Happy Summer Solstice

Solstice, Midsummer or Litha means a stopping or standing still of the sun. It is the longest day of the year and the time when the sun is at its maximum elevation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/festivals/summer_solstice.shtml

Better late than never...

...some pics of Prague

Less than two months until...

my 30th birthday!!!

A brag

Gratuitous gushing, but...I'm convinced I've got the best man on the planet. My boyfriend has been sitting on a bus on a Sunday night for 5 hours travelling home from Leeds (and he's still got at least another hour left)...and when the bus pulled off, he was sitting backwards across from someone else, ugh. And I didn't even feed him properly before he left or pack him a dinner:( And it's already 10pm.

So, the next time any of ya'll ask me if I'm taking it slow or looking for a husband or anything along those lines...stick that in yr pipe and smoke it;)

This is what happens...

when you try to stay up til 4am at almost 30;)

Last night was night five of a string of kitchen parties to say farewell to people who are moving out and on and home. I believe the above was night one or two;)

I'm off home for a few days next week, then off to Northern Ireland to do my dissertation interviews, as well as some travelling for about 10 days in July.

My Friday night

This was last Friday night. Me and the girls...and four 20 year old Polish guys, who made us sandwiches. And fetched us beers. Ain't life grand. Wish I had discovered them months ago. I'm movin to Poland!

My day

Today I went to work...and no one was there. They forgot to tell me there was no work this week as they would all be out on-site surveying.

I went to the GP to get a prescription filled and asked for a repeat, as I knew I'd need a refill. They gave me a form to fill out and mail in with a SASE or fax in...I couldn't quite figure out how that worked (I mean, do they then send me another prescription?) so I asked the pharmacist, who told me I could sign up for some free prescription refill plan and then fill out my form (that the GP gave me), bring the form to the GP's office, and then the GP would send my prescription to the pharmacy. I don't get it...why can't they just do normal refills.

Next, I go to return a lipstick sharpener to a local department store. When I went to get it, I specifically brought in my lipstick pencil and they said it would be the right size; it wasn't. They told me they don't do refunds on cosmetics, so I argued until they spoke to three different managers and finally gave me my money back, in cash. I was about to threaten to just deny the charge with my credit card company, which I would have done. Not wasting $8 on something that I can't use. Anyway, when I asked for my original receipt back, they wouldn't give it to me. I give up.

Have I mentioned I love England?

Expat-ing again

As I sit here contemplating future life direction and avoidance of working on my lit review, certain things dominate. Such as, topics on expat message boards, regardless of what country people have come from or gone to, seem to repeat themselves. Do you ever find this tough?/I'm homesick!, Have you had trouble making friends?, What is it like to be temporarily unemployed and depending on someone else?, Help, these visa requirements are keeping me up at night? How many emails, pictures, and letters of support do we need?, Where can I find 'real' mustard/pie crusts/miracle whip/dill pickles? There are the good ones too--- Whoo-hoo, the waiting is over!, I finally got my visa/citizenship/work permit!, I passed my driving test/got my license/drove around the block, Got a job and am no longer driving both of us nuts with boredom, Going home for a visit. How could life ever be dull;)

Off to Sting's hometown

A classmate and I are off to Newcastle on Sunday. It will be a nice break from the dissertation. I've been wanting to check it out since I got here, but just have never gotten around to it. How exciting---I get to go to my favourite artist's hometown. Of course, it sounds as though it has changed quite a bit in the past few decades and the accent may be one of the most interesting things about it...that and the beer!

Tonight, I feel cute

I'm wearing short black velvet yoga pants and a tight black babydoll top advertising the White Sox winning the World Series. My hair is up in a bun with frizzy, curly wisps sticking out because I put it up so I could take a shower just to shave my legs. It's going to be about 72 degrees tomorrow and one of my classmates and I are planning to go hang out in the park. In preparation, because I want to wear a dress and get some sun, I shaved and painted my toenails, which are now sticking out of my Merrell flip flops. Despite not being much of a girly girl, I sometimes enjoy the grooming process...especially when it's in preparation of a weekend date...which I have coming up;) Unfortunately, the weather does not bode well for us, as the temps are to drop and rain without sun is on the make. I've got some summer food planned. Now all I need is a beach blanket so we can have an indoor picnic in my shoebox room;) Ah life! as my old landlady would say. All of my assignments are turned in and 2 semesters complete, which means I now have (when grades are in) achieved my Postgraduate Diploma. Seems like I arrived only yesterday. I am now in possession of proper career potential. I have to say, I'm a bit gobsmacked, thinking back to times when I (we, my friends...used to sit around and chat about) thought life would bring more contentment when: I had a better, more fulfilling job -and/or- had a good man to come home to -and/or- lived in a more appealing place. What seemed so far away on the horizon, with no clear idea of how to achieve, feels as though it has just happened quite easily at the moment....