Datchi akounto

With my bags packed, presents for my little niece all wrapped up, and my new passport, I went to the airport yesterday for a little trip home. I was feeling happy and relaxed so I wasn't too bothered when my flight was delayed.

After a while we were finally on our way and everything was going great! A bit of turbulence, but nothing too bad.

About 40 minutes into a flight that would take at the very very most 60 minutes, the captain comes on... Apparently there is a problem with the plane, and landing it will be quite difficult... So after some discussion with Air Traffic Control, they've decided to go back to Southampton to find an appropriate route that would hopefully allow us to land without killing anyone...

Suddenly, the North Sea seemed like the biggest ocean ever! And by the time were over land, I couldn't remember why I thought that was the better option for crashing... And the landing itself was very unpleasant!
Also, with fuel prices high as they are, I wouldn't expect a budget airline to fill up enough to fly much more than is needed. So almost going there and back seemed like a very long way to go on one tank of fuel...

I was a bit uncomfortable!

But luckily we landed safely back in Southampton, and they'd arranged another plane for us. As much as I didn't fancy getting back on that plane, I did want to go home. We all got a complementary drink and a snack. I can tell you I've never wanted/needed a glass of wine quite that much!

After all that (including the initial delay) I was only two and a half hours late! I really think that was very good! I was worried I would be a day late at least. So I'm not complaining too much. They did a good job getting us there. Preferably next time they make sure the plane is ok before we take off, but hey... lessons learned...

I left IRP behind to look after the home. He's picking me up on monday and I'm already looking forward to it!

It has arrived... Finally! Phew!

Saves me from writing lots of rants against Royal Mail again! Still think they're rubbish tho! As well as the people who have taken so long to renew my passport in the first place! *grumble*

It's 9.34 am, and apparently no Royal Mail 9am Special delivery has turned up...

*&*$%^@# Royal Mail!!!!!

I'm doomed! Well not exactly doomed, but it's really rather inconvenient (to say the least) if I don't get my passport!

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! Why did I have to go back to work today?
I wish I didn't need my job! I could've quite happily stayed at home today.

Within in seconds of entering the building, some self-important bloke in an expensive suit pissed me off on the stairs for not wanting to move even an inch to let other people pass...
Then I got to my desk and my colleague was there with a face like thunder, feigning interest in how I was... Don't bother on my account!

I have zero motivation, or even less if at all possible! I only have a three day week as well. That's a good thing but I think it's making things worse at the same time...

In other news, I still don't have my passport back... I sent it off for renewal on the 7th of April and I've been an expat without any official form of identification or travel documents ever since! Unacceptable I think!
I have to travel soon as well, so I'm getting a tad worried about the whole thing...

Busy week ahead as well, with lots of stuff to sort out. Going to see the Pigeon Detectives tonight. Should be a good gig. Going for some food and drinks first with my friend. Will not drink too much as don't want to be tired for the rest of the week...

Apparently this bank holiday weekend is a wash out in the South, and glorious in the North.
I haven't been up North this weekend, but I do wonder where the wash out is in the South...

On Friday afternoon, I had a lovely time in a beer garden with friends and Pimm's in glorious warm sunshine! On Saturday, IRP and me went shopping for garden furniture (somehow we got everything but the all important sunlounger for me...). When we got back, we set up the new furniture and sat in the hot sun for the rest of the day!
Yesterday, I was a bit worried about the weather holding up. I wanted to go for a walk, but not in the rain. But it was dry in the morning, so I got to go on my walk. IRP came along too. The walk was around Old Winchester Hill, and it was really nice. It was dry but overcast which was great as it wasn't too hot. We finished around lunchtime and it was clearing up very nicely by then.
The afternoon was yet again spent sitting in the hot sun in the garden, before I went to a BBQ at a friend's, again in the sun!

Only this morning did we have some real rain! And this afternoon is looking lovely again! Blue sky and sunshine! So I think all this wash-out talk is a bit off! It's been a lovely weekend with lots of time spent outside in the sunshine!

Another long weekend is here! Just wonderful!!!

I worked from home this morning, and I've got the rest of the day off, so really it's a bit like having a 4 day weekend!
Last night I went to a work's do, which was ok. And IRP picked me up afterwards. I will glance over the fact that he was rather late picking me up... We had a nice evening together when we finally did get back. We chatted, watched tv, drank wine... It was very nice.
He didn't have to get up at 5 am this morning either, so we had a nice lie in together. I think things are looking up. He's been very nice, caring and attentive. I'm not complaining.

Going out in a little bit, meeting a friend for a friday afternoon glass of wine! Nice!!

This week, I had to spend a little bit of time in London for a two-day seminar on International Trade Law. Hmm, interesting...
It was nice to be out of the office for a few days! And the admin assistant at work had booked a hotel for me, which was very very nice indeed! Not cheap mind, but very very nice!!

Can't remember what I wrote last, but I spent sunday night with IRP, which was nice. And earlier tonight, we went out for a lovely dinner. It was nice to see him. I'm seeing him again tomorrow. I've got a work's do in the evening, and he's picking me up afterwards.

Then a bank holiday weekend! There's a circus in town, and IRP has hinted at going there... We'll see. We're having a nice time I think, so I'll just see where it goes...

As for the slippers... I got some new ones! as well as a shower cup and a miniature shampoo bottle...

The sunny morning after the night before...

Portsmouth won yesterday, so it's been a loud night with people celebrating a lot!
I went out to watch the match, unfortunately not on the common with 60000 other people, but in a rough scary backstreet pub instead... Afterwards we went to our usual pub in Albert road, but even though Portsmouth had won, we were still a bit worried about trouble...

Today, the southsea food festival is on, as well as an italian market, and the victory parade later today. No need to be bored then...

I'm supposed to meet IRP later today as well... Wonder what that will be like. The uncertainty of the situation is messing with my head A LOT! I really don't know what's going on... Maybe I'll find out today.

The software that I ordered for my new toy arrived today! Brilliant! the lead time was 2 to 3 weeks and I got it in 3 days!
So I can put all that on, and I'll be good to go!
Well, almost... gotta transfer all my files still, but I will soon!

Got home nearly an hour ago, am really tired. But want to play with my new toy here!

Had a nice evening. Went for dinner with the girlies, was nice. Then went to gunwharf for the birthday of this guy from work. Was ok, as good as gunwharf gets...
Ended up going home early-ish. Probably not a bad thing as I need the sleep (she says writing her blog at 1.30 am).

Probably a busy day tomorrow, with the hairdresser and the football.

Haven't heard from IRP today, haven't got a clue what's going on there. My girly friends had some interesting theories about the whole thing and him... I like their thinking, but I suspect my intuition is right... Nothing is guaranteed here, and I may not get what I want...
Who f*cking knows what's going on...

Sleep's next... for sure!
Liefs xxx

I'm writing this post on my new laptop!

It's a short one, because I've gotta install all the bits and bobs I want! Like google earth, skype (laptop has built in webcam!) Love it!

Going out for Mexican food tonight, with some of the girlies! Will be very good! And the FA cup final tomorrow, which will be an interesting day... But more importantly I'm getting my hair done in the morning

Happy weekend!

I'm thinking I should do a countdown to my next trip, and open a book on whether or not I will receive my passport back in time...

I don't think the future is looking orange on that one...

In other news... I hope summer's coming back soon because I just bought a whole load of new summer clothes and I want to wear them.
Also, I ordered a new laptop! Very exciting stuff! I normally use my work's one, so it will be much better to have my own!

No more IRP news today. We've been in touch but I don't know when I'll see him next.

I saw IRP tonight...

We've been texting quite a bit, and talking on the phone. Spoke on the phone tonight, it was getting a bit late. He said he was staying in, having a glass of wine. I said I was staying doing chores. We hung up...

Next I get a text inviting me over to have a glass of wine, so I did...

These are the facts, I'm going to sleep now. I'll hopefully have some opinions that I want to share tomorrow.

Good night!

I'm off home, to Holland in a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to it! It's been a long time, I haven't been since christmas. It's about time, after recent events, it will be nice to get pampered a little bit in the comfort of my parents' home.

I handed in my passport for renewal on the 7th of April. I thought that would be plenty of time to get it back before I fly out. Apparently not! Ideally I need to get it back next week, or if I don't I need to get a temporary travel pass or something! How annoying!!!!

On the plus side, I get to see my little niece! The most gorgeous girl on the planet!! That will be really good! Also, it's my dad's birthday, so we'll have a little party.

A little break away from work and other stresses will be very nice indeed!

My date last night... He was a cute looking guy but really a bit of a tw*t! Dinner was average, conversation wasn't the best. It was as if he'd read somewhere which topics not to discuss and then tried to discuss them all.

So I got back to southsea in good time to meet my friends and have some real fun! Ended up having quite a late one but had such a laugh!! Feeling ok today as well, a bit tired but not too bad. Just waiting for the sun to come out properly now so I can go to the common and have a snooze in the sun!

It's been a lovely week, with the weather being all nice, skating trips along the seafront and BBQs by the seafront!
Yet somehow this morning, I woke up feeling a bit off... I'm not the happiest of bunnies today, feeling a bit blue.

I'm not sure why, but I've got a sneaky suspicion it's something to do with IRP getting in touch last night with a series of the most pointless text messages ever, leaving me wondering 'What do you really want?'.

It's especially rubbish as I've got a date tonight with a seemingly nice man. I think he's rather attractive, and he seems nice and I was quite looking forward to tonight. But now there's that little niggling IRP thing in the back of my mind again...

Oh well, I think I'll just leave him to it! When he's ready to say exactly what's on his mind, I'm sure he will. And if not, then that's his problem. In the meantime, I will just carry on with life as it's short enough as it is.

Still, it doesn't seem like a good idea going on a first date feeling a bit down. Even some retail therapy (normally very reliable) didn't work today... Hmm, I think an early escape home is in order, so that I can have a nice little pamper session and make myself feel beautiful for this evening.

Happy weekend all!

It's that time of year! When the weather gets better and sitting in the office all day is even less appealing than usual!

If only I had a job that didn't involve sitting in an office all day! Thing is, in winter, I don't mind being inside at all obviously...

There must be a job where you work outside when the weather is good, and inside when it's not...?!

Maybe Sir Alan will have an answer tonight...