Cardiff Snow- Feb 09

Monday, July 23, 2007

Busy Busy Busy

Been a busy last few days...watched the New Harry Potter, had an interview and saw Keane in concert...

On Thursday, i met up with a friend in East London and he took me around the Museum of Childhood. They have all the toys from all the ages there, going back hundreds of years. Was very interesting.

On Friday, I had a short interview at a hotel in London for a part time fitness instructor position at the hotels fitness centre. There were quite alot of applicants, and will be finding out this week whether I got it or not. Am holding thumbs. I know a guy who runs the football leagues at a Leisure centre in North London and we have been in contact, he says they are opening a new centre in the next few weeks and has send my CV off to the manager. He has also spoken about getting a kids softbal league going in the summer for the kids as currently they have no program like that, and recently he told me that the sports development council approved that, so will see where that goes as well. If that works out, it will be awesome.

On Saturday night, went to see Keane in concert at the O2 centre in North Greenwich with Janine and Michael. The evening didnt start well at all, but by the time Keane came on stage, everything had been sorted out and we were all able to enjoy the gig. It was great!!! After that, we went to Spur!! They have a Spur and a Nandos right next to each other, was great to see. The place is pretty much the same, altho the menu is fairly different. They dont have the famous spur rib burger or the chicken snitchels(spelling), but it was ok. janine and I had steak and Michael had ribs. Was very yummy.

Apart from that, didnt get up to much else over the weekend, finally got my bank card so am all sorted now with my accounts. Just have to get money into it asap! Took out a mobile phone contract bcoz pay as you go is expensive, so will be getting that tomoro and will have to let you all know my new number again.

Off to get some food now, chat soon.

Love to my family and friends.

XOXO

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Two new Pooh's

Was out and about yesterday with a friend, had a look around Hamleys and then went to the Disney store and walked out with 2 new Pooh's. My friend bought me this big one.



And I spotted this Graduation Pooh and just HAD to get it to add to my special collection back home. Its sooooo cute!!


Also bought a cute Eyeore file thing so i can now file all my papers away, been getting lots of bank letters in the post as well as all the documents I had to bring over with me, so needed a place to organise and file them.

Anyway, time for bed now, its almost 3:30am!!!!

Will write again soon. Night.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Almost the 10th day...

Been a few days since I had anything to say. Not much has been going on really. Cant belive its only 9 days since i left...it feels like I have been here for weeks. Experienced this feeling last time i was here on holiday and now again. Seem to lose track of everything here, maybe because it does feel like I am on a kinda holiday like last time. Im sure things will feel normal once I start working, cant wait!!

On the job side of things.....I received a call from LA Fitness on Tuesday and had a phone interview regarding a Fitness Intsructor position. Asked me questions regarding my experience in a gym as he could see from my CV i had sports and outdoor experience but none in a gym setting. He told me I was actually over qualified for the position as my sport science degree puts me at a REPS (Register of Exercise Professionals) level 3 and that position only requires a REPS level 2 qualification. The only problem with everything is my lack of experience in a gym setting. During the interview I was honest with him and told him even at University we didnt go into gym stuff tooooo much. Or if we did, i always opted to listen to the sport side of things anyway. He said he would pay for my training to get an exercise to music qualification as well as a spinning instructors qualification. All and all it went well and he did say he appreciated my honest answers to the questions he asked. He did say as well there were lost of applicants for that position in that gym and so he had lots of other calls to make. Waiting to hear how it went now. Either i will be called in for an interview at the gym or I wil receive a letter in the post saying i was unsuccessful.

On the softball side, we played again on tuesday night and won. This time not in the rain, but rather a nice sunny evening. Playing again next Thursday night.

Received my credit card in the mail yesterday which was quite scary really. Wasnt sure whether to actually activate it or not so talked to some friends online to get their advice about it and then called my mom to see what she said. I know i wouldnt go crazy and get myself in trouble with it, but wasnt sure if i should even bother having it. But i activated it anyway, as long as i use it once every 6 months it will stay open. One day im sure it will come in handy and in the mean time, at least i am building up a good credit record for myself.
My bank account was also opened at the same time so am just waiting for my debit card and then im all set with that.

As for any other plans I have, I am wanting to join the Ladywell Leisure centre so that i can at least work out and swim and do some exercise, apart from all the walking im doing while rushing about in london!!! Am still trying to enquire about doing a lifessaving course as i have always wanted to do one and there r plenty of lifeguard jobs here in fitness and leisure centres as well as more posh places like health spa's and I reckon it would be a very important qualification to have under my belt. Will keep everyone posted.

Alone this weekend as Janine has gone to Paris to visit Michael(her bf). Not sure of my plans for the weekend yet, will see what happens. Next week I have a few "dates" with friends. 2 r taking me to dinner and one to movies then the pub. Should be alot of fun, am looking forward to seeing them.

Going to go for a walk now to buy something to eat. Talk to you soon.

Love to my family and friends. XOXOX

Friday, July 6, 2007

Muppets Blog

Just read the Muppets Blog, thought id share it....


"Muppets break the Breakers"

The Muppets exacted a sweet dose of revenge against the Breakers last night with a comprehensive 16-4 victory. Despite the inclement weather, the Muppets were fired up for this game, and despite trailing early on, the outcome was never in doubt. (Especially since the Breakers only had 9 players, but don't mention that to your friends when you are bragging about this game).

This game saw a new face in Leanne, who barely 24 hours previously was on the plane from South Africa. (That is serious softball dedication). In addition, the Muppets welcomed back hard-throwing Laura Brockman after a several-week long sabbatical.

MVP of this game had to be Terri who made several nice plays at 2nd, including gunning down a Breaker at the plate with a perfect throw. Also, her 2-out, 2-RBI single in the bottom of the fourth was absolutely clutch and really opened the floodgates for us.

Other strong performers:

Tom - another great game on the mound in difficult conditions

Laura - 2 for 4 at the plate and nice defense in left. Showed off her cannon of an arm on a close play at 2nd. (I though the guy was out, but what can you do.)

Mike - another strong performance at the plate going 3-4 with 3 runs scored.

Lisa - several important catches in right.

Leanne - fantastic hitting and great game behind the plate.

Penny - excellent support and drinking in the pub afterwards

Sorry if I missed anyone, but similar to last week, we had pretty much everyone contribute in one way or another. We are now tied for first with a record of 7-2, but have another important game next Tuesday against the OddSox who are in 3rd place at the moment. See you then!



They usually post something after everygame, so if you want to keep track of how things with the team are going, u can check out the blog with this link http://mightymuppets.com/blog

Just became a new "Mighty Muppet"

Today was a veryyy busy day and am knackered!!!

Had my IMPI meeting at 12pm and so rushed off to get there and still find the place on time. Took almost 45 mins to get there and went straight in to the room. Basically just talked about what we need to know about living and working in London. And most importantly, had a rep from Lloyds to come help us with setting up a a bank account. So have that organised, will be recieving the documents, etc withing the next week and by late next week it should be finalised.

Had to meet Janine to get my softball bag and get some keys cut as she only had one set. By the time i had finished doing that and got home it was 4:30pm. Had to leave at 5pm to get to the softball match ontime. It was North West London, in Finsbury Park. Arrived 10 mins b4 the game started, not knowing anyone. But they made me feel really welcome and explained slowpitch softball to me as i wasnt too familiar with it. We were playing for 1st position in the log so it was an important game for them. We started off badly but we came back and won the game 15-4 i think. Played in the rain and i got full of mud!!!After the game, we all headed to the pub to celebrate and have a few pints.

They r really cool people, a very fun team. Majority of the people in the team are American, there is 1 Cabadian guy, 1 South African girl and then the rest are Brits. Playing again on Tuesday night. Gonne be real fun playing with them. At least keeps me busy and im able to socialise more than i would if i wasnt playing.

Bed time for me now, night night.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

First day in England

Well today was my first day in England.

After a very long, but good flight we landed at 6:20am. Got off the plane and stood in the passport control queue which was about 6 rows long. After standing there about 10 mins i read a sign pointing to a different queue saying UK visa holders, so i asked and was told yep, i had to stand there. Stood there about 20 minutes and got to the front, then was told i needed to go to Port Health to be cleared since i didnt have a chest Xray with me. Form was stamped, i was cleared and then off through to baggage claim.

What a mess!!! bags everywhere, off the conveyers, in trolleys just sitting there waiting for peple to get throught passport control and to collect them. Was no order or organisation at all. Luckily i spotted my softball bag on the conveyor and after walking around that conveyer, i spotted my other bag. Phew!!

Left Heathrow on the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station and had to wait there quite a while, while Janine finished doing some things at her office. Once she came, she helped with 2 of my 4 bags untill her stop and i carried on, now with 3 bags. Had to get across to the other side of London with these bags and it was a killer. Along the way, 2 older guys offered to help me which was very much appreciated, especially at Charring Cross station, trying to carry 2 bags, weighing together a total of about 35kg up 2 flights of stairs. Eventually got on my way and back to the flat. Was dead tired, feet were in pain, back was sore and was sweating like a pig in a slaughter-house. But i was home and could relax.

The flat hasnt changed much, still the same as it was before and nothing really has even moved. The biggest change is the TV. Janine has a 46'' flatscreen LCD TV now. Its huge. Gonne be real fun watching anything on it :)

Went back out again after i had relaxed a bit, had something to eat and wondered around the mall at Canary Wharf. Need to go back there tomoro to buy some things, few toiletries and towels and some food for the flat while im home during the day.

Weather has been ok. Overcast mostly, then raining on and off throughout the day. Quiet amazing sitting here, looking outside, if someone asked me the time, i would say 2 or 3pm...but in actual fact it is 6:45pm. One of the many things i have to get used to.

Have my IMPI meeting tomoro so will finally get my Sim Card and can activate my number. Have felt quite lost without my phone today, but thankfully i managed to get on the internet thru someone's wireless connection. Could at least let my friends know i got here ok, and was nice to chat to them, we all didnt expect to talk for a while untill i had or Janine has sorted internet out. Had emails from a few of the "Mighty Muppets", my new softball team members saying there is a game tomoro night, so i will be playing in that. Very excited!! :)

All in all, a very busy, tiring day and need to have a nap now.

Lots love to all my family, talk to u soon.

Ciao.

My flat, Christmas and New Year

Thorpe Park, Open Day, Drinks