...and I've had to make difficult choices on what I could afford or not. But why, oh why did I have to decide to skip this instead of something else.
Enough said. Now I'll resume kicking myself and crying.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
You shall go to the ball...
And I did :)))
My friend picked me up from work at 6 and rushed me home so I could get changed. In the end I went for a black dress that I've had for about 10 years (this was probably the third time I wore it, but hey, can't go wrong with a black dress!) and I even dared heels... after all I wasn't going to do much walking as we'd also been told we could use the hotel car park. I only hoped that either the room would be on the ground floor, or there would be a lift, as heels and stairs do NOT go well together, as far as I'm concerned!
We arrived with plenty of time to check in before the buffet and screening were due to start. As we turned into the mews where the hotel was, I started uh uh-ing to myself, as even from the outside the place was obviously major league posh. Not that I don't like posh, but it does deviate a bit from a muddy field on a German rock, full of long-haired (or balding, no half measures), middle-aged rockers in jeans and leather. Footmen swarmed on us eager to carry our luggage... which we didn't have as I'd packed everything (change of clothes and underwear, toothpaste and brush, spare shoes, body lotion, etc...) in my bag. That raised a few eyebrows and set the tone for the rest of the night. They took our car keys to go and park the vehicle while we were checking in.
At the reception desk a smiling lady took my details before handing me the key and asking if we'd like a wake up call and complimentary paper. I could hear the other guests, arrived just after me, talking to the other staff. All the conversations seemed to follow a script: "I've just flown in from..." followed by Brussels/Paris/Rome/Milan/New York/some faraway location. When the lady smilingly commented "Madam is travelling light?", I replied "Yes, we've come from up the road". I think I noticed a slight flinch. She handed us over to the concierge to show us to our room. A smiling man in a penguin suit immediately approached us and asked "Madam would like me to carry her bags?"
Thankfully this was the last time that I had to swing my bag before someone's face explaining that no, all I needed was there. Fortunately I had decided to take a 1a Classe bag that my mum had bought me a couple of years ago and that I'd never used before, lacking an appropriat event, and that finally was taken out of its protective case and shown off at every opportunity over the course of the night. I think it's the first time I've actually had matching bag and wallet :)))
Anyway, by the time we reached the lift I was starting to have to disguise fits of giggles. I'd stop every other step pretending to find something particularly interesting and looking at it, when in fact I had to or I'd have toppled over on the heels. To be honest, the hotel was stunning and did merit close scrutiny, so it wasn't much of a pretense. The concierge politely made small talk all the way to the room, then showed me how the key worked and swooshed us in. All I'm saying is that the shower was almost as big as my whole bathroom, and the room almost as big as my flat, and they had more gadgets than I could shake a stick at. It was absolutely gorgeous and for a moment I just gaped while he was showing us all the features. By now I was finding it increasingly difficult not to giggle, and I just wanted him to leave the room so I could burst into a laugh. He walked backwards to the door wishing us a pleasant stay, I heard the door open (I couldn't see it, it was around the corner) and waited a few seconds. When I judged enough time had elapsed for him to leave, I roared... and then I heard the door clicking shut. Oooooooooops! :D
When I recovered from my amazement at being in such a gorgeous place (I didn't, really, but at least I managed to close my mouth), I quickly emptied my bag leaving only my purse and a few other bits and off we went to the Bourne Ultimatum premiere.
The movie itself was very good. I hadn't seen the first two but I still enjoyed it very much. The service was truly first class, both on the part of the hotel and that of the company I'd won the night through. There were a couple of glitches but both were resolved very smoothly and pleasantly.
After the film we went for a stroll around Soho and saw some pictures hanging on street walls, part of The Grand Tour.
I spent an enourmous amount of time in the shower before bed, as it was really, really luxurious, including the exclusive toiletries and linen. In the end I decided not to exploit the fact that I was finally alone in a bedroom with the guy I'd been trying to catch for over 10 years. He was willing enough, but it didn't feel right, so we slept in the most comfortable bed I've had in years, lulled by soothing classical music.
The only pity is that we had to leave very early the next morning as work was waiting. We were out of the door before 7 am, enjoying almost empty London streets and feeling like cats who'd got the cream :)))
My friend picked me up from work at 6 and rushed me home so I could get changed. In the end I went for a black dress that I've had for about 10 years (this was probably the third time I wore it, but hey, can't go wrong with a black dress!) and I even dared heels... after all I wasn't going to do much walking as we'd also been told we could use the hotel car park. I only hoped that either the room would be on the ground floor, or there would be a lift, as heels and stairs do NOT go well together, as far as I'm concerned!
We arrived with plenty of time to check in before the buffet and screening were due to start. As we turned into the mews where the hotel was, I started uh uh-ing to myself, as even from the outside the place was obviously major league posh. Not that I don't like posh, but it does deviate a bit from a muddy field on a German rock, full of long-haired (or balding, no half measures), middle-aged rockers in jeans and leather. Footmen swarmed on us eager to carry our luggage... which we didn't have as I'd packed everything (change of clothes and underwear, toothpaste and brush, spare shoes, body lotion, etc...) in my bag. That raised a few eyebrows and set the tone for the rest of the night. They took our car keys to go and park the vehicle while we were checking in.
At the reception desk a smiling lady took my details before handing me the key and asking if we'd like a wake up call and complimentary paper. I could hear the other guests, arrived just after me, talking to the other staff. All the conversations seemed to follow a script: "I've just flown in from..." followed by Brussels/Paris/Rome/Milan/New York/some faraway location. When the lady smilingly commented "Madam is travelling light?", I replied "Yes, we've come from up the road". I think I noticed a slight flinch. She handed us over to the concierge to show us to our room. A smiling man in a penguin suit immediately approached us and asked "Madam would like me to carry her bags?"
Thankfully this was the last time that I had to swing my bag before someone's face explaining that no, all I needed was there. Fortunately I had decided to take a 1a Classe bag that my mum had bought me a couple of years ago and that I'd never used before, lacking an appropriat event, and that finally was taken out of its protective case and shown off at every opportunity over the course of the night. I think it's the first time I've actually had matching bag and wallet :)))
Anyway, by the time we reached the lift I was starting to have to disguise fits of giggles. I'd stop every other step pretending to find something particularly interesting and looking at it, when in fact I had to or I'd have toppled over on the heels. To be honest, the hotel was stunning and did merit close scrutiny, so it wasn't much of a pretense. The concierge politely made small talk all the way to the room, then showed me how the key worked and swooshed us in. All I'm saying is that the shower was almost as big as my whole bathroom, and the room almost as big as my flat, and they had more gadgets than I could shake a stick at. It was absolutely gorgeous and for a moment I just gaped while he was showing us all the features. By now I was finding it increasingly difficult not to giggle, and I just wanted him to leave the room so I could burst into a laugh. He walked backwards to the door wishing us a pleasant stay, I heard the door open (I couldn't see it, it was around the corner) and waited a few seconds. When I judged enough time had elapsed for him to leave, I roared... and then I heard the door clicking shut. Oooooooooops! :D
When I recovered from my amazement at being in such a gorgeous place (I didn't, really, but at least I managed to close my mouth), I quickly emptied my bag leaving only my purse and a few other bits and off we went to the Bourne Ultimatum premiere.
The movie itself was very good. I hadn't seen the first two but I still enjoyed it very much. The service was truly first class, both on the part of the hotel and that of the company I'd won the night through. There were a couple of glitches but both were resolved very smoothly and pleasantly.
After the film we went for a stroll around Soho and saw some pictures hanging on street walls, part of The Grand Tour.
I spent an enourmous amount of time in the shower before bed, as it was really, really luxurious, including the exclusive toiletries and linen. In the end I decided not to exploit the fact that I was finally alone in a bedroom with the guy I'd been trying to catch for over 10 years. He was willing enough, but it didn't feel right, so we slept in the most comfortable bed I've had in years, lulled by soothing classical music.
The only pity is that we had to leave very early the next morning as work was waiting. We were out of the door before 7 am, enjoying almost empty London streets and feeling like cats who'd got the cream :)))
Monday, August 13, 2007
Shooting stars
My sister rang me this morning to say that my niece's had a very high temperature since last night, so they might not come over on Wenesday. If the fever goes down they'll still get on the plane and she can spend the week in bed here, poor thing, but the doctor gave her stuff that is not working as fast as they wish. So, to cut it short, there is a very real possibility that they will not make it.
And so it was that I jumped at the chance when I received a phone call this afternoon (yes, today it was blazing phones!)...
"Hello Miss Raingod?" (chirpy, smiley, gorgeous voice)
"(Growl...) Yes, who's that?" (suspicious, I-didn't-recognise the-number-don't-try-to-sell-me-something-when-I'm-at-work-or-I'll-shoot voice)
"Miss Raingod, this is Paul from blah blah blah and I am pleased to inform you that you have won places for the private screening of blah blah blah on Wednesday night blah blah blah at blah blah blah. I was just wondering if you could confirm your attendance. If you do I'll send you an email with all the information." (smiley smiley smiley)
"Errrrrr... uh?" (WTF this-is-obviously-a-prank-I-never-win-anything-Wednesday-night-sister-fever-prank-oh-please-I'm-busy-please-please-please-coin-drops) "*I* have won? Really, you serious? Wednesday night? Errr... Of course, count me in!"
"And Miss Raingod, will you be staying at the hotel, as per prize? Just so I can book the room in your name."
"Will I? Will I?" (sister-fever-sister-fever-sister-fever) "Of course! Can I bring a friend?"
"Yes, of course, it's a double room and the screening is also for you and a guest. I'll see you tomorrow night then!"
I've recently got back in touch with a lovely guy I first met about this time last year. We lost touch due to his personal circumstances but bumped into each other the other day and I must say, I am glad we did. He'd already told me it wouldn't be possible to meet for a while but I still threw a text his way: "Long shot but could you make yourself free on Wednesday night?"
The answer was that he couldn't, so I started frantically thinking of who else I could ask at such short notice. At the back of my mind I was also trying to work out how to sort the sister and family issue should they make it. I decided I still had two days to settle that, and priorities first! Anyway, of all the people I could think of, most of them weren't really the sort of person I'd want to spend a whole evening and night with, some I knew would not be available at short notice... which left me with two candidates. I first texted the least likely, who was leaving for Scotland tomorrow. Then I rang "learner boy" (who I had written off about a week or so ago, but in an emergency he'd still do). He said he might be able to, but that he'd have to leave very early in the morning due to work. I said I wasn't even sure due to sister so I'd ring him back tomorrow and hung up.
There was also a third candidate but I had already eliminated him as a lost cause, since I've been trying to go out with him for over 10 years and he's always refused due to terminal shyness (he was my first choice for The Car Man but he'd proven himself more stubborn than I am). However, he just happened to walk in as I hung up... Bingo! It took me some working on, but in the end he had to admit defeat. I first "casually" asked what he was doing Wednesday night (knowing full well he'd be watching telly, as that's what he always does). His reply was: "No. I'm not going!" *g*
So I started pleading. "No. I'm not going!"
"Oh, come on, why???"
"'cos I'm washing my hair!" (He's shaven) "No, 'cos I'm busy!" (He told me some time ago that he always goes home after work and just sits around, as he doesn't have the confidence to even attempt to get a woman). "No, I don't want to!" (He'd already told me he'd like to, but...)
"Bulls! I know you're shy, I can live with that, but I have never won anything in my life and I've tried everyone else I could think of but it's too short notice for everybody, and you can't tell me "no". I'll tell you what, you give me a good reason not to take me there and I'll back off, otherwise I'll be ringing you every 5 minutes until you say yes".
"What time did you say I should pick you up?"
Whoa! He almost floored me with that, I almost told him to bugger off and forget it before realising what he'd just said, lol!
So... It looks like I'm going :)))
Sister wasn't happy when I suggested I might not be around on Wednesday night, but I'd be back first thing on Thursday morning... Which I can understand, as she'd be in a new place, arriving late at night, etc... so I might have to watch the movie, then run home to meet them and run back to the hotel to spend the night... I mean, their cheapest rooms are over £250 per night, I really, really, can't let that go!
I spent some time on the balcony last night looking out for the Perseid meteor shower. I think I saw a couple and when I mentioned it to someone he said, quick, quick, make a wish! So I laughed and said, I want to win millions on the lottery... failing that, I wouldn't mind *remembering* to buy a ticket once in a while!
It looks like wishing on a star sometimes works :)))
And so it was that I jumped at the chance when I received a phone call this afternoon (yes, today it was blazing phones!)...
"Hello Miss Raingod?" (chirpy, smiley, gorgeous voice)
"(Growl...) Yes, who's that?" (suspicious, I-didn't-recognise the-number-don't-try-to-sell-me-something-when-I'm-at-work-or-I'll-shoot voice)
"Miss Raingod, this is Paul from blah blah blah and I am pleased to inform you that you have won places for the private screening of blah blah blah on Wednesday night blah blah blah at blah blah blah. I was just wondering if you could confirm your attendance. If you do I'll send you an email with all the information." (smiley smiley smiley)
"Errrrrr... uh?" (WTF this-is-obviously-a-prank-I-never-win-anything-Wednesday-night-sister-fever-prank-oh-please-I'm-busy-please-please-please-coin-drops) "*I* have won? Really, you serious? Wednesday night? Errr... Of course, count me in!"
"And Miss Raingod, will you be staying at the hotel, as per prize? Just so I can book the room in your name."
"Will I? Will I?" (sister-fever-sister-fever-sister-fever) "Of course! Can I bring a friend?"
"Yes, of course, it's a double room and the screening is also for you and a guest. I'll see you tomorrow night then!"
I've recently got back in touch with a lovely guy I first met about this time last year. We lost touch due to his personal circumstances but bumped into each other the other day and I must say, I am glad we did. He'd already told me it wouldn't be possible to meet for a while but I still threw a text his way: "Long shot but could you make yourself free on Wednesday night?"
The answer was that he couldn't, so I started frantically thinking of who else I could ask at such short notice. At the back of my mind I was also trying to work out how to sort the sister and family issue should they make it. I decided I still had two days to settle that, and priorities first! Anyway, of all the people I could think of, most of them weren't really the sort of person I'd want to spend a whole evening and night with, some I knew would not be available at short notice... which left me with two candidates. I first texted the least likely, who was leaving for Scotland tomorrow. Then I rang "learner boy" (who I had written off about a week or so ago, but in an emergency he'd still do). He said he might be able to, but that he'd have to leave very early in the morning due to work. I said I wasn't even sure due to sister so I'd ring him back tomorrow and hung up.
There was also a third candidate but I had already eliminated him as a lost cause, since I've been trying to go out with him for over 10 years and he's always refused due to terminal shyness (he was my first choice for The Car Man but he'd proven himself more stubborn than I am). However, he just happened to walk in as I hung up... Bingo! It took me some working on, but in the end he had to admit defeat. I first "casually" asked what he was doing Wednesday night (knowing full well he'd be watching telly, as that's what he always does). His reply was: "No. I'm not going!" *g*
So I started pleading. "No. I'm not going!"
"Oh, come on, why???"
"'cos I'm washing my hair!" (He's shaven) "No, 'cos I'm busy!" (He told me some time ago that he always goes home after work and just sits around, as he doesn't have the confidence to even attempt to get a woman). "No, I don't want to!" (He'd already told me he'd like to, but...)
"Bulls! I know you're shy, I can live with that, but I have never won anything in my life and I've tried everyone else I could think of but it's too short notice for everybody, and you can't tell me "no". I'll tell you what, you give me a good reason not to take me there and I'll back off, otherwise I'll be ringing you every 5 minutes until you say yes".
"What time did you say I should pick you up?"
Whoa! He almost floored me with that, I almost told him to bugger off and forget it before realising what he'd just said, lol!
So... It looks like I'm going :)))
Sister wasn't happy when I suggested I might not be around on Wednesday night, but I'd be back first thing on Thursday morning... Which I can understand, as she'd be in a new place, arriving late at night, etc... so I might have to watch the movie, then run home to meet them and run back to the hotel to spend the night... I mean, their cheapest rooms are over £250 per night, I really, really, can't let that go!
I spent some time on the balcony last night looking out for the Perseid meteor shower. I think I saw a couple and when I mentioned it to someone he said, quick, quick, make a wish! So I laughed and said, I want to win millions on the lottery... failing that, I wouldn't mind *remembering* to buy a ticket once in a while!
It looks like wishing on a star sometimes works :)))
Priceless
I got home tonight and the phone rang.
"Hello, may I speak to Mrs Raingod please?"
"Who's asking?"
"This is so-and-so from American Express. Is that Mrs Raingod?"
"No, this is *Miss* Raingod, how can I help?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Raingod! American Express takes its customer's security very seriously and we are calling to make you aware of identity theft. Do you know anything at all about identity theft?"
By this time I had started sweating slightly, as my credit cards have been used fraudolently in the past, plus I had my purse stolen with my life in it just under two years ago, plus the incident with the grocery delivered to my "son" a few months ago.
However I kept listening to him and eventually I said that yes, I knew what identity theft was about, and yes I did shred important documents before binning them, and yes I knew Experian Credit Agency, and what was he trying to sell me, exactly?
Amex man had a chortle and went on to explain that American Express was offering some sort of protection package against identity theft, which included free unlimited access to Experian credit reports plus various other stuff. I'm not sure what precisely because when he said that I switched off, and shortly after I interrupted him, telling him I didn't want to waste any more of his time as I wasn't interested. It was at this point that he asked the question he'll probably regret for the rest of his career...
"And may I ask why, Miss Raingod?"
"Two reasons: the first one is that I already do what I possibly can to minimise the risk (including shredding and checking my Experian credit report for free every other month or so). The second reason is that a few years ago two of my credit cards were maxed for fraud. While my BoS Mastercard resolved everything within a few days without me having to lift a finger apart from notifying the Police, Amex made a major mess of it all and it took me 9 months of fighting them to sort it out, therefore I'm not going to put *them* in charge of looking after my financial security."
Dead silence followed by a grovelling apology. I felt a bit sorry for the guy who was really nice and good at his spiel. If he hadn't been calling from Amex I might even have considered the offer, or at least listened to it, but really... There are some things money can't buy...
"Hello, may I speak to Mrs Raingod please?"
"Who's asking?"
"This is so-and-so from American Express. Is that Mrs Raingod?"
"No, this is *Miss* Raingod, how can I help?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Raingod! American Express takes its customer's security very seriously and we are calling to make you aware of identity theft. Do you know anything at all about identity theft?"
By this time I had started sweating slightly, as my credit cards have been used fraudolently in the past, plus I had my purse stolen with my life in it just under two years ago, plus the incident with the grocery delivered to my "son" a few months ago.
However I kept listening to him and eventually I said that yes, I knew what identity theft was about, and yes I did shred important documents before binning them, and yes I knew Experian Credit Agency, and what was he trying to sell me, exactly?
Amex man had a chortle and went on to explain that American Express was offering some sort of protection package against identity theft, which included free unlimited access to Experian credit reports plus various other stuff. I'm not sure what precisely because when he said that I switched off, and shortly after I interrupted him, telling him I didn't want to waste any more of his time as I wasn't interested. It was at this point that he asked the question he'll probably regret for the rest of his career...
"And may I ask why, Miss Raingod?"
"Two reasons: the first one is that I already do what I possibly can to minimise the risk (including shredding and checking my Experian credit report for free every other month or so). The second reason is that a few years ago two of my credit cards were maxed for fraud. While my BoS Mastercard resolved everything within a few days without me having to lift a finger apart from notifying the Police, Amex made a major mess of it all and it took me 9 months of fighting them to sort it out, therefore I'm not going to put *them* in charge of looking after my financial security."
Dead silence followed by a grovelling apology. I felt a bit sorry for the guy who was really nice and good at his spiel. If he hadn't been calling from Amex I might even have considered the offer, or at least listened to it, but really... There are some things money can't buy...
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Deck the halls!
Arturo was born at 6.21 this morning. When I woke up at something past 8 am and saw the SMS I was so excited I almost started crying. I rang the father, assuming mum would be zonked out (correct assumption for once!) and he told me that both were doing fine although they had to give her a Caesarean as the baby was getting a bit distressed, after about 8 hours labour.
Later this afternoon I rang her and had a chat. She was doing well, but she is being given painkillers so she's a bit stoned. She sent me a picure taken a few hours after birth... He's gorgeous!
I can't wait to go and see him, I might sneak a day or two off before the end of September when I've already booked the flight. In the meantime I foresee a spree on baby clothes. Coochie coochie coo!
(First four pictures from Dark Side , last one from Nappy Head).
Friday, August 03, 2007
Things can always get better...
Of course they can, but lately life's been just about as good as it can be!
Things at work are going well. I know I always like a rant and a moan, but I should be honest and admit that I'm loving doing mornings at "my" place, then moving on to the other one and spend the afternoon with my colleague, not least because it's really busy and times flies. Also, my colleague is quite hilarious and it's never dull with her.
The Loreley escapade was absolutely brilliant. It took me the whole week to recover (I *am* getting too old for all this, but who cares!) but it's lovely to meet friends that you only see once or twice a year, and just enjoy each other's company... the music is just a bonus, really. We are now planning the next tour of the boot (i.e.: Italy) for the three dates at the end of November/early December in Milan, Rome and Bologna, where on top of seeing the 12 apostles (or flying 8), I'll get a chance to meet people I've indirectly "known" for years, plus other old friends. Some of the Loreley bunch (including yours truly) are also considering Krakow at the end of October, and of course there'll be the Milan break at the end of September to see friends and their new baby, with a lightning trip to Turin to see The Police just before I come back.
Should Krakow fall through, plan B is Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall on the same weekend. I saw it some time ago and it was wonderful. And let's not forget Rush, also in October, and Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker in January, which I am looking forward to as my birthday present (and hopefully Michiel will make it over here from the Netherlands, and spend a few days as it seems more and more unlikely that I'll have the time and money to go over myself this year).
On Wednesday I went to see The Car Man at Sadler's Wells. Pwhoarrrr, the show itself was great, as was the company I was in, but the full frontal male nudity almost at the beginning would have been worth the ticket in itself. Give thanks for gay producers, is all I say. The only pity is that it was totally unexpected so I wasn't paying as much attention to that part of the stage as I should have, but the attributes in question still managed to catch my eye (wink wink nudge nudge, say no more)! I'm convinced that was a cheap ruse to increase the sales of DVDs to oglin... I mean, artistically inclined, women.
What made the experience even better was that I had taken the afternoon off work to try and get the tickets on the day, as we hadn't booked, and my friend couldn't make it until after 6, so after I secured the tickets I decided to go and sit in a nearby pub's beer garden, enjoying the sun and Diamond White (no K, bah!), feeling smug at the thought of my colleagues and most people I know being stuck at work for another 4 hours or so :)))
I'd also taken this afternoon off, so today I went from work straight to my friends' flat that I'm keeping an eye on while they're away, and sat in their garden with a magazine and a chilled drink for a couple of hours, with the smugness again creeping in. Flat-sitting's hard work, but someone's got to do it; I just hope they realise the effort I went to to ensure the safety of their place!
When I left I jumped on a bus to the Green Lanes end of Finsbury Park, and started walking across the Park towards Stroud Green/Crouch Hill when I saw one of those little buses approaching, the ones that only bob and their drivers know the route of, so I hailed it and hopped on. I was taken on an almost magical mystery tour of the back streets of Crouch End, hopping off at the Northern side of Crouch Hill and walking back home. Pure bliss!
Another recent highlight was meeting Al, his lovely wife and his gorgeous daughter on their way back to the US last weekend.
Unfortunately I could only do the Saturday as I had just about recovered from Loreley then, but I had a lovely evening.
Now I'm looking forward to welcoming my sister and her family to London in less than two weeks' time. It's the first time she's ever come in all the time I've been here and I can't take time off work (as she made her mind up too late, colleagues had already booked their leave), but I'm looking forward to showing my niece around a few places and spending some time with them.
One slightly puzzling thing in recent months is that there seem to be a few blokes up for a bit of horizontal fun (well, ok, vertical, diagonal, whatever). The downside is that I've actually been too busy or tired to actually pick the offers up, except once so far, but it's nice to know nevertheless. As I've been feeling pretty settled and contented, it's probably the pheromones doing their bit. I'm not complaining :)))
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