Facebook

Facebook is taking over our lives (how sad are we?) . It's everywhere, spreading like the smell of pain of chocolat from the bakery downstairs. Even here in the office, the Facebook page is up and random colleagues are checking each other's friends.

We're all on it, and if some of our friends haven't yet joined , we're pleading , over-selling the whole thing , even begging just so that we can add one more friend to our list - and become the most popular of them all (sounds like a bad American High School movie). If only i could remember the names of ALL the people I know.

I agree, it is fun to re-connect with people from our past; friends or should I say acquaintances that we met randomly 5 years ago in that bar in Northern Queensland. But after those initial exchanges of "oh my god - you have 10 kids , live in Reykjavik and drink Pimms everyday? " - the conversation inevitably fades into oblivion.

How dependent have we become on inter-connectivity, social networks, business networks, blogs, mySpace to communicate, share , socialise? A recent article in the onion - drew a funny picture of this situation.

Stating the obvious, I would never forego real life experiences for virtual ones (think- SecondLife) . But given an ever increasing circle of friends, who unfortunately do not all live in my neighborhood - it has become necessary to be part of these virtual networks to stay connected.

I even remember having a three way conversation with my Aunt (in Australia) via instant messenger - who was talking to my mum (in France) on the phone via Skype at the same time. I spent my time asking my Aunt in Oz to say something to my mum in France while I was in the UK.

If that's not a small world. I don't know what is?

Fresh Prince ....

"Now this is the story...all about how... i became the Prince of a town called Bel Air..."

Do you remember the Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff (sing it with me summer... summer... summertime... lalalalala) - well i saw an older version of the kid who used to get thrown out of the house by Dr Banks. I know, we're going back in time here. But how could i miss the opportunity to see him in the flesh.

We ended up in Canvas (Kings X) on Sunday night - we were lucky it was pouring down with rain and cold. I had never been to the Canvas, but as my work colleague mentionned today "isn't it dodgy up there?". Well this is Kings X after all - however up and coming it may be.

The Canvas has four rooms house, hip hop, soul and techno. To be honest, I only saw two. The techno one (ie. the entrance) and the hip hop one. Don't get me wrong, I like hip hop but like everything, in small doses. I managed to stick around , bumping my head up and down for a good three hours before Mr JJ made an appearance. And to be honest, he was the master. He mixed great tunes, Nirvana, Michael Jackson with odd (and crankin') stuff. But it worked. He got everyone going. Alas, by 2 am by feet were killing me, a drunken blond was trying to start a fight and an out-of-place BcBg type got pissed off because he left his glass with me and was surprised when i threw it (delicately) on the floor. So i called it quits and trodded off home in the rain.

A sweet affair, nonetheless. Big up to Big Dj JJ - you da man.

Man - icure

I have been working for almost five years now, and the one thing i have realised, is that work conditions our body to the most unfortunate consequences. I will not even dwell on the physical inactivity aspect (i have a desk job, with the only form of exercise involves getting up for a cup of tea) but more on our sleeping patterns.

It has finally happened ... my body now wakes up by itself at 7 am EVERY morning. Granted, i still have the knack to fall right back to sleep but still...this annoys me.

I used to love sleeping in, it was one of the best things about being a kid/student/non working person. I remember my summers, they would involve spending the day at the beach, late nights drinks with friends, sleep ins, afternoon wake up calls, 4pm windsurfing sessions, late diners at home....and the cycle would continue day after day (i know i had a very difficult childhood).

But now, i struggle on weekdays AND on weekends. I can't seem to go to bed early enough, struggle to wake up, end up gulping coffee throughout the day to keep conscious and despite the accumlated tiredness - i still can't get to bed before 12.

Today - I woke up at 7 am and dully returned to the sweet land of morphea until 12.

But on a cheerier note, I treated myself to a manicure today. It was raining and depressing so what better way than a bit of pampering to make it all go away.

Slap me Silly

I will officially stop drinking these. Besides the fact that these babies will provide you with a whooping 300 cal a day (if not more!), every italian friend i know has described this coffee as the closest thing to liquid lethanol.

Their words not mine.

Allo, Police .... j'ai un probleme

I received this today. It's a 911 recording that has made it on YouTube.

The word hilarious springs to mind - followed closely by supreme stupidity.

Follow up ...

...from my previous post.

The other great thing about having the sun appear to you every morning is undoubtedly , a growing inclination to do most things outside. "Coffee?" - let's go outside. "Cheeky pint?" - outside. "Diner?" - outside. Work ? - outside ...erh.."no sorry for that one you will have to stay in your office, feet tucked nicely under your desk, one eye on your screen and the other on the window wishing you were outside".

Ah. yes right. I get paid for doing this work...i nearly forgot.

I will now move on from the oh, so boring subject of the sun (it's just that we NEVER see it here, literally!) to impromptu drunken nights out, for the single and only reason that i have a hangover. Yes Lord Hangover has descended upon us. My brain is putting up a brave fight, but alas I feel that I will lose without the help of my fiery friend Nurofen.

Although I am extremely sad that one of my friends has decided to move back to his *sunny* homeland of Barcelona, it has created ample opportunities to celebrate this sad departure with copious amounts of alcoholic beverages.

It always starts the same way: "I'll have only one drink, as I have to go home early tonight"
Another friend arrives:"oh, ok then I'll have a glass of white wine"
Another friend arrives: "you're doing rounds ?"
Another friend arrives: "it's my round this time"
Who needs more friends....

As most of my friends are of European (non-english) descent we would all agree to eat something (anything really) once the sun goes down. Last night we went to Cocoon (which I highly recommend). My english friends, on the other hand, would be horrified by this as they live their (drinking) lives abiding to two very simple beliefs:

• if asked to chose, chose Plan B - no diner more alcohol (i.e. a liquid diner)
• and basically eating is cheating (and everyone knows that cheating is bad!)
  

I nearly said when in England...but 5 years in London have taught me better.

Sigh.

Sweet as...

"Sherlock, what has made today so sweet ? .... Easy answer my dear Dr Watson, it's the blazing, glorious sunshine!!!

English people and the sun don't automatically go hand in hand unless you consider red faced families enjoying the luxuries of a Spanish resort such as Benidorm. Granted, this is slightly harsh. But speaking from experience (i.e. my english mother inheritance includes pale peachy skin), english people will most often bake and burn - forget the golden tan, that is resolutely reserved to my southern european friends (yes, I was the freak whitey back in the school yard). But despite this, they love it. There's even a word for it - "sun worshipping". Great word!

Today, was the first real day of sunshine. And a sunny London makes happy Londoners. Everyone was out a lunch time, enjoying the rays through their shades, stuffy asset managers taking their socks off and playing with the grass, random families with children playing noisily, women sitting on their tesco bag so as not to get green stains on their suits. It was glorious.

So, the time has come to get involved. The sun is out, the flip flops have made an appearance, baggy shorts for the men, skimpy shirts for the ladies, pimms is being served in copious amounts and the areas outside our loving pubs are busting with people.

Say it with me: "Bring on summer!!!". We've suffered long enough, waited patiently for the clouds to disperse and make way for the sunny messiah.

Goals for the week

Go 3 times to the gym
Stick to a healthy diet
Book flights for August

Motivation is key

I want to look better, have more energy and enjoy better health .... how do i achieve that?

Could this guy help?

Abdominal

I will remember this day, as the day we all got our butts to the floor and crunched like mad!

Need I say more?

It's 9.48 am

and i think i am still drunk.... the sign of a good party :)

Itchy Feet Syndrome

C'est dangereux docteur ?

More than being caused by ramping feet-eating mosquitoes - my feet have been the subject of insessant itching, travel itching that is.

So the purpose of this new blog is two-fold; to embrace this malediction (I have decided to take a break from my "adult responsible life" and travel to Central and South America) and share my experiences and thoughts along the way. I will keep my eyes open, my ears to the ground and my mind alert.

I remember going to a fantastic exhibition early last year in Paris - and while examining and taking in the photos on display (captured by one of the my favourite photojournalist) it made me think, "before I die I want to have seen and experienced as much as he has". Pure fantasy? Well - this is me giving it a go.

For the two line history on yours truly; english mother - egyptian father - born in France - studied in the UK - Aiesec Trainee in ATX - working in London - about to take a second career break and embrace "une vie nomadique".