Dear Anyone,
So I have finally managed to get myself to a gym, at long last, and I didn't workout as much as I wanted to, but I sweated severely, and I guess that's what counts. And I know I'll be aching tomorrow for sure.
Do you remember Bumper? Well he works at a gym, so with this year being the year of the Credit Crunch and all, I'm utilising my contacts and going to use it for free every weekend. Plus he is also a Personal Trainer, so he said he'll do a fat-burning program for me to follow. That would be tres helpful.
I plan to stick to is as much as possible, even though it's extremely hard for me to leave my house on Sundays (it's the day of rest!), and I'm already thinking that I'm going to get my hair done this Saturday, and my sweating the next day might spoil the texture. But I'll find a way to make it work. Look out for a trimmer me coming to a summer near you! I hope...
Sunday, 25 January 2009
New Kids On The Blog II
Dear Anyone,
I've just come back from re-living my childhood at the O2 Arena!! I've finally seen New Kids On The Block live!! And it was sooooooooo good. They didn't disappoint at all. And before you ask - no, they're not old men, and yes, they can still move!
I went with my cousin Wonder, my friend Roxy and her sister. Roxy had booked the tickets in September (as I have previously mentioned) but the tickets only arrived just before Christmas. Roxy didn't even look at them properly, she just went and locked them in a safe straight away!
When we got to the venue and made our way to our seats, there was no way we were staying there. They had put us in the seats right at the top, where you could literally touch the ceiling! Why??? Those were definitely not the seats that Roxy had booked, because I specifically remember her telling me at the time that we would be on ground level in the second block, so every time I thought about it, that's where I pictured us. Fortunately when we took them to the ticket desk, the girls behind the counter changed them for us, and gave us seats on the side, from where we could see the whole stage, but they told us not to tell anyone, because they weren't really allowed to do that, and they'd had to turn away whole families. Then when we got to our seats the girls in front of us told us that their original seats were even higher than ours, and they were also told not to tell anyone of their seating change. It turns out that almost everyone in our block had been moved if they'd asked, because the concert was being filmed for a DVD and they didn't want any gaps in the audience. I almost wanted to take back my sincere thanks to the desk girls, but because I'm a nice person, I didn't.
Like I said before, the concert was wicked. They opened with their current song, but most of it featured all the old tunes. We screamed like teeny-boppers, especially Wonder, because as sad as I am to announce this, at the age of 29.... this was her first ever concert. Yep. That's right. Her first. I don't know what she's been doing all these years. Actually I do, but I won't expose her. She kept saying to me beforehand that she thinks she might faint, and she didn't understand why I was saying that if she did she would be going alone to the first aid room. Why would you faint?? Why waste a ticket by fainting?? This isn't Michael Jackson we're talking about. Even then, when I saw him in concert, fainting wasn't an option! If I'd met him however, then that might be an altogether different story. Anyway...
Wonder kept screaming "I love you Donnie!! Donnie I love you!!" It was hilarious! I can't think of anything they didn't sing that they should have, and what was best of all was that Jordan sang his solo tune 'Give It To You'. I love it!!!!!!!!!! I wish they hadn't have changed the dance routine, but hey it was all good.
The only thing I didn't really understand was why there were kids there who probably weren't even born when NKOTB split up. You can't tell me that their mums knew really early on that they wouldn't find babysitters, so they bought them tickets instead. There was a little girl sitting in front of us, and she was bored out of her brains. She sat down for the most part of it, watching other people's reactions. She must have thought we were crazy. Donnie carried one young girl up on stage, and she was looking at him like she couldn't make out what he was, almost as though she was disgusted by what she was seeing. Waste!
Now I think this new wave of boyband/girlband reunions is a good thing (though no one has made it as lucrative as Take That have). It provides a nice trip down memory lane. My cousin Ursula went to the Spice Girls reunion concert a year ago (yep she's a lot younger than me) and she had a blast, so she knows the excitement I felt. Living in the past is where it's at!
I've just come back from re-living my childhood at the O2 Arena!! I've finally seen New Kids On The Block live!! And it was sooooooooo good. They didn't disappoint at all. And before you ask - no, they're not old men, and yes, they can still move!
I went with my cousin Wonder, my friend Roxy and her sister. Roxy had booked the tickets in September (as I have previously mentioned) but the tickets only arrived just before Christmas. Roxy didn't even look at them properly, she just went and locked them in a safe straight away!
When we got to the venue and made our way to our seats, there was no way we were staying there. They had put us in the seats right at the top, where you could literally touch the ceiling! Why??? Those were definitely not the seats that Roxy had booked, because I specifically remember her telling me at the time that we would be on ground level in the second block, so every time I thought about it, that's where I pictured us. Fortunately when we took them to the ticket desk, the girls behind the counter changed them for us, and gave us seats on the side, from where we could see the whole stage, but they told us not to tell anyone, because they weren't really allowed to do that, and they'd had to turn away whole families. Then when we got to our seats the girls in front of us told us that their original seats were even higher than ours, and they were also told not to tell anyone of their seating change. It turns out that almost everyone in our block had been moved if they'd asked, because the concert was being filmed for a DVD and they didn't want any gaps in the audience. I almost wanted to take back my sincere thanks to the desk girls, but because I'm a nice person, I didn't.
Like I said before, the concert was wicked. They opened with their current song, but most of it featured all the old tunes. We screamed like teeny-boppers, especially Wonder, because as sad as I am to announce this, at the age of 29.... this was her first ever concert. Yep. That's right. Her first. I don't know what she's been doing all these years. Actually I do, but I won't expose her. She kept saying to me beforehand that she thinks she might faint, and she didn't understand why I was saying that if she did she would be going alone to the first aid room. Why would you faint?? Why waste a ticket by fainting?? This isn't Michael Jackson we're talking about. Even then, when I saw him in concert, fainting wasn't an option! If I'd met him however, then that might be an altogether different story. Anyway...
Wonder kept screaming "I love you Donnie!! Donnie I love you!!" It was hilarious! I can't think of anything they didn't sing that they should have, and what was best of all was that Jordan sang his solo tune 'Give It To You'. I love it!!!!!!!!!! I wish they hadn't have changed the dance routine, but hey it was all good.
The only thing I didn't really understand was why there were kids there who probably weren't even born when NKOTB split up. You can't tell me that their mums knew really early on that they wouldn't find babysitters, so they bought them tickets instead. There was a little girl sitting in front of us, and she was bored out of her brains. She sat down for the most part of it, watching other people's reactions. She must have thought we were crazy. Donnie carried one young girl up on stage, and she was looking at him like she couldn't make out what he was, almost as though she was disgusted by what she was seeing. Waste!
Now I think this new wave of boyband/girlband reunions is a good thing (though no one has made it as lucrative as Take That have). It provides a nice trip down memory lane. My cousin Ursula went to the Spice Girls reunion concert a year ago (yep she's a lot younger than me) and she had a blast, so she knows the excitement I felt. Living in the past is where it's at!
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Job Seeker
Dear Anyone,
Today I felt extremely wound up at work, to the point that I think it was the cause of the headache I had toward the end of the day (which miraculously disappeared when I left the building). My colleagues were behaving a little childishly, and I felt like a teacher who had to make simple decisions and tell people off for silly things. My team leader was off today, so because I've been in charge of the shifts and workflow, they all tried to pass things on to me as if we didn't have a senior there. So annoying.
I really, really want a new job, and to be honest I'm a little scared that I won't find one due to this recession. Today's headlines were focussed on how the unemployment figure has risen, as well as the number of those on Jobseeker's Allowance. I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK ON JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE EVER AGAIN. Therefore I won't be leaving this job before I find another, but if I don't find one soon I think I'll go mad. There shouldn't be so much unemployment if the vacancies we see advertised are real. I'm starting to believe that the job ads we see in newspapers, websites, etc, are devised by these publications to lure readers. They have to be. Why is it taking me so long? I've tweaked my CV as much as I can, and looked at so many different ways of writing a cover letter, and I've decided that these things are a matter of personal preference. There is no right way, there are just different ways.
But I know I have to go back to what I asked God to help me with: patience. I just have to be patient because apparently it's going to happen for me. Apparently. I have an application here for the position of Events Assistant for a charity (and surprise surprise I've applied for this one before) so I'm off to fill it out to the best of my ability, and just wait....
Today I felt extremely wound up at work, to the point that I think it was the cause of the headache I had toward the end of the day (which miraculously disappeared when I left the building). My colleagues were behaving a little childishly, and I felt like a teacher who had to make simple decisions and tell people off for silly things. My team leader was off today, so because I've been in charge of the shifts and workflow, they all tried to pass things on to me as if we didn't have a senior there. So annoying.
I really, really want a new job, and to be honest I'm a little scared that I won't find one due to this recession. Today's headlines were focussed on how the unemployment figure has risen, as well as the number of those on Jobseeker's Allowance. I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK ON JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE EVER AGAIN. Therefore I won't be leaving this job before I find another, but if I don't find one soon I think I'll go mad. There shouldn't be so much unemployment if the vacancies we see advertised are real. I'm starting to believe that the job ads we see in newspapers, websites, etc, are devised by these publications to lure readers. They have to be. Why is it taking me so long? I've tweaked my CV as much as I can, and looked at so many different ways of writing a cover letter, and I've decided that these things are a matter of personal preference. There is no right way, there are just different ways.
But I know I have to go back to what I asked God to help me with: patience. I just have to be patient because apparently it's going to happen for me. Apparently. I have an application here for the position of Events Assistant for a charity (and surprise surprise I've applied for this one before) so I'm off to fill it out to the best of my ability, and just wait....
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Yes We Can!
Dear Anyone,
Now I would like to appeal to any red-necks who may accidentally find themselves reading this: give Obama a chance please. Don't just look at the the colour of his skin, listen to what he has said, and if anything, challenge him to see if he delivers. Let him serve at least one term. He is half white after all. If you have to, only like his white side. Think about the fact that as a baby he was fed by a white woman's breast. Will that comfort you? I hope so.
I am so glad I was able to watch the inauguration live, because I didn't think it would be possible, since it was being shown from 4pm, and I don't finish work until 6pm. But luckily my team leader was able to get the security men in the building to switch the plasma TV to BBC1, and we (plus a quite a few others in our office) were able to watch the swearing in and speech live. I'm quite sure he memorised the whole thing, because he clearly wasn't looking at any sheet of paper, and obviously there was no tele-prompter. But it was a very positive and inspirational speech, and I pray to God that he is able to serve at least one term successfully, and implement all that he's planning. The hard work begins tomorrow...
Now repeat after me - YES WE CAN!
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Home Alone
Dear Anyone,
I'd just like to say that it is Friday night, and I have the house all to myself. Although it would be the perfect time to have someone round (if there was someone), I'm really enjoying the time alone. I've had a nice dinner, I'm playing loads of Scrabble games online, and watching nonsense on TV - it's great! The only thing missing is my duvet, but I can't be arsed to get to go and get it.
Just thought I'd keep you posted!
Ta-ra!
I'd just like to say that it is Friday night, and I have the house all to myself. Although it would be the perfect time to have someone round (if there was someone), I'm really enjoying the time alone. I've had a nice dinner, I'm playing loads of Scrabble games online, and watching nonsense on TV - it's great! The only thing missing is my duvet, but I can't be arsed to get to go and get it.
Just thought I'd keep you posted!
Ta-ra!
Monday, 12 January 2009
Time To Get Serious
Dear Anyone,
I've recently discovered that my workplace might start holding Weight Watchers meetings at lunchtimes. That would be perfect for me, because I can't find any other time that would be convenient, and since work gets in the way of life, the least they could do is help me out! I've done Weight Watchers before, a few years ago, and I definitely think it's the best diet around. It's realistic and all about portion control really. You can eat whatever you want as long as you remain within your point allowance. It also helped me to see just how crap some foods are. For example, my point allowance was 22 points per day. Now when I go to McDonalds I would usually have a Big Mac meal or a Quarter Pounder meal. When I looked it up in the Weight watchers 'Eating Out' book, a Big Mac meal came up to a total of 21 and a half points! Just that alone would leave me with half a point for the rest of the day! And McDonalds would usually just be lunch - I would have already had breakfast and be planning what to have for dinner! That helped to put things into perspective. So I think it will be next week that we find out whether the meetings will go ahead at work, because people have to register their interest by this Friday, and permission will be granted if they can get 25 names. Fingers crossed! Plus I have a friend (Bumper) who works at a gym, so with him there I'd get free access - no excuse really.
With driving - I started my driving lessons back in 2003 with the AA (which back then was pretty expensive), but I had to stop when we moved to a different area. Then I was unemployed, soI couldn't afford to take it up again, and I guess I just procrastinated after that. But the thought of driving makes me quite nervous, and I never used to actually look forward to my lessons. I feel like there is far too much to concentrate on all at once, and I might be one of those nervous drivers who makes stupid mistakes. When my friends are driving and start effing and blinding at other drivers, unless it's a blatant stupid mistake, I try not to comment, because for all I know that might be me in the future! But I know it's something I have to do. I know London has a very good transport system, but I refuse to still be taking buses when I have children. I can not be one of those mums who struggle to fold up a pushchair in time for the bus's arrival, or be refused access on to the bus because there are already two pushchairs aboard. No thank you.
As it stands though, I'll have to wait until February to get things in motion, because January is the brokest month ever and I'm really feeling it. But I'm determined to see these things through.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Old School Gal
Dear Anyone,
Most of my closest associates think that I don't appreciate any type of music if it isn't soca. That's so untrue though. Admittedly I love soca. I like music I can dance to, because I really enjoy dancing, I can't help it. But the main reason that it seems it's all about soca for me is that I just don't think current R&B and Hip-hop are as good as they were in the 80s and 90s.
These days when I download music to my iPod, it's the old school jams that excite me. The radio stations in Ghana played a lot of old tunes, and I found that I knew all the words to most of them - something I don't think I can say about songs now. I think part of it comes from my first year at University. I lived in student halls, and we didn't have a television, so it was all about music as entertainment. I don't think I've ever listened to so much music in my life! Back then the singles would be released on Monday and would cost 99p or £1.99 at Our Price (remember that??) so with a student loan in my account, they were easily affordable. Now of course it's all about downloading and what-not. I'm a very old school girl, I still have my cassettes and my VHS tapes and video recorder that I don't ever intend to throw away. But I digress...
I think all original beats have been used, so it's all about recycling. I'm sick of the silly dirty south songs, because they all sound the same. I'm not into concious or hardcore hip-hop or Neo-soul, maybe one or two random tunes, but generally they bore me. Sorry. My friends make fun of me saying that I wouldn't like certain songs because they're too slow, but when did I ever say I don't like slow jams? I do, just not all of them all the time.
I even find that I can relate to the lyrics of old school songs. Back when I liked Boy Wonder, I randomly heard Brandy's 'I Wanna Be Down' somewhere, and the realisation of what she was saying was like an epiphany! It was exactly what I wanted to say to him. I also related a song called 'It's The Falling In Love' on Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' album to.... someone else recently. Not literally off course, but the gist of it.
So I do appreciate other types of music, people. I'm just a bit bored of it nowadays, and I like to go back in time to the days when music was fun!
Most of my closest associates think that I don't appreciate any type of music if it isn't soca. That's so untrue though. Admittedly I love soca. I like music I can dance to, because I really enjoy dancing, I can't help it. But the main reason that it seems it's all about soca for me is that I just don't think current R&B and Hip-hop are as good as they were in the 80s and 90s.
These days when I download music to my iPod, it's the old school jams that excite me. The radio stations in Ghana played a lot of old tunes, and I found that I knew all the words to most of them - something I don't think I can say about songs now. I think part of it comes from my first year at University. I lived in student halls, and we didn't have a television, so it was all about music as entertainment. I don't think I've ever listened to so much music in my life! Back then the singles would be released on Monday and would cost 99p or £1.99 at Our Price (remember that??) so with a student loan in my account, they were easily affordable. Now of course it's all about downloading and what-not. I'm a very old school girl, I still have my cassettes and my VHS tapes and video recorder that I don't ever intend to throw away. But I digress...
I think all original beats have been used, so it's all about recycling. I'm sick of the silly dirty south songs, because they all sound the same. I'm not into concious or hardcore hip-hop or Neo-soul, maybe one or two random tunes, but generally they bore me. Sorry. My friends make fun of me saying that I wouldn't like certain songs because they're too slow, but when did I ever say I don't like slow jams? I do, just not all of them all the time.
I even find that I can relate to the lyrics of old school songs. Back when I liked Boy Wonder, I randomly heard Brandy's 'I Wanna Be Down' somewhere, and the realisation of what she was saying was like an epiphany! It was exactly what I wanted to say to him. I also related a song called 'It's The Falling In Love' on Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' album to.... someone else recently. Not literally off course, but the gist of it.
So I do appreciate other types of music, people. I'm just a bit bored of it nowadays, and I like to go back in time to the days when music was fun!
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Winter Sun
Dear Anyone,
Happy New Year!
I've been in Ghana since Christmas Day, and I have to say that I'm actually enjoying it this time. I don't usually have that much fun, because there isn't anyone for me to hang out with, since most of my cousins moved to England, but this time they all came for my dad's 60th birthday and retirement party. I came with my two brothers, my youngest brother's girlfriend and my nephew.
I've had the most tiring day today though. Today was the 'Visit Family' day, and it started very early, which is why I didn't see fit to go out last night. My brothers and cousin did though, and you should have seen them struggle through today! Very funny.
We had to leave home at about 7.45am to get to my dad's hometown for a church service. Along with their usual sermon, they were also having a thanksgiving section for him for his retirement, and I think he's quite important in his town. Three and a half hours! And it wasn't in English so I hardly had a clue what was going on. The worst part (or maybe I shouldn't say 'worst', more 'embarassing') was when they said they had the band there especially for my dad and his family, so we all had to get up and dance around the church while they played. I'm too shy for things like that! But it was nice of them I guess.
My brothers and I didn't stay for the whole service, because we had to go and see my mum's family, the most important being her eldest sister who is more like a grandma to us. She's not been very well since she had a stroke a few years ago. But seeing her again has made me decide that I'm not going to Ghana again until I have a boyfriend. The last time I saw her was when we went there three years ago, and she told me to hurry up and find someone, so that she can see my child before she's gone. That was three whole years ago, and I'm still not any closer to fulfilling her wish. Obviously I'm not rushing anything with anyone to make someone else happy, but I would love it it if she was still here to see my child. She asked me again, and I wanted to laugh, because the way she put it was as though she thought I have no interest in men, and that I am the one shying away from finding someone. I wish! But she hasn't been the only one asking, I'm getting it from all over - even my dad! That's how I know it's serious. But I'm glad my aunty has at least been able to meet my nephew Hurricane.
We also went to briefly visit my grandad (mum's dad), another of her sisters, and also to see the plot of land she's having her house built on. It's a long drive back to Accra, but thank goodness we're home now. I'm really tired.
I've been having fun though. We've been out to a few places, like a karaoke bar called Champs, which was funny (but we didn't participate of course), a club called Rhapsody in the new Accra Mall. The mall is impressive though. It looks very Westernised and seems to be the teenage hangout. It's got clothes shops, electrical shops, perfume shop, gift shops, a food court, and a cinema upstairs. We didn't actually go to the cinema so I don't know what was showing. Ghana's coming up! We also went swimming at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel (well I didn't swim, I watched) and we plan to go to a beach called Bojo Beach, which apparently is very nice. That might have to be on Sunday, because my brother and his girlfriend have planned a day together tomorrow, and my dad's party is on Saturday.
I've been like a mum for the holiday, because I'm the primary carer of Hurricane. My brother - his dad - has had to stay in my dad's other house due to space, so I share a room with him and it is hard work! But he LOVES it in Ghana - all the space to run about that he doesn't get in London.
And every other time we've been drinking! There is so much readily available alcohol in this house, it's hard not to! But you'll be pleased to know that I haven't been (really) drunk.... yet, and I certainly will not be touching a drop of alcohol until at least February, starting from the minute I step into London on 6 January. Promise.
Happy New Year!
I've been in Ghana since Christmas Day, and I have to say that I'm actually enjoying it this time. I don't usually have that much fun, because there isn't anyone for me to hang out with, since most of my cousins moved to England, but this time they all came for my dad's 60th birthday and retirement party. I came with my two brothers, my youngest brother's girlfriend and my nephew.
I've had the most tiring day today though. Today was the 'Visit Family' day, and it started very early, which is why I didn't see fit to go out last night. My brothers and cousin did though, and you should have seen them struggle through today! Very funny.
We had to leave home at about 7.45am to get to my dad's hometown for a church service. Along with their usual sermon, they were also having a thanksgiving section for him for his retirement, and I think he's quite important in his town. Three and a half hours! And it wasn't in English so I hardly had a clue what was going on. The worst part (or maybe I shouldn't say 'worst', more 'embarassing') was when they said they had the band there especially for my dad and his family, so we all had to get up and dance around the church while they played. I'm too shy for things like that! But it was nice of them I guess.
My brothers and I didn't stay for the whole service, because we had to go and see my mum's family, the most important being her eldest sister who is more like a grandma to us. She's not been very well since she had a stroke a few years ago. But seeing her again has made me decide that I'm not going to Ghana again until I have a boyfriend. The last time I saw her was when we went there three years ago, and she told me to hurry up and find someone, so that she can see my child before she's gone. That was three whole years ago, and I'm still not any closer to fulfilling her wish. Obviously I'm not rushing anything with anyone to make someone else happy, but I would love it it if she was still here to see my child. She asked me again, and I wanted to laugh, because the way she put it was as though she thought I have no interest in men, and that I am the one shying away from finding someone. I wish! But she hasn't been the only one asking, I'm getting it from all over - even my dad! That's how I know it's serious. But I'm glad my aunty has at least been able to meet my nephew Hurricane.
We also went to briefly visit my grandad (mum's dad), another of her sisters, and also to see the plot of land she's having her house built on. It's a long drive back to Accra, but thank goodness we're home now. I'm really tired.
I've been having fun though. We've been out to a few places, like a karaoke bar called Champs, which was funny (but we didn't participate of course), a club called Rhapsody in the new Accra Mall. The mall is impressive though. It looks very Westernised and seems to be the teenage hangout. It's got clothes shops, electrical shops, perfume shop, gift shops, a food court, and a cinema upstairs. We didn't actually go to the cinema so I don't know what was showing. Ghana's coming up! We also went swimming at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel (well I didn't swim, I watched) and we plan to go to a beach called Bojo Beach, which apparently is very nice. That might have to be on Sunday, because my brother and his girlfriend have planned a day together tomorrow, and my dad's party is on Saturday.
I've been like a mum for the holiday, because I'm the primary carer of Hurricane. My brother - his dad - has had to stay in my dad's other house due to space, so I share a room with him and it is hard work! But he LOVES it in Ghana - all the space to run about that he doesn't get in London.
And every other time we've been drinking! There is so much readily available alcohol in this house, it's hard not to! But you'll be pleased to know that I haven't been (really) drunk.... yet, and I certainly will not be touching a drop of alcohol until at least February, starting from the minute I step into London on 6 January. Promise.
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