Friday 12th March 2004

Week 55, Day 349

Two weeks and the events in my life keep coming along! So let me back track here.

Nikki visited me on the last weekend of Feb. It seems so long ago now but having her around was fantastic. It did wonders for me in terms of being able to talk so freely to my best friend. We drove around surrounding areas of Leeds and just talked. Even had a posh lunch at a reasonably typical English place called Betty's. I had this lovely Parsnip and Pear soup - bizarre combination but it tasted great. I splurged on a loaf of Sunflower bread which Nikki and I had the following morning and I was glad I did. I took her to work (as I had left my mobile behind) and we got to go on the sky ride. Yes, we both scared ourselves silly on it (it's the ride that you hang from a harness above the complex and go over obstacles to get to the end) but it's the third time I've been on it and I enjoyed it a lot more. We met up with Dave that Monday night for drinks at Mojo but we were all hopeless and tired and left shortly after. At least she got to see the place :)

Having Nikki around, even as short as the stay was, got me thinking a lot about my priorities in life. I was reminded what it's like to have friends that you enjoy being around with and can open up to. I definitely miss that part of my life. At the same time, there are people like that here that I haven't relied on so much for help or comfort, I guess because in a way I feel like a traitor to my friends back home. Of course that's silly because they'll always be my friends! So I made a pact with myself in being more honest about when I need help or support from those that I've met here.

Wednesday night I went to see the London Sinfionetta Orchestra play a few world premiere compositions as part of the Leeds Fuse music festival. It's the first year they've put on the festival and I wish I had had more time to see more gigs. I really enjoyed the show. But of course the reason it had triggered my interest was the playing of Jonny Greenwood's composition Smear (Jonny being from Radiohead for those that don't know). And guess what? He was in the audience, sitting with his wife (who I ran into in the bathroom but didn't say anything to - damn!). I wanted to go up to him but it was enough just to be under the same roof and appreciating music with him. *sigh*

Thursday, I met up with Alex and we went to see Body Song, a movie by Simon Pummel and the music for it is written by Jonny. It really made me think and squirm and laugh. It depicts the journey through life so there's no words but just music while all these current and old film snippets from people's lives are shown on screen. It started from the birth of babies (and EVERYTHING was shown!) and just progressed from there.

Friday saw chaos at work when one of the girls, Saraya, got proposed to on the job by her boyfriend. I couldn't get the rest of the team to settle down very well after that as there was too much excitement. Saraya said yes to the proposal.

Saturday was a brilliant day. Work went smoothly. And then I met up with Alex prior to going to a gig. We were talking so much we turned up at the gig a little late. Gorky's Zygotic Minchi were already playing. They were fun - kinda '60s, psychadelic and folky - but Yo La Tengo definitely rocked the place. I've seen them play before and I'm kicking myself for forgetting how good they were the last time. As a band that have been together for almost 20 years (so they said) it was refreshing to see that they weren't bored with what they were doing. You could see them still enjoying playing together and that really rubbed off on the crowd. The lead singer was charming and funny inbetween songs and invited the crowd to sit on the empyt floor in between the chairs and the stage - so a lot did. And the clincher of the evening was when they talked about how they were trying to be a little more like their pop competitors and the three stepped up to their microphones at the front of the stage and sang a song doing the moves a la boy and girl bands. Very ironic but amusing.

After the gig, Alex and I went next door to the Wardrobe and ran into his mates, Lyndon and Mike. Wasn't long before the place closed and we found ourselves in Mojo - again! Not only that but at the exact spot we met. Without embarassing Alex too much online I will just say that's where he asked me if I'd like to be his girlfriend. I said yes.

Since Saturday I've been working at the Bradford restaurant filling in for one of the managers that has gone on holidays. It's bizarre working there because they've only been opened a week and I've forgotten just how mentally and emotionally stressful the job is with a new team. Every few seconds someone is asking you for help and you have to be on the ball all the time to make sure the team are working well. It has put my managing capabilities to the test once more, and though I know there are a few things I could have done better, I don't think I'm doing too bad.

Alex and I decided to attempt the music quiz at The Cockpit again but I am too embarrassed to say what our mark was this time as Round 4 (what year was the single released) really let us down. We're revising for the next time.

I went to the WW meeting last night to discover I've lost another pound, so I've managed 8 pounds in the last 3 weeks. I'm very happy about that. Only 1 1/2 stone to go.

Going to Scotland next week to visit Melissa and Gordon in Edinburgh and I can't wait!! Ask anyone at work and they'll tell you how I can't stop saying "Scotland next week! Yeah!". Haha! I'm crazy.

As for my return to Australia, I've decided to go out Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th April so anyone up for something, email me. And haven't decided on a day for Austrlaia's Wonderland but I was thinking on the 26th which is a public holiday. I have to leave for Melbourne that evening but I'm sure we can fit it all in.

Ok, I think that's it. Going to see Animal Farm tonight and then meeting up with work mates for drinks only I have to get up early for Staff meeting tomorrow - oh joy of joys!

Top 10 this week:

1. Pay Rise - Yep! A small one but I got one and I am happy!
2. Nikki & Jules - I don't think I thank you guys enough for sticking by me.
3. Cooking - I can't stop patting myself on the back for pre-preparing all my food because it's made life so much easier.
4. WW - The meeting I attend is brilliant. It's part of the reason I'm doing so well with my weight loss again. I feel so much more motivated with all their support.
5. Dave - Thank you for the talk last week.
6. Damian - Thank you for the phone conversation.
7. Bagels - I just had to have one the other day. Spinach bagel with avocado and salad - mmmm!
8. Andy - For giving me such good love-life advice and being honest with me.
9. A big Happy Birthday to my niece, Bianca who turned a very mature 18! I can't believe where the time has gone. I have so many stories but I'm saving them for your 21st ;)
10. Alex - Thank you for the talks, the laughs and reminding me what is important to me.
x
Vanessa