New Kids On The Blog

Dear Anyone,

I'm going to see New Kids On The Block in concert in January! I can't believe it! I've only waited so long for this! My friend Roxy booked the tickets for four of us today, as soon as they were put on sale, so we're going, we're going, WE'RE GOING!

I don't think you understand the love I had for this boyband when I was 12. I LOVED them. My love for them was only a very very close second to Michael Jackson (and yes, you can say what you like about MJ - he was the BEST). I had all the posters on the wall and everything. My every last penny was spent on buying any magazine they were featured in. I even made my dad sit at home and record one of their concerts when it was shown on satellite TV, because I had been out shopping with my mum, and I wouldn't have been home in time. I LOVED them.

My favourite 'kid' was Jordan. I couldn't believe that someone so beautiful could exist in real life. I thought he was perfect - even though he wore braces for quite a long time. I'm not too fond of those. I had a life-size poster of him on the wall above my headboard...and yes... maybe I kissed it a couple of times, or shall I say... he kissed me... I also used to tell myself that seven years wasn't a big age gap between us. I didn't see why a 19 year old wouldn't go out with a 12 year old. Obviously I now know that had he come anywhere near me (in that way) at that age, my parents would have had him hung, drawn and quartered.

I remember there was a girl in my year at school, who loved the group (and Jordan) just as much as I did. On her birthday her mum gave her a card in the morning, but told her not to open it until she arrived at school. When she opened it, two New Kids On The Block concert tickets fell out. She spent the whole day being smug and telling anyone who'd listen about her birthday present from her mum. I was so jealous, and I had all these visions of her meeting Jordan, and him fancying her and wanting her to be his girlfriend. Well look at me now 'R'! It's my turn! OK so it might have taken 18 years, but better late than never love!

So if you happen to bump into me on 24 January, and I'm wearing ripped stone-washed jeans, a baggy white t-shirt with neon print, and buttons, badges and pins all over my attire - you can "call it what you want, but I'll call it love!"

Jobby-Job Reject

Dear Wonderful,

Thank you for coming in for an interview for the position of Event Assistant.

Our candidates for second interview had a better understanding of our awards than you were able to display in your interview and for this reason I regret to inform you that on this occasion you have not been successful in your application for the role.

I would like to thank you for your interest in working at Emap Inform and I wish you well with your future plans and career.

Whatever...

I Need Me A Jobby-Job V

So... I had my job interview as an Events Assistant today, and I'm not sure how I think it went.

I was interviewed by two women, which I thought would be a little intimidating, but fortunately it wasn't. I was on time. I was smart, but fashionably dressed. I was polite, maintained eye-contact as often as possible, didn't slouch, and was as friendly as I could be.

I thought it was all going well until they decided to give me a test. Now I'm not very good with tests, unless they're spelling tests, and as my luck would have it, this test consisted of 33 percent Microsoft Word, and 66.6 percent Excel. I hate Excel. I am absolutely no good at Excel - especially the formulas. I got an 'E' for Maths GCSE (twice!) - Mathematics is not my forte. What they wanted me to do was compose a letter in Word, informing a nominee that they are up for an award, and asking for images to be used on the night. Piece o' piss. Then I had to transfer booking information onto an Excel spreadsheet. Not too bad. Then - I had to use Excel to work out how many tables had been sold, how many more were to be sold and at which price in order to reach the sales target. To be extremely honest with you, I did my calculations using the laptop's calculator, and wrote down my answers. It was the best thing I could do to show that I tried, otherwise I would have just sat there staring at the woman's face when she walked back in the room (the other woman had another meeting to attend halfway through). I told her that I did my best, and she said 'Oh don't worry too much about it, it's fine, we have very good Excel training here.' False sense of security methinks...

The whole session lasted about an hour in total, and I came out feeling... I don't know how I felt actually. It was good in some parts, and not so good in others, so I guess all I can do is wait. Apparently I will hear from them by Friday, so fingers crossed...

Carnival Queen

Today was an absolutely great day. SP and I participated in the Notting Hill Carnival, in full costume and all. It was so good, and I have to say that we looked spectacular.

This is the third time we've taken part, but this year our costumes have been the most elaborate we've had. The title of the costumes was 'Bird of Paradise,' and that's exactly what we looked like! And it was the first (and possibly only) time that I have been brave enough to do the bra and shorts thing. The only way to take my mind of my lack of clothing was to indulge in plenty of free alcohol. And I mean plenty. SP brought a bottle of Malibu that she’d received as a birthday gift, I bought the orange juice, and we mixed the two into an empty litre plastic bottle. Within an hour we had no care in the world. There were also free drinks on the truck for those of us taking part. Good times.

‘Playing Mas (Masquerade)’ at Carnival is a very long, but extremely fun way to enjoy the day, and the only way I’ll be attending the Carnival in the future. We go on the road from about 12pm, and dance the route until about 9pm. Fortunately for us it only rained while we were on our way to the meeting place, and it stayed dry and quite warm for the rest of the day. Yesterday I was praying for it to be sunny today, but I’m quite glad it wasn’t, because being that I’m one of the original Sweaty Bettys, I would have melted and become just a pile of feathers.

The only trouble that occurred came right at the end when there was a riot between the police and revellers, but I’ve heard that the police practically provoked it with their presence and unnecessary stop-and-search tactics. Luckily for SP and me we were on our way back to our coach to gather our belongings and head for our lift home.
My legs are aching and I’m scared about how they will be tomorrow for my interview. But I’ve had a very good day, and they don’t come along often enough, so let’s hope that tomorrow is another one….

I Need Me A Jobby-Job IV

I have a job interview next week!!! I can't believe it. I only sent off my CV last night, and I received a phone call this morning while at work.

It’s for the position of Events Assistant at a famous magazine publisher. I’ve applied for loads of jobs there, and obviously since I’m still working where I am, you can see that I’ve never been successful with my applications.

The lady who called me was really nice, and she gave me a short telephone interview, asking me why I want to work in Events. I told her that I think it is an industry where there is a high level of job satisfaction, and you can look back and see the success (or not!) of the hard work you put in. When she said, “I fully agree with everything you’ve just said,” I wanted to scream!

My appointment is for next Tuesday at 11.30am, which is perfect because I have already booked Tuesday off work. Pray hard for me! Now I’m off to do as much company research as I can!

Post-Holiday Blues

Today… is my first day back at work… after my holiday in Barbados. And those words… were not easy for me to write… without my lip quivering.

I loved it there. I belong there. It was beautiful. The people were so polite, the weather was lovely (apart from the few times it rained, but it is rainy season, so we were lucky it only rained the few times it did) and they know how to party HARD! We did the party-through-till-daylight-then-no-sleep-that-day thing, and it was difficult. I’m clearly not as young as I think I am/used to be. As a result of serious fatigue, I damaged my camera by leaving it in a pool of apple juice in my handbag (don’t ask), and therefore my photos for the last few days are very sporadic, to say the least. I have blank spaces where Carnival and Boat Party activity should be. But I won’t fret, because the others got some good photos, so I’ll just right click on them when they put them on good ole Facebook.

We stayed in a lovely apartment in Dover, Christchurch, which is basically the area close to most things, but also the more expensive area, because it is where the tourists go. Of course with the British Pound being as strong as it is, we didn’t feel the expense too much. That sounds so boastful doesn’t it? But it’s true. We also had a supermarket next door, which was the most convenient thing ever, the beach right across the road, various restaurants along the road, and taxis practically at our beck-and-call. The taxi drivers really know their country. They literally double as tour guides, and it’s so impressive. It was the life I tell you.

Being in the Caribbean you know that rum was at our fingertips. And we feasted on it! As soon as we’d finish breakfast, we could have a tipple before going out for the day, and because we weren’t going to work, we didn’t need to feel guilty about it! “I feel tipsy – so what?!” I brought quite a few bottles home with me… for the family of course… and… you know… social gatherings I may have… and the like… Leave me alone, I'm not an alkie!

The only thing we thought would be slightly tricky was finding out what events were happening where and when, but fortunately for us Salop’s friend Dom took very good care of us. He was literally a Bajan “It Boy”. Everywhere we went it seemed he knew everyone! He practically had our social agenda mapped out for us, and even if he wasn’t going out on a particular night, we had people there who had also come from London and knew what was going on, because they are what can only be described as veteran Barbados holidaymakers. Some of the things we did were: Carnival (of course); a tour of the island (with a taxi driver as our tour guide, naturally) where we visited a historical cave; a Boat Party on the Harbour Master Boat – and I went snorkelling during that party! I can’t believe I did it, but I had to just to say I have. I was SO scared, because I can’t swim, but luckily there was a really nice lady who held my had for most of the time, and when she let go, I was given a float by another guy. I’m not ashamed to say it – I’M 30 YEARS OLD AND I NEEDED A FLOAT.

I definitely, without-a-doubt, want to go back there again. It was a good group of people I went with, no drama, no arguements, exactly how it should be. Hopefully they'll want to return too. Now I'm going to wallow in the withdrawal I'm experiencing, so please give me some time...

Caribbean Girl

Dear Anyone,

I’m beside myself with excitement! Today is my last day at work for two weeks, because on Tuesday I’m off to Barbados! I CAN’T WAIT!! I’m going with SP and her boyfriend Salop (formerly known as Birthday Boy), my friend Minx and my cousin Mute. It’s partly for SP’s 30th birthday (which will be after we get back) but mostly for the Barbados Carnival. I’m sooooo excited. It has come around quickly though – we’ve been talking about it since the beginning of the year, and we already only have four days to go!

We will be staying in an apartment (don’t you know) and apparently it is located right in the middle of everything, so we will be walking distance to everywhere we go. I’m giddy just sitting here writing to you! So far, the events we have lined up are the Carnival and a Boat Party. I can not wait. Everyone I have spoken to who have been to Barbados say that we’re going to have so much fun. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I can’t stop thinking about it.

If you know me you’ll know that I haven’t packed yet. Being the broke person I am, I still need the clothes I’ll be packing, or else I’ll be walking around in my birthday suit, and well… I wouldn’t want to get arrested or make the rest of you jealous now, would I? I still have a few things to buy, like swimwear. I still have the same swimwear I bought for our holiday in Miami four years ago, and I’ll be damned if you see me sporting all of the same costumes I did back then. Take note of what I said: I said ‘all of the same costumes,’ meaning a couple of them will be repeats, but at least two won’t be.

So that’s what I will be doing tomorrow – shopping (as broke as I am). I can’t spend much though, because I don’t get paid until the day we leave, which also affects when I can change my currency. But I will absolutely keep you posted on our antics during the holiday. See ya!