July 2007 Archives

In the middle of the house search, I got a blue screen on my home laptop. I have yet to figure out how to turn the thing on properly so I can retrieve my personal files. I almost wish I hadn't deleted IT Guy's number from my mobile. I'd have no shame in calling him. I know, wrong, wrong, wrong! But I just can't bring myself to pay to get the darn thing fixed when I'll be purchasing a new laptop shortly.

A former colleague sent me the following email:

Maybe we should get married we have a lot in common.

Too bad the only thing we really have in common is that we both havent met the right person yet.

Speaking of right person, I'm talking to Airport Guy again. He called me while I was in Italy. So much has changed but yet not enough. SO part of me wants to shut the door on the friendship, but the other part of me wants to leave things a bit open. I did do like him a lot but we are still in two different countries and the jaked side of me thinks that even if we weren't so far apart, we wouldn't end up happily ever after. Blame my diary. Rereading what I wrote months ago helps me keep things real.

A recent health scare which I am not yet willing to write/talk about in detail reminds me that no man woman is an island. I need to surround myself with family and friends in order to thrive and prosper.

But being an expat here in London, the quest to develop genuine friendships continues to be a challenge. But I can only blame myself for lack of progress. Since March I got caught up in the house search and basically stopped socializing. Now that I’ve found the house, I’m waiting to close so I can pick things up again. This almost means that I’ll start from scratch again but c’est la vie.

Speaking of closing on the house, I’m getting closer. My lawyer tells me that there is now just one issue to be clarified before we move to contract phase. I can’t wait. Being without my things, living in one room (even if the house itself is quite large), is driving me crazy. I feel like a child again and so can’t wait to reclaim my independence.

Oh yeah, as for me writing up my trip to Bologna, Italy, I’ve decided not to because it shouldn't be on anyone’s list of top 40 cities to visit in Europe. I know that’s a bit harsh, but it’s the sort of place that one should drive through on their way to one of the more well known cities in Italy. Thus why my company decided to send us there I’ll never know.

Back to health scare, let me just say how grateful I am to currently live in a country with socialized medicine. Granted the English National Health Service (NHS) is not perfect, but not having to worry about how I’m going to have to pay for medical care while trying to purchase a house feels darn good. Plus based on recent experience, the service wasn't so bad. In fact, the medical professionals I dealt with at St Thomas' Hospital get a B+.

I spotted this blog rating tool via Ms Shasta, and of course I had to confirm my movie rating.

Seperately, I spent the last 5 days in Italy. Unfortunately, its wasn't in any of the sexy cities like Rome, Venice or Milan. I was in Bologna. More on that later.

In the interim, you can view my Chelsea Flower Show pictures from May that I just got around to posting. I'm not a big flowers/garden person but my company hosted clients at this event and as the official organizer my presence was required. Lucky me!

I have been desperately trying to ignore recent stories related to the failed car bombings in London & Glasgow. I have enough stress related to purchasing the house that I definitely don't need to be dwelling on terrorist activities. However, it all came front and centre today when my colleagues and I were quickly ushered into the middle of the building away from glass windows as there was a suspect vehicle outside. Thankfully the police were able to deal with the matter quickly, but it was all a bit scary. Particularly when you factor in that quite a few of the suspects are doctors. Whatever happened to the doctor's Hypocritical Oath to do no harm? Doesn't that apply to all aspects of their lives? Or does it just apply to when they are dealing with patients? Either way, it’s all a bit disconcerting to know that there are medical professionals secretly plotting to blow innocent civilians up.

I woke up yesterday morning listening to former US Vice President Al Gore pontificating on the BBC about global warming. And I'm starting to think that he has a point. How else to explain the unusual amount of rain that England is currently experiencing. Now comes the hailstorms....

This is the sort of weather you've expect in November/December. Surely not at the beginning of July. How depressing.

In addition to a profile on LinkedIn, you can also now find me on social networking sites Facebook and myspace. Of course, anything worth saying will be said here first.