Tell Peter to deal with his own shit.
8) Get the designer to do the flyers customers need, cost is higher but at leat it's off my list and briefing them will be quick and easy.

Seems manageable now that I put it down like that. Off to bed with Mrs. Bradley. Goodnight.

It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career

Since I do not have a daily update to share with you lots because my life is ruled by my job and pretty uneventful after work, I have decided to write on topics inspired by song titles in our iTunes. Should I shuffle or just pick Belle & Sebastian interesting song titles? :)

It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career

Or is it already? Define career, wise man might ask.
I always imagined a career would be Melanie Griffith in Working Girl from PA to Boss or Charlie Sheen in Wall Street; someone climbing the corporate ladder; someone recognised for their efforts and wits; someone who makes lots of $$$.

But now, I've been working for 9 years:
2 years holding odd jobs as a PA in a French school, a babysitter, a french tutor, a computer tutor, a waitress and a conference and incentive assistant.
5 years as a marketing exec in an IT security company; where I worked my arse off and earned peanuts, drove a tiny car that I loved just because it was mine, althought technically it wasn't, it was Kitem's, and owned a nice apartment in a new development.
6 months unemployed, trying to live the dream in London to have a nicer life.
18 months in the perfect job, where I get to shine everyday.

It may not be a career, but it brings enough money home and this time I have a very nice car with my name on it and I live in a lovely area of the city and I am happy to go to work every day, and my boss appreciates my work and rewards me in consequence; I always have projects to look forward to; and I may not be a manager, I may not be in the news for being the best person in the world at my job but I know I'm good and my peers recognise that, and my parents and loved ones are proud of me and that means the world to me, that's more than I could have ever wished for outside of Hollywood.

News Bits

It has been a pretty cool week, with something special happening every day...

Monday
In the morning, Sarah came over to give us an update on dear Dan' situation; and he is paralysed chest down, therefore he will still be able to use his arms and his head is fine, so he will be able to have a reasonnably normal life, he'll be able to drive and work with computers (which is what he was doing), and zap TV channels and drink a beer, if his medicine allows him to. I thought that was pretty good news considering that he might have been paraplegic for life.

On Monday night, I met Alex in London in China Town for a quick spicy Nasi Lemak and off to watch Interpol at London Astoria; they were brilliant, I really enjoyed their new songs, the album is out tomorrow. But it was during Hands Away, that I expelled a 'I can't believe I'm hearing this live'. I was extatic. I can't wait to watch them again in Leeds in August and in Green Wood in November. Listen to Heinrich Maneuver from the new album 'Our Love to Admire'

Tuesday
I was travelling with Martin to meet a new customer, the meeting was very successful and I got along great with the client, a pretty girl about my age. In the evening we drove down to Leicester and were joined by Mats, our Swedish colleague and had a great dinner discussing global warming, facts and fiction, cause and consequence.

Wednesday
We had a meeting with our distributor, it was quite informal but productive. We finished late and I drove back down to London got stuck in traffic for 5 hours. Our neighbour had organised a farewell party for our South African neighbours moving to Australia, so I finally reached home, I scribbled a farewell message in a card and grabbed a bottle of champagne from the fridge. I really life the neighbours they are very nice and good fun, I look forward to spending more time with them.

Thursday
Work was hectic, I thought I would never see the end of the day, but at five o'clock I left to get myself pampered with a facial at my local beauty saloon. It was so wonderful refreshing that I felt dizzy by the end of the hour. I can't remember when was the last time I felt that relaxed. I cooked a lovely dinner for Alex and called Kitem, who says Hi! to all of you and is having a great time renovating the holiday home in Ardeche.

Friday
Had a nice chat with Ron about the new guy joining up, Russell, and how my job spec will change etc. Ron was very reassuring that my role will become even more important with this new addition, so it's cool.

Saturday
Shopping!!! At last we had a lovely summer's day, so Alex and I went to town where we had lunch at the market place, where the German fair is taking place throughout the month and had German grub. I bought a few blouse that will go great in the office or with jeans.

Sunday
It's that time of the week, where I need to clean up and scrub up but will be out of here in a minute to enjoy the sun.

Baby it's you!

A lovely idea for a tag from Jeannie, initiated by Hammer.

I have a dozen of awfully cute baby pictures of me; but that's so friggin' vain to admire the beautiful baby you once were, especially when you see your face in the mirror 30 years later and how you turned out!

hmmm. choose between the serious one, the funny one, the cute one, me at one, me at two or me at three?

I was one and a bit, we still have this swing in our garden, although Kitem and Mr. Garden restored it for my nephews. I had this doll from birth, Kitem kept it in spite of the one poked eye and the other one coloured in blue for a failed make-up effect.

Rock Chick Continued

It's been a while I've wanted to share with you the thing I love the most; going to watch my favorite bands perform live!

It all started when I was 14, a huge fan of Depeche Mode and they were performing in Brest, a large student town near where I lived in France, Britanny. Unfortunately, mom would not let me go, a 14-year old with her 16-year old brother in a huge city alone with a crowd 30000 students did not seem to worry me at the time, but now that I am older I understand why my parents did not let us go.

Little did I know that it would only be a few more years till I realised my dream, and for my 17th birthday, March 2nd 1994, Depeche Mode was playing in Singapore, my brother was on his winter holiday break from uni and was over in Malaysia with us; My parents agreed to let us go to Singapore, by train 9 hour journey with nothing to eat, but the most awesome experience in the world. It was not our first time travelling without our parents but the train, the crashing at a friend of a friend's place in Singapore, seeing Depeche Mode play live in their Devotional Tour was the best present my parents could have given me.

1994 Mar - Depeche Mode - Devotional Tour - Singapore - with Julien and Frin
1995 Apr - The Cure - Paris - with Julien
1996 Oct - Cypress Hill - Paris
1997 Mar - Chemical Brothers - Paris - with Julien
1997 Apr - Carl Cox - Cardiff - with Alex
1997 Jun - Moby - Paris - with Alex

Then there was a long period where I was back in Malaysia, no gigs are allowed there, because it leads to what's the word, demeaning behaviour, drug, sex, alcohol, women wear skimpy clothes and men behave badly, so unless it is a very boring band, you cannot have a concert in Malaysia; surprisingly last year they allowed Pussy Cat Dolls and that caused an uproar in breach of righteousness because of the lewd dancing, surprise, surprise! Anyway, I eventually moved to England and Alex and I have been making up for lost time and catching up on the music scene...

2006 Apr - Morrissey - London Palladium
2006 May - Radiohead - London Hammersmith
2006 Jun - The Genius and The Feeling - London City University - with Sarah and Alison
2006 Jul - The Strokes - O2 Wireless Festival London Hyde Park
2006 Jul - Belle & Sebastian - O2 Wireless Festival London Hyde Park
2006 Jul - The Like - O2 Wireless Festival London Hyde Park
2006 Jul - Gogol Bordelo - O2 Wireless Festival London Hyde Park
2006 Jul - The Raconteurs - O2 Wireless Festival London Hyde Park
2006 Jul - Divine Comedy - Somerset House London
2006 Aug - Muse - Carling Festival Reading
2006 Aug - Jet - Carling Festival Reading
2006 Aug - The Like - Carling Festival Reading
2006 Aug - Artic Monkeys - Carling Festival Reading
2006 Sep - Scissor Sisters - Trafalgar Square London
2006 Nov - Muse - Wembley Arena London
2007 Mar - Nine Inch Nails - Brixton Academy London
2007 Apr - James - Brixton Academy London

We also have plans for the rest of the year; starting with one tomorrow night:

2007 Jul - Interpol - London Astoria
2007 Aug - Interpol - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Arcade Fire - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Gogol Bordelo - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Hot Hot Heat - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Bloc Party - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Razorlight - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Ash - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Aug - Dinosaur Jr - Carling Festival Leeds
2007 Sep - The Police - Twickenham Rugby Stadium London
2007 Nov - Interpol - Green Wood London (3rd strike!!!)

Bands that I'd like to watch someday:

Radiohead (again)
Kasabian
The Magic Numbers
Snow Patrol
Stereophonics
James (again)
Doves
REM

We've promised ourselves that we'll never stop going to gigs, even when kids are in the picture, we'll bring them along as soon as they are old enough, so look forward for these days to come.

Rock Chick

Thank you very much to Jeannie for giving me this lovely pink ribbon.

I thought that surely I should get this just cos I am a rock girl, hence i'm rocking. But apparently it's because I'm nice even when I have a gripe. So people, here is the hard honest truth.

truth is that I feel annoyed and angry at a lot of things and people more often than I wish. And everytime, I think of these great girls in my life who never seem to get upset at anything or anyone; and so I feel guilty for having any negative feelings and I feel envious of these amazing girls who are cool and lovely and have nothing but nice words; and always come to the conclusion that if I am not happy with someone or something it must be my fault, and for me to sort out; that's why I try to remain nice even when I have a gripe. I don't know if being guided by guilt and looking up to perfection incarnate, make me a rockin' girl but I'll accept it because I am a rock chick anyway. :)

Jenny is my nominee for the Rockin' Girl Blogger; because she is hilarious and always has something fun to share with us and has a super cute kid to make us smile.