…a brief glance…

Hi all! Hope all is well with everyone. Things have been super constant for me. Every evening is usually filled one thing or another. It’s awesome. It’s great to be busy and on the go all the time.

From my last post, which I cannot quite remember the train of thought a lot has happened.

The girls went to Italy for a week a fortnight ago, and it was a little sad not to have them around. Mollie and I missed them a lot.

Mollie and Jenna came down from Hatfield for the weekend the weekend the girls left for Italy, so we had dinner at Fridays. The following morning Jenna, Mollie and I went to mass at Westminister Cathedral before heading for Hillsong for the rest of the day.

Monday I did laundry, since I couldn’t deny it any longer that I needed to. That was alright since it was Monday, it was quiet at the Laundrymat. Tuesday I had Discovery 1 which was really good. Wednesday was Life with James, Ellie, Lee and Yao? (No, not as in Ming) We went to the pub for a little while after. Thursday was P&W (Choir/Music) Vision Night. Then Friday night was a great night.

For a a few weeks now emails have been circulating about a dinner with friends of friends, and what not to try a Vietnamese Restaurant. I thought, why not, it should be fun. Meet new friends. On Friday I came across 40 people…38 of whom were like complete strangers. I sat on a table with some great girls, and we had a blast with trying the food, talking and everything. By the end of the night everyone’s managed to at least meet more than half of the group, a few numbers were exchanged, and it was a really good night. Totally something that would have frightened the living crap out of me a time ago….but the experience was great. I met some great people. When I got to Hillsong on Saturday for the Colour Conference Team Meeting I saw a few of them, not realising that some of them were Hillsong People. I kept running into the others on the Sunday too.

Saturday night Mollie stayed with me. After the service we searched high and low for something to eat, since we were beyond starvation, we weren’t quite sure what we felt like so we ended up at Deep Pan Pizza, which was really nice. Went to Starbucks…like of course, before half heartedly deciding to walk home from Oxford Circus to Maida Vale. Crazy huh! But we did it. It took an hour, but it was a nice night and we talked the whole way so we didn’t really feel it.

I forgot to tell Mollie to wind her clock back one hour, so we were ready to go an hour early. So Starbucks it was…again for a Chai Tea Latte. I went to Kids Church to check it out, and she went to the service. We met up again for the 2pm service. After which I had to bail to head to Mass. I had to come back that evening because the girls came back from Italy and we were all excited to see each other again. It was so good to see them again. We were talking non stop for awhile, till it hit how tired we all were.

The Colour Conference is this weekend and I can’t wait. I’ll be singing with the P&W Team. It’s going to be awesome! I can’t wait. We’re all soooo excited for Friday. This week is another full week ahead.

It occured to me the other day that I was settled. I really was. I felt it. It was exciting as well as a little scary to come up with such a realisation. But mostly, it was comforting. I love being busy, and purposeful. Every new experience I’ve looked at with a perspective determined with positiveness, therefore it’s gotten me to appreciate it a lot more. I am excited for the rest that is yet to come, but as I say that, I am savouring each day.

Anyways….best go. Love lots…

As everything is slowly becoming a norm, the blogging exercise is getting slightly harder. Don’t get me wrong, my thoughts fly through 1000 miles a minute, but since I have to go to an Internet Cafe to write…you can imagine the creative juices are dead by the time I get to type.

Anyways…I’m not quite sure when I last blogged and what about. So I’ll start with Friday night. I started to get sick towards the end of the previous week, therefore by Laundry Night I was nasal, achy and whiny. By that time it was my Mom’s birthday so I had called her and she called me back. I whined and cried that I was sick, and felt better after talking to her. (go on, roll your eyes and call me baby)

Saturday I slept through pretty much the morning. Talked to everyone who were at my At’s celebrating with my Mom. I even got a 7am wake up call from my Ninang Terry. Miss you too Ninang! Sorry I was incoherent when we spoke. – That was probably because I was on the phone till 4am with Jes!

Saturday afternoon I met up with Katie, Lisa, Chloe, Katherine, and Kelly. We went to Notting Hill, which was a lot of fun. I will post pictures once I have enough to justify paying for it’s transfer to a CD. Afterwards I left them to go to Mass. That evening we met up again and heading for our Bootscooting experience. It was a lot of laughs! We had a lot of fun. We made it home in the wee hours of the morning, not before taking a side trip to Tesco (mini-supermarket) because we were all STARVING by then. Sunday was clean and shop for the week before meeting the others for Hillsong. Where I was running late as always! We stayed for the last two services.

On Monday I received a message from Paloma to say she was in London, so we met up Tuesday night for a quick dinner because she was heading back to Spain the following morning. The last of our Finsbury Family to finally go home…aside from yours truly. It was so nice to catch up with her. It makes me look forward to Cristina’s visit even more. I can’t wait till Novemeber when Cris comes back to visit!

Wednesday we had the taping for the BBC Special for Songs of Praise. They were doing a special on Hillsong. We sang, we jumped around. We yelled, we screamed. It was awesome. By the time it finished we were starving, so Lisa, Katie, Molly and I headed for Picadilly Circus at 11pm in search of anything but McDonalds. We ended up at TGI Fridays and we had a great time. We talked non stop and we enjoyed each other’s company. Telling our stories, and just getting to know each other. It was really nice. After Thursday night’s taping we went back to Picadilly Circus, but went to Planet Hollywood instead.

I feel incredibly blessed. Not just of recent events but for my life so far. To be standing in the middle of my life long dream and living it. I left for London with such naivety that it’s almost amusing to look back…okay maybe not yet, but I’m sure one day it would be a chuckle chuckle moment. I feel incredibly blessed, not just for the opportunities I have had, but the people I have encountered throughout my life.

My family, it goes without saying…are awesome. It’s taken my moving so far away to fully appreciate it. My Mom’s constant support, as hard as it was to let me go, being her baby, she let me go. She has made a lot of sacrifices for me to go, and she continues to provide love, support and encouragement, even if I am so far away. She gives me room to spread my wings and just go for it. She even tells me to text her when I want to call because I know she doesn’t want to call me every day in case I think she’s constantly checking up on me.

As for my Ats…well what can I say? She may say that I am gutsier than her because I did it. That I got on the plane and went for it, but had she only known that it is because of her that I am strong. Even though I am so far away, she is still only a phone call away…LITERALLY! Trust me! She has saved me in soooo many ways, and my Mom is right, I am extremely lucky to have her at my beck and call. (‘bout time too…after 26 years of being her PA) Hehe.

My bro is the quiet type…but I miss him terribly! Who else do I fight with? Who makes fun of everything I do. Who else will grumble at me for one thing or another? In saying that, despite our differences, I know my brother loves me, and would do anything for me. (except procreate! Hellllooooo, I’m waiting for a niece and nephew here!) How could he not love me dearly? I’m like soooo CUTE!

As for my Dad, despite what he thinks, and perhaps what I lack in showing, I do appreciate all he’s tried to do for me. As much as I have tried to deny it and even resent it at times, I am his baby. He loved me as best as he could, and it is only now that I am starting to understand that I have to appreciate that. I’m getting there.

I have awesome Aunts, who would do anything for me. Are there constantly to offer their love and support, and guidance. My Aunts are like my Mom’s too.

My cousins! Well, what can I say about my cousins! Aside from they’re weird! Ooops…I didn’t mean weird. Hehe. My cousins are scattered around. From Phils, Australia and the States. Some I have spent more time than others, and despite the difference with each relationship. I love and value them all. I realise as I grow older that our relationships change. There are some that I was once close to, and not so much now. There are some whom I’ve never been close to, that I am close to now, and there are others whom in my relationship with them have remained timeless. I guess everything evolves with time, and there is a reason, and season for everything. I am just grateful that I have them. All of them. (1st, 2nd, and no matter how thin the bloodline!)

As for my friends…I am often reminded of how much I love and miss them as I look back on my Memory Book. The amount of trouble that was made in some of them. The memories and the photos often bring me comforts in my times of loneliness. I am fortunate to have encountered some of the people I have encountered. Even more so to be able to call them my friend, and some of them my best friends!

Ann and Jes…without your phonecalls, no matter what time in the night and mornings, I would be lost! I look forward to our weekly briefings. (Can we call 1-2 hour conversations briefings?) You make me feel like I am just down the road and that I am still part of your world. Thank you! I feel so bad for your phone bills!

Christian, my biggest literary/life critic…I’m glad I am still receiving lengthy e-mails from you…grant it it’s to dissect my life, but what else is new.

Val and Vlad, your continuous support! Thank you for your emails, both of you, especially you Val. I really appreciate the pep talks!

I feel that God has picked out the most awesome people to be a part of my life. My family, my friends, to the people I am constantly encountering in my travels. I don’t know where I would be had I not met Cristina, Lorena, Isabel, Paloma, Sarah-Jane, Eileen, Allie, Julien and Anton during my first weeks in London.

Then meeting my P&B friends, especially Michael and Rabbi who will always have a special place in my heart…for without them, Mary Poppins, will not mean as much as she does to me. Now Cat at Harper Collins, who makes me laugh!

Then there are my Hillsong friends. Three in particular. Katie, Lisa and Molly. Though it’s only been a few weeks, and with Molly even less, the four of us have a great connection. We talk so much and I think we find comfort in each other. Especially when we talk about our faith and what not. I feel very at home with them, as I did with our little Finsbury Family. Having them close by is also great.

I feel as though each person I was blessed with for a reason, and knowing that is awesome! Every day I am meeting more and more people, and every day I feel like I am stepping out of my circle…I am a snob…my oldest and closest friends would not only vouch for that but would nod their heads tirelessly in agreement. Okay, they probably wouldn’t call me a snob, but they would definitely say I am SELECTIVE! I used to argue that, but I know they’re right. I was. One of the things this trip has definitely taught me, is that I need to step out of my circle! I’m getting there! I feel more open to new things, new experiences, my mind is slightly broadened, and instead of being scared…I just try to be excited!

It’s not so hard to envision the upcoming weeks anymore, knowing I won’t be home. Maybe because, as hard as that decision was. It was the right one. My mind not only says so, but so does my heart. I don’t know when I’ll be home…when I’m ready I guess. Ann mentioned that in their visit with my Mom for her birthday they had discussed me, and in case I didn’t answer your question about my ears burning…the answer is that I had a fever so I wouldn’t have been able to distinguish the source of heat. =) In their discussion she said that they had pointed out that I wouldn’t go home till I had given it my best shot and my last thread had been pulled…I smiled. They knew me so well! They believed in me so much. It was comforting! I feel incredibly blessed for the unconditional love that I am surrounded it. This trip wasn’t just a dream that consumed me for years, it’s a dream that even my family and friends were wrapped up in because I constantly talked about it. It was hard for them to let me go, as it was for me to go, which is why I appreciate their love and understanding. Their undying support no matter how far away I am. I guess this is just a thank you!

Well, it’s been a week since my decision. Thank you to those who have posted replies to my OUTLET. Your support has been awesome, and it means a lot that you’ve taken the time to encourage and basically make me feel better. (I could almost hear the ‘RAHHHHH’ from my Ats and Sue)

It’s one thing to make a decision, it’s another to live with it. I know those that have watched my struggle from a far are so proud, for they see a progress within me…Christian even went as far as to say I’ve somewhat grown. Ha! Though he has been bagging me out for the lack of depth in my blogs, he was very proud of what I produced last week. (I am to please Bips) Admittedly I am feeling a little pressured now to produce something equally engaging. One can only try…

London is cold…and getting colder. London is also the lonliest place in the world if you let it. Especially if you’re not the pub and club type…which I ain’t! Lucky for me I have found friends who are into the same things, bookish, museum/gallery people…

Allie, one of my first friends in London. She’s the one I met at Easy Internet on my 4th day in London, she’s from Adelaide. We had dinner on Monday night, and we haven’t seen each other since before I left for Italy, but we have been in touch. We picked up from where we left off and talked non stop. We talked about what we were feeling so many months down the track. Where we were at, etc etc. It was nice to speak to someone who got where I was coming from. Who, in her own way was homesick too, but soldiering on and making the most of it. As I was.

I realise I was blessed with great people in my travels. Meeting Cristina, Lorena, Isabel and the others at the dorm were great stepping stones. I could have met them anywhere and at any time, but I met them during the beginning of my travels. Where we were all experiencing similar things, which bonded us for life. To this day I am still in touch with them, especially Cristina. I know I couldn’t and wouldn’t have survived those first few weeks without them.

I have met some great people since, and the more people I meet the broader my horizons become. I feel a lot more confident. A little less scared. A lot more adventurous.

After making the decision I made, I have to admit that I worried about where I would stand, once I got back. I know with my family, I will always be Kie…which is a great comfort, but I worry about where I will fit in once I get back. As it is it feels like life has moved on without me, and as selfish as it sounds, ‘how could it?’ hehe… I know a lot of things will be different, and perhaps for the better, I imagine. But that’s still a long way away. So there’s no point in worrying about it. I’m just babbling.

We live in a world where we want to have our cake and eat it too….but if your pardon my ignorance, what is the point of having a cake, if you’re not going to eat it….but we won’t trivialise that any further.

When I was talking to my sister no long ago, and I was crying….again….she pointed out that if I was miserable, what was keeping me here. Just get on the plane and go home. Trust my Ats to simplify everything…trying to be the Oracle and tower of knowledge, like Sue….hehe….but that’s what she’s there for. She’s there to always question what I’m doing to assure myself of what I really want. The thing is, I’m not miserable. I love that I’m in London, living out my dream! I’m here. I’m working. I’m living and surviving. I just miss home. I miss the comforts. But I know I am here for a reason, and I am going with that. Trusting that, and just going with it.

…anyways…

This weekend I have a few things in the pipeline. Friday is Laundry night. But first I have to vote. Saturday I may be going out with Katie and Lisa to Notting Hill. At night they want to go to this pub that’s having a country and western so that should be interesting. Sunday I might meet up with Allie in the morning, and then meet up with Katie and Lisa for Hillsong.

Tonight I’m going out to dinner with a cople of friends from Choir. No practice today so we’re going to have dinner together. Should be fun.

With that I shall sign off. I hope everyone has a good weekend. Happy Birthday to my Mommy! I wish I were there for the celebrations…

Last night, I made a decision, and that was to inform a friend of possibility that I would be letting her down. That I would probably have to break my promise, and miss a very important day for her. It was a hard decision, but it was one that had to be made.

In our lives we are faces with choices and decisions, at different times to another, it seems we are faced with one difficult decision after another. Deciding to go to London was one of the easiest decision I have ever made. Going through with it, was a totally different thing. I didn’t realise that going was the easiest, and the decisions that would follow that decision would be relatively harder and as time went on, the decisions became harder.

More than a few of you know of the struggles I have faced after arriving. After some naive perception of what it was going to be like, I was more than rudely awakended that it was no where as glamorous as what I had imagined in my head. The dream of coming to London, earning the money to travel, meetings new people, broadening my horizonz, gaining independence, etc…a dream that as a friend of mine once quoted, ‘that has consumed me for over two years’….if not more.

I wasn’t prepared for the homesickness that filled me, and the longing for familiarity. My adventure was at my feet and it scared me. Sometimes dreams are best stored in our mind, for in there, we face no failure. Having my dream at my feet, only magnified the potential of failure, and it was crippling. From the beginning, I had a huge expectation of myself, and when I didn’t accomplish it, it really got to me. My sister, My Mom, Ann, Jes, Grace, Ate Lei and Val can vouch for that. I talked their ear off, cried my eyes out, texted frantically (Ate Lei) frustrated not only myself, but also them. Through it all, they continued to encourage me to stick it out, that it will slowly come together, within it’s on time and not my own.

When I left for Italy, I had it in my head that had I failed to get a job after returning to London, the second time around, I will pack my bags, travel with what I had and head home come November. It almost happened. The last week of September was my cut off. By the grace of God, I picked up a part time job. One I loved even. Grant it, it was more the people than anything else, but I loved it all the same. Days later I end up with a full time contract at Harper Collins…the best place I could even ask for. (Here’s praying that a permanent position comes along) …. now I have my own place. Which after some major cleaning in the bathroom and kitchen, will make it more homey. I have established some great friendships. I am actively going to church, and even particpating in Youth Groups and Choir. The ball is rolling. I am living out the life that I had always envisioned in my mind.

Is it enough??? Well that’s sort of a selfish question that undoubtedly has a selfish answer. It should be enough, however, as a human being it’s all about wanting more. I miss home. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss Sydney. If anything it has taught me to appreciate all that I have and all that I love a lot more.

This experience is teaching me to make my own decisions and deal with the consequences or what not that results from them. It’s teaching me to be the grown up I had always hoped I’d be. Even if I am constantly asking my Mom and sister to call me, to help me solve one problem or another. I am in no way near being mature, or even responsible, but I know I am getting there. Most of my fears are subsiding, and even though my heart longes to be home, it’s not yet time. There is still so much I want to experience. So much of the world I still want to see.

Leaving Sydney, I had no idea exactly what I wanted to do. Yes travel, yes work. How it was all going to come about….I had no idea. Sometimes I still have no idea, but slowly, I am getting there.

My main regret is letting down my friend. I’m sure that I have not only upset her, but angered her in my inability to return home for such a special occassion. I hope that one day she understands that it’s not because she wasn’t important enough, nor was it because I didn’t want to, it is simply something that is not feasable at this point in time. I wish it was as simple as going to Italy or France for the weekend, instead of a flight around the world. If it were that simple, there is no way I would miss it.

This decision has made me think a lot in the last few days. Especially in the last night or so. I came to London with no set direction, no path. Those who have gone away for a weekend with me would know what a control freak I am, and how I want everything planned…this trip is sooo no where near as organised as one of those weekend aways.

Little by little I feel like I am growing, and I know I am in the right path. It’s scary but it’s destined so I’m going with it. I’m not sure when I will be home. It could be in a couple of months, a few….who knows. All I know is that I am not leaving London till I know I have given it my all. Like I said those months before, London may have won the first round, but I am slowly gaining.

So for those who have been there for me every step of the way. In my inefficiency and what not, I thank you. To my friend whom I’m letting down, I am sorry. Words cannot express how hard this decision is for me. Or how much it hurts having to make it. I hope one day you’ll believe that.

On the SADDDDDD note… CIAO!

Well, after a lot of searching, I have found a residence. It’s a bedsit. It’s a double room, but the land lady was nice enough to only charge me single. The room is big and was clean, so I jumped at it. Compared to the shoeboxes I’d seen, with pretty dodgy facilities, I literally jumped at this one. Seeing as it was available and the lady was giving me the keys the same day. So I took it, and we did the legalities and all that. My Mom and Ats have been running around Sydney trying to sort out my bank details, not to mention bank balance. Thanks Ma and Thanks Ats! It makes me feel better to not be loitering on someone’s couch.

After going backwards and forwards from Chelsea, to Maida Vale (new abode), and again to pick up and drop off belongings, Oxford Circus (to get linen and stuff), back to Maida Vale to drop stuff off, before rushing to meet Mic and Ruby @ Hillsong.

It was so AWESOME seeing Ruby and Mic. Another piece of home I surely needed. It was nice to hang out with them even if only briefly. Thanks Mic and Rubs for meeting up with me.

After returning back to Maida Vale for my first night in the room, I knew I had a challenge ahead, and that was to clean and disinfect the room. Sure it was seemingly clean, but I wanted to clean anyway. So I cleaned, vacumed, and set up my new sheets and what not. By the end, it felt nice to have my own space. It felt weird at first and I couldn’t get to sleep, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it eventually. I have yet to meet my housemates as they weren’t home all weekend, and I heard one of them return this morning only to rush off to work. Since I was in my PJ’s I wasn’t going to duck my head out and introduce myself. I thought I’ll do that tonight when I get home from Ate Fe’s to pick up my dirty laundry, which I couldn’t carry yesterday. It looks like I am sharing with a couple of guys and perhaps a girl. By the state of the bathroom and kitchen. I semi disinfected the bathroom so I could use it without convulsing…don’t worry Ma, it’s not that bad. The kitchen, on the other hand…well they better clean that up! Apparently someone comes in once a week to do some cleaning, maybe that’s why they’re such slobs till then. However I take sanctuary in my clean and homey like room. I just need blu tack to stick my photos up and I should be all good. Will send pics of the room. It’s on the 10th floor so I have a view of smoggy London. It’s also only about 30 minutes from work. It’s close to the station, and it’s a secured building.

As exciting as it is to have this place, it makes me a little homesick too. Maybe because it’s another major change. But I’m okay. The job is good, and hopefully I can do it permanently. I also realised a couple of friends I had made a couple of weeks ago lived nearby, so we’ve set up hanging out sessions. It’ll probably take place in their abode since my room is the only room habitable at the moment. But I’ll change that.

Aside from that, nothing is new with me. Best go, surfing the net illegaly! Hehe. On the late shift now so I finish at 6:30pm. Which isn’t so bad, coz it’s quiet.

Hope all is well. Miss you all. Muwahhh!

I didn’t want to add this to the previous post, for obvious reasons, but…..

I HAVE A FULL TIME JOB now!

I started on Tuesday morning, it’s for HarperCollins Publishing ‘booksbooksbooks’ *eyes glazed over* The place is AWESOME! I love it. I love being in the midst of it all. What I do is boring and monotonous, but I’m hoping while I’m there I can find a more fulfilling role. At the moment I’m doing switchboard. But keeping an eye out on Internal Jobs too. If all else fails I can always try and get published…hehe…may have to start writing my memoirs then! Though it’ll be like 5 pages!

The best part of the job is buying the books for 50p. I’m talking recent releases here. They have this Staff Bookstore and you could just get lost in there….GUILTY! I spend most of whatever free time I have there.

Sadly I’d had to resign from Pale and Bales because Hammersmith is far from Old Street it took too long to get from one to the other and I couldn’t get to P&B in time for my afternoon shift. However I will be going out with my P&B friends this Friday. I miss them already.

Well, with that I shall go. Hope all is well with everyone. Be sure to read my previous post. It’s important! Take care and Love lots…

Kie

Sad news…Upon changing my SIM card to my Vodafone sim I received a text message from my Dad informing me that Tito Rex had passed away.

Tito Rex is sort of an unsung hero from my childhood. Tito Rex was one of my Dad’s collegues, shall we call him. He worked side by side my Dad for as long as I can possibly remember. He was like my Dad’s right hand man. In every possible way! We were even neighbours at one stage. From the moment I met him, he has never failed to look out for me and take care of me. In a lot of ways while we were in the Philippines, I saw him a lot more than my Dad. Tito Rex was always funny. Never failed to crack a joke no matter how bad it was. He was always teasing me, and the way he pronounced ‘Cook’ always made me laugh in his Visayan accent. It’s sad to think he’s gone, especially since I was only in the Philippines a couple of months ago and I never got to see him. I remember thinking of him, and hoping to see him, but we never got around to it. Tito Rex lived next door to our house for awhile till I think we moved to Sydney. More or less. I spent countless hours next door playing with their at that stage 2 kids. Hap-Hap, their eldest, who was still a baby back then was my playmate. When we moved to Sydney we continued to be in touch with their family, as his siblings and parents had also moved here. Visits home, especially after my Dad left to move back to the Philippines, included seeing him. More often than not, he was always around. Him taking care of me resumed as though no time passed. He would fuss and make sure I was looked after, and fed. When I was home for Kuya PJ’s wedding in 1998, I got terribly sick while at my cousin’s house. I remember it was him who picked me up after a full days work, taking me back to my Dad’s condo. After which he ran around buying me medicine, juice, and what not to make me comfortable. I’m sure at the request of my Dad to some extent…but the fact that he was taking care of me was a norm from my what I could remember. He made me feel more than just the Boss’ daughter. The last I saw Tito Rex was Kuya PJ’s wedding, at least from what I could remember. I probably didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye to him that night because we were running around. I wish I had seen him one last time, if only to thank him for all he had been for me while I was growing up. Going home again will be different, knowing that I no longer have that option to see him. That I will no longer hear him call me ‘Cook’ … however I trust that he is at peace in the presence of God in heaven. My heart goes out to his family, especially to his many kids. I will miss him greatly!

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but it’s soooo good to be working again. I have to say that having to actually remind myself that I have to be somewhere half way through the day was a bit of a rude shock to the system, but I got over it quickly.

Monday evening I was reunited with my Trainee Buddies. Which was a nice reunion. We were all pretty much happy to see each other. The work is monotonous, as Call Centre stuff seems to be, but the atmosphere is great. We tend to sit near each other for entertainment purposes.

At first it was a little worrying, not being able to make sales, but as of Wednesday night I broke that drought, and it’s been good so far. Really what makes the place is the people, and it helps that no one has a chip on their shoulder, and no one walks around acting holier than though. Our Campaign Manager, Stewart is this little hobbit like guy who’s very friendly and enthusiastic. He’s like four foot something. It probably wasn’t a good idea calling him a Leprachaun on my first day, but he hasn’t made me pay for it yet. Although he has threatened me that I have to go to the Pub treks after work because failure to do so, is a sackable offense.

Throughout the night everyone is very supportive, and enthusiastic. When a sale is made slap of hands and silent cheers with arms waving is usually exchanged. It’s an AWESOME envrionment to be at. It makes going to work in the evenings and weekends a bearable thought.

Today it was just me with the boys (that I trained with) because Jo had the day off. So I was stuck with Rabbi pulling my chair, tapping me on the shoulder, making fun and being disruptive for 7 hours. The boy is lucky he lived. While on the phone Michael, Rabbi and I were passing notes and playing hang man. It certainly made the time go quicker. Having those two around is a lot of fun. Rabbi in his annoying ways, and Michael and I just bonded for life during our second day of training. We sort of have the same track mind at certain things. I also catch the tube home with those two. They usually wait around for me, which is nice. Rabbi and I leave Michael on the train at Kings Cross, and we go our separate ways on the platforms. Not before exchanging the secret handshake. LOL!

Last Sunday I spent the day with Paloma. It was so nice to see her again. We had lunch at TGI Fridays @ Leicester Square before going to Saatchi Gallery. Tomorrow we’re supposed to have plans again because she’s leaving for Paris in the next few days. Saatchi was great, but I’m looking forward to checking out Dali Universe which is just beside it. Might do that this week before work.

On Tuesday night I went to Discovery and met some more great people. I met a couple of girls who were American and they were extremely nice and we got along great. So I may see them tomorrow night too. If not definitely on Tuesday night.

I guess aside from looking for a permanent place to stay, I am definitely settled. But one thing at a time.

I hope all is well with everyone. I miss you all very much, and can’t wait to see you in November.

Take care and Love Lots… Kie!!! Muwahhhhhhh!!!

Week Three of London. Well, finally I have some news on the whole JOB FRONT thing. I have been attending a Three Day Job Recruitment Assessment thing for one of the major Call Center agents here who deal with big time clients. Anyways, after the three exhausting days, I got offered a part time position. Which is good. I am really looking forward to it. The people are great. I met some great people at training, and we’ve had an awesome time! I will continue to look for a full time job, hopefully one that lets me do both.

Anyways…the whole week has been taken up by job hunting, interviews, and this training. Over the weekend I watched When Harry Met Sally at the theatre, which was great to see live. Molly Ringwald played Sally, which didn’t do much for me. But the guy who played Harry, and Christian, and Kaye, you’ll appreciate this….he was Rob from Dream for an Insomniac. He played Harry well.

Over the weekend I also watched Raising Helen, which was pretty good. But then again I love John Corbett!

Hmmm…I’d hate to leave this short but I still have to go home. Hope all is well with everyone!

Belated Happy Birthday to Roskoko! Advanced to Chris and Rhom…and my KUYA and Kuya Ferdie too!

Muwahhhh!

Tuesday 31st August 2004

It’s been a week since my last blog. I have resumed my job search. I have attended a couple of interviews and I sit, wait, and look some more.

On Thursday afternoon Annie and Co arrived, but due to my interview Thursday and Friday afternoon, I was unable to hook up with them till early Friday evening. I was greeted by Annie, Jeanette and Dan at Green Park. It was so nice to see them. We met up with Mary, Vaughan, and Ness a little while later and had dinner at the Chelsea Potter, for their English Meal of Fish and Chips.

Unfortunately, Jeanette had to leave early Saturday morning, therefore we were unable to hang for very long. I met up with the others at Victoria. From there we headed for Camden Town Markets. A day filled with shopping. After conquering Camden Markets I took them to Oxford Street. We went to Mass that evening at Westminister Cathedral before meeting up with Vaughan, Joanne, Steve and Jes for dinner. We ended up at Soho and walked around Leicester Square/Trafalgar Square afterwards. It was a nice night. Sunday was pretty much like Saturday, more shopping. We visited Oxford Street again, Picadilly Circus after realizing that Harrods was closed. Which I bailed on them early to get some much needed rest since I was suffering from a migraine. Monday was a bank holiday so we headed for the Notting Hill Carnivale, which was pretty cool. You know, aside from the constant rain and freezing winds. We waited for the parade for far longer than it was on, shivering underneath our umbrellas and soaked clothing. Pneumonia here we come! After Notting Hill we took another chance on Harrods and luckily it was open. If it wasn’t they would have had a couple of very upset Sydney Tourists. After achieving Annie’s main goal for going to Harrods, which is to buy a Harrods bag, we left the others to do last minute errands, in translation, get Annie duffel bag because she shopped too much. Okay, the package I gave her from Rome didn’t help her cause. I had a blast with Annie, she makes me laugh so much. Even if she made me her PA the whole time she was here. Remember Annie, next time you’re my PA! After we accomplished her to do’s we headed home to Dan’s Tita’s place for dinner with the rest of the gang. It was a nice last meal. Our goodbye’s were sadder for me since it is I that was staying behind, and I had grown accustomed to having them in my world.

Paloma and I are scheduled for dinner Wednesday night, if not Thursday night. Being in London is easier second time around. Everything is almost familiar. Especially the rude-ass bus drivers.

Although the whole jobless thing is starting to get a little alarming, I am coping as best as I can and taking each day as it comes. Admittedly it wounds my pride and self esteem that I am still jobless. I feel completely helpless There is little I can do. I am applying for everything under the sun, but nothing’s coming my way. I am trying to be positive, even if at times I just feel so frustrated. I guess this is just on of those challenges. Finding a job has never been a difficult thing for me, and I guess this is one of those, it wasn’t going to be easy things. I’ll find a job I guess it’s just not on my time.

Last week Isabel left for Paris, the last of the level one trio of Finsbury Residence has checked out. I said my goodbye to her Tuesday night, and it was so weird to be wandering around the halls of our floor. The halls we spent so much time at because we kept being evacuated from our rooms. The halls we passed each other on as we ventured to the not so glamorous bathrooms. As you stood at the end of the hall you could almost hear the noises that once came from the kitchen. From the same spot you could almost see Isabel and Cris knocking on my door, telling me it’s time for dinner. The three of us standing around my door catching up on our day. It’s funny to be so nostalgic about it, but the three of us have been through a lot together. Cris and I did a portion of our growing up together. Isn’t that right Cri? On Wednesday or Thursday, I’ll be back there to have dinner with Paloma. But with the majority of us gone, the place is no longer the same. It’s no longer the home, we had to make it while we were there. A chapter has ended and a new one begins…