It's easier.
02 August 2008
Flying Home from Slovakia
I’m at Bratislava airport with pen and paper because, not through lack of trying, we were unable to find a UK to Europe power adapter. My poor laptop has been asleep for days.
Had an awesome extra-long weekend. Arriving on Thursday night after a stressful train, tube, train, queue, check-in, queue, bag search, run, queue, boarding-journey from work to the plane, I took a car trip from Bratislava to Trnava for a sleep(-in) in a beautiful in-the-roof apartment.
The first day saw us strolling through Trnava’s centre, which is surrounded by a decaying, 5m thick fort with cavities for pointing guns through at on-coming attacks. I now refer to the bit inside as ‘the safe part of Trnava’. There are many old buildings inside, which seemed to be the norm for the town which was founded in 1238 (before I was born). For lunch we went to an underground restaurant with a room with walls/ceiling which formed a continuous brick arch. I asked Peter to ask the waitress what the building was originally used for, and I paraphrase ‘I don’t know, I’ve only been here for 2 years’. Later, on our way out I saw a plaque (in Slovak) that looked suspiciously like it had the buildings history written it and Peter soon revealed that yes, it did, and the building has been a wine cellar for hundreds of years. Lunch, at Peter’s whim, was Slovakia’s national dish. I’m told it’s mashed potatoe mixed with flour (and maybe egg) broken into pieces, boiled and served with a thick parmesan-tasting cream and usually bacon. It was yummy but too strong, too filling and too much, but I’d eat it again. We accompanied it with a cinnamon-flavoured Czech liquor called Becherovka. On the way home I was introduced to the wonder that is Kofola: Eastern Europe’s answer to Coke. A non-alcoholic herb-based drink that reminds me of Jagermeister and comes on tap. I can’t find any here at the airport L
As planned, Friday evening we were driven (via Tesco’s) to Peter’s friend’s cottage for the weekend with about 10 of their friends. We drank, ate, drank, slept, picked apples, visited a castle, dined for lunch (potatoe omellette and deep-friend cheese with Kofola), found blackberries, drank, listened to a lot of Slovak, played cards, slept and went home. A short description of what was a really awesome time.
At the apartment, Peter’s brother and his new wife were preparing for a celebration of their wedding with friends as they’d had their wedding in seclusion on a Greek island. We ate and drank and chatted (sometimes in English) and I found out that I really like the taste of Martini (the liquor, not the cocktail). In the evening we went on foot through the town on an ill-planned journey to get a kofola from a fav pub of Peter’s and maybe buy some wine and find a power adaptor from a Tesco’s that was maybe open. Through luck of coming across Peter’s friends who offered to drive us to Tesco’s (which was open) we got the wine, but no power adaptor, before walking our way home via the pub…and that was my last drink of Kofola :(
Now I’m watching my hour-late plane board. Love watching people board for free-seating planes. Especially the English.
Highlights:
Had an awesome extra-long weekend. Arriving on Thursday night after a stressful train, tube, train, queue, check-in, queue, bag search, run, queue, boarding-journey from work to the plane, I took a car trip from Bratislava to Trnava for a sleep(-in) in a beautiful in-the-roof apartment.
The first day saw us strolling through Trnava’s centre, which is surrounded by a decaying, 5m thick fort with cavities for pointing guns through at on-coming attacks. I now refer to the bit inside as ‘the safe part of Trnava’. There are many old buildings inside, which seemed to be the norm for the town which was founded in 1238 (before I was born). For lunch we went to an underground restaurant with a room with walls/ceiling which formed a continuous brick arch. I asked Peter to ask the waitress what the building was originally used for, and I paraphrase ‘I don’t know, I’ve only been here for 2 years’. Later, on our way out I saw a plaque (in Slovak) that looked suspiciously like it had the buildings history written it and Peter soon revealed that yes, it did, and the building has been a wine cellar for hundreds of years. Lunch, at Peter’s whim, was Slovakia’s national dish. I’m told it’s mashed potatoe mixed with flour (and maybe egg) broken into pieces, boiled and served with a thick parmesan-tasting cream and usually bacon. It was yummy but too strong, too filling and too much, but I’d eat it again. We accompanied it with a cinnamon-flavoured Czech liquor called Becherovka. On the way home I was introduced to the wonder that is Kofola: Eastern Europe’s answer to Coke. A non-alcoholic herb-based drink that reminds me of Jagermeister and comes on tap. I can’t find any here at the airport L
As planned, Friday evening we were driven (via Tesco’s) to Peter’s friend’s cottage for the weekend with about 10 of their friends. We drank, ate, drank, slept, picked apples, visited a castle, dined for lunch (potatoe omellette and deep-friend cheese with Kofola), found blackberries, drank, listened to a lot of Slovak, played cards, slept and went home. A short description of what was a really awesome time.
At the apartment, Peter’s brother and his new wife were preparing for a celebration of their wedding with friends as they’d had their wedding in seclusion on a Greek island. We ate and drank and chatted (sometimes in English) and I found out that I really like the taste of Martini (the liquor, not the cocktail). In the evening we went on foot through the town on an ill-planned journey to get a kofola from a fav pub of Peter’s and maybe buy some wine and find a power adaptor from a Tesco’s that was maybe open. Through luck of coming across Peter’s friends who offered to drive us to Tesco’s (which was open) we got the wine, but no power adaptor, before walking our way home via the pub…and that was my last drink of Kofola :(
Now I’m watching my hour-late plane board. Love watching people board for free-seating planes. Especially the English.
Highlights:
- Picking Blackberries from the side of the road
- Kofola
- The Communist Slovak Cottage
- Deepfriend Cheese
- Cheap alcohol
- Finding a new type of fruit on the side of the road (like a plum, but not; one orange, one purple)
- Picking apples
- Becherovka
- The apartment I stayed in (it had a bidet!)
- Light switches that make ours look like dolls-house ones (nothing better than turning a light on with your whole palm)
Lowlights:
- Not understanding what everyone was always laughing at because my Slovak is limited to a handful of words
- The Skinheads/Neo-Nazis
- Forgetting my camera
- Not being able to use my new computer
- Being considered rude because I don’t put my hand over my mouth when a yawn (culture thing) :P
24 July 2008
Flying to Slovakia
I’m currently on a RyanAir flight to Bratislava, Slovakia (yes, that’s one half of former Czechoslovakia) typing on my brand new Dell laptop which set me back two weeks wages. Having a laptop removes one more reason for not keeping my blog updated and so stay tuned to see what lame excuse I come up with next.
Trying to remember what mention-worthy stuff I’ve been up to, I’ve realised I don’t even know when I last blogged (I don’t have internet access). It’s been a while.
I’ve been to quite a few gigs. I’m mostly steering clear of gig guides (there‘s just too much highlighting to do) but plenty still keep popping up. There was Robyn and Sam Sparro at the Astoria which was fantastic (<3 Robyn). Johann Johannson and Max Richter at an old church in Angel. Ladytron twice after the first gig ended 50mins in due to a power failure. Alanis Morrissette, lol. O2 Festival (Robyn, Cut Copy, Fat Boy Slim) thanks to Laura’s colleague’s friend. Intimate Sigur Ros gig at a (sort of) church which was absolutely amazing! Won tickets to Feeder/Infadels @ Koko’s and, yes, I actually went. And in the same way (iTunes festival) won tickets to see Annie and Sam Sparro, also @ Koko‘s. Annie was, umm, interesting and we skipped Sam for an early night. Oh and that free Sigur Ros/Bjork gig I blogged about happened; I watched it live on the internet.
Works going alright. I’m getting my tasks done. It’s not too hard. Have a ‘review’ at the start of September. That’ll be interesting. Since this is a public medium I don’t wish to mention too much. Every Wednesday we get free donuts. Jealous? No? Okay.
My parents came. You’d think that they’d have held out longer than 6 months but I actually think it was the pull of the English summer that contributed to their trip timing. I trained my way down to visit them in Cornwall for a long weekend. Cornwall’s a bit beautiful. We managed one tourist attraction per day starting with Lanhydroc House which was an old (well, a few hundred years) house lived in by a very rich family. It was my first National Trust experience and I enjoyed it much more than I thought. It was amazing to see how the rich lived in those times. They make celebrities with their butlers, drives and nannies look like the bourgeois. Second day was Cornwall Cyder Farm (not a typo). I also thoroughly enjoyed this which included a tour through the history of Cider in England which included fermentation-inducing donkey shit and mass death due to lead poisoning. The tour ended with tastings of a wide range of Scrumpies, Ciders and Alcohol distilled from Cider. I should also mention that this was the first time I saw apples growing on a tree. The third day saw us hiring bicycles and riding a long an old railway which followed the mouth of a river with some amazing views. The ride was from Wadebridge to Padstow and back. My first time on a bike in a while and the first time I’ve seen mum on a bike in 15 or so years.
Last weekend all but one of my flatmates was away on holiday to a Spanish music festival in Bennicassim and Peter was in his homeland. That left Charissa and me, and sometimes just me, in the house. While Saturday was super fun relaxing, listening to music and getting my chores done in the empty house, Sunday was I fell ill and was bored and lonely. I need to find the balance between relaxing me-time and social party-times.
Monday night Conan and Annie landed themselves in London direct out of New York (*sigh*). They were only around for a day and two bits but we managed a trip to my favourite Pakistani restaurant, Tayyab’s in Whitechapel. My third time at Tayyab’s (first with Ratty and friends and second for my mother’s birthday) and the food hasn’t been anything but amazing once. And it’s so cheap (remember, this is London). However, my friends and I aren’t the only ones fond of their food and prices, failing to book leaves you waiting in line for half an hour to an hour (even on a Monday or Tuesday night).
And this weekend I’ve taken two days off (Friday and Monday) and left work early on Thursday to jet off to Slovakia to spend some time in a country cottage probably getting drunk and not being able to speak Slovak*. Sounds like awesome to me.
*and maybe picking berries(!!!), but no guarantees on that one.
Coming up after my trip to Slovakia is a long weekend (an actual public holiday this time) to Edinburgh for the fringe festival meeting up with Conan/Annie/Tracey and my cousin who’s recently relocated there. A couple of weeks of London times with Annie/Tracey/Conan. A long weekend to Paris (Hello, Eurostar!) with Tracey. Antony and the Johnsons with the London Symphony Orchestra and then further towards the end of the year Sigur Ros (yes, again).
What should I do for my birthday?
Trying to remember what mention-worthy stuff I’ve been up to, I’ve realised I don’t even know when I last blogged (I don’t have internet access). It’s been a while.
I’ve been to quite a few gigs. I’m mostly steering clear of gig guides (there‘s just too much highlighting to do) but plenty still keep popping up. There was Robyn and Sam Sparro at the Astoria which was fantastic (<3 Robyn). Johann Johannson and Max Richter at an old church in Angel. Ladytron twice after the first gig ended 50mins in due to a power failure. Alanis Morrissette, lol. O2 Festival (Robyn, Cut Copy, Fat Boy Slim) thanks to Laura’s colleague’s friend. Intimate Sigur Ros gig at a (sort of) church which was absolutely amazing! Won tickets to Feeder/Infadels @ Koko’s and, yes, I actually went. And in the same way (iTunes festival) won tickets to see Annie and Sam Sparro, also @ Koko‘s. Annie was, umm, interesting and we skipped Sam for an early night. Oh and that free Sigur Ros/Bjork gig I blogged about happened; I watched it live on the internet.
Works going alright. I’m getting my tasks done. It’s not too hard. Have a ‘review’ at the start of September. That’ll be interesting. Since this is a public medium I don’t wish to mention too much. Every Wednesday we get free donuts. Jealous? No? Okay.
My parents came. You’d think that they’d have held out longer than 6 months but I actually think it was the pull of the English summer that contributed to their trip timing. I trained my way down to visit them in Cornwall for a long weekend. Cornwall’s a bit beautiful. We managed one tourist attraction per day starting with Lanhydroc House which was an old (well, a few hundred years) house lived in by a very rich family. It was my first National Trust experience and I enjoyed it much more than I thought. It was amazing to see how the rich lived in those times. They make celebrities with their butlers, drives and nannies look like the bourgeois. Second day was Cornwall Cyder Farm (not a typo). I also thoroughly enjoyed this which included a tour through the history of Cider in England which included fermentation-inducing donkey shit and mass death due to lead poisoning. The tour ended with tastings of a wide range of Scrumpies, Ciders and Alcohol distilled from Cider. I should also mention that this was the first time I saw apples growing on a tree. The third day saw us hiring bicycles and riding a long an old railway which followed the mouth of a river with some amazing views. The ride was from Wadebridge to Padstow and back. My first time on a bike in a while and the first time I’ve seen mum on a bike in 15 or so years.
Last weekend all but one of my flatmates was away on holiday to a Spanish music festival in Bennicassim and Peter was in his homeland. That left Charissa and me, and sometimes just me, in the house. While Saturday was super fun relaxing, listening to music and getting my chores done in the empty house, Sunday was I fell ill and was bored and lonely. I need to find the balance between relaxing me-time and social party-times.
Monday night Conan and Annie landed themselves in London direct out of New York (*sigh*). They were only around for a day and two bits but we managed a trip to my favourite Pakistani restaurant, Tayyab’s in Whitechapel. My third time at Tayyab’s (first with Ratty and friends and second for my mother’s birthday) and the food hasn’t been anything but amazing once. And it’s so cheap (remember, this is London). However, my friends and I aren’t the only ones fond of their food and prices, failing to book leaves you waiting in line for half an hour to an hour (even on a Monday or Tuesday night).
And this weekend I’ve taken two days off (Friday and Monday) and left work early on Thursday to jet off to Slovakia to spend some time in a country cottage probably getting drunk and not being able to speak Slovak*. Sounds like awesome to me.
*and maybe picking berries(!!!), but no guarantees on that one.
Coming up after my trip to Slovakia is a long weekend (an actual public holiday this time) to Edinburgh for the fringe festival meeting up with Conan/Annie/Tracey and my cousin who’s recently relocated there. A couple of weeks of London times with Annie/Tracey/Conan. A long weekend to Paris (Hello, Eurostar!) with Tracey. Antony and the Johnsons with the London Symphony Orchestra and then further towards the end of the year Sigur Ros (yes, again).
What should I do for my birthday?
08 June 2008
Shopping Day
Yesterday I decided to head to Oxford St to pick up a couple of shirts for work. Bad idea. The footpaths were teaming with people and it turned out so were Topshop, H&M and Primark. I'm not that into shopping at the best of times but when you can't take more than three steps without encountering a human obstacle I start to freak out. That and the fact that the AC wasn't coping with the crowds.
Anyway, I bought two shirts. But I think one is too small and has to be taken back.
I also had my first Pret-a-manger expereince which was surprisingly good. Yummy felafel sandwhich...but totally overpriced.
I bought 3 different types of deodourant because I can't find the one I use here. One of them is the hippie 'crystal' one...would be nice if that works.
And for the last, more exciting, bit of the day we headed to Totally Swedish. The Swedish equivalent of The Australia Shop (I've never seen this shop btw) which sells those sorts of products that make one feel slightly more at-home while abroad.
I bought a kids comic book about a bear and a rabbit who go to Paris and save the Eiffel tower which is pretty cool. And some other kids book (they're for Swedish practice btw). And some knackerbrod, kind of like Ryvita but a hundered times better.
Anyway, I bought two shirts. But I think one is too small and has to be taken back.
I also had my first Pret-a-manger expereince which was surprisingly good. Yummy felafel sandwhich...but totally overpriced.
I bought 3 different types of deodourant because I can't find the one I use here. One of them is the hippie 'crystal' one...would be nice if that works.
And for the last, more exciting, bit of the day we headed to Totally Swedish. The Swedish equivalent of The Australia Shop (I've never seen this shop btw) which sells those sorts of products that make one feel slightly more at-home while abroad.
I bought a kids comic book about a bear and a rabbit who go to Paris and save the Eiffel tower which is pretty cool. And some other kids book (they're for Swedish practice btw). And some knackerbrod, kind of like Ryvita but a hundered times better.
07 June 2008
Sveriges Nationaldag i London
So yesterday I went to a celebration of Swedish National Day in London with my Swedish teacher. It was quite interesting. Choir singing, student performances, speeches, cake, hotdogs and (my favourite bit) a raffle. Unfortunately I didn't know how to buy tickets for it. :( Oh and there were a whole lot of Swedish-looking Swedish people (I wasn't the only blonde person there).
It was in Hammersmith, on the south side of the river. Such a rich area and a stark contrast to where I live. So much green and there's even space between the houses there!
It was in Hammersmith, on the south side of the river. Such a rich area and a stark contrast to where I live. So much green and there's even space between the houses there!
06 June 2008
Sigur Ros
Just bought tickets to see Sigur Ros at Westminster Central Hall. Buying tickets was a but frantic but we eventually got through on the telephone machine!!!
Anyway, it's the 24th June and I'm excited.
P.S. Bjork and Sigur Ros (and maybe Radiohead) are playing a free gig in Iceland later this month. Does it get much better? No. Except for the fact that it costs 150 pounds to fly to Iceland. Could be worth it?
Anyway, it's the 24th June and I'm excited.
P.S. Bjork and Sigur Ros (and maybe Radiohead) are playing a free gig in Iceland later this month. Does it get much better? No. Except for the fact that it costs 150 pounds to fly to Iceland. Could be worth it?
05 June 2008
Last Job Hunting Update
I haven't blogged for a while. This is because all I've really needed to write about was my job hunting and I didn't want the details of that out in the public space, but now it's all over!
I start at 9.30pm Monday 9th June at Imagination Technologies. I originally rejected their offer but started negotiating and ended up accepting another offer. And boy does it feel good to have the process over and done with.
In this position I'll be writing simulators to test the latest low-power graphics chips developed by Img Tec which are licensed out to chip manufacturers (such as Texas Instruments, Samsung, Intel) who then produce chips which find themselves in products such as higher-end phones like the Nokia N95 and Apple's iPhone.
I've definitely learnt a lot from the four job interviews I've attended. Job interviews are hard work. Not only did I have to perform quickly in response to hours technical questions and problem-solving questions but also mentally 'repackage' myself to suit each position. It's bloody hard work.
I looked forward to my bank balance increase for once.
I start at 9.30pm Monday 9th June at Imagination Technologies. I originally rejected their offer but started negotiating and ended up accepting another offer. And boy does it feel good to have the process over and done with.
In this position I'll be writing simulators to test the latest low-power graphics chips developed by Img Tec which are licensed out to chip manufacturers (such as Texas Instruments, Samsung, Intel) who then produce chips which find themselves in products such as higher-end phones like the Nokia N95 and Apple's iPhone.
I've definitely learnt a lot from the four job interviews I've attended. Job interviews are hard work. Not only did I have to perform quickly in response to hours technical questions and problem-solving questions but also mentally 'repackage' myself to suit each position. It's bloody hard work.
I looked forward to my bank balance increase for once.
28 May 2008
How to Instantly Stun an Aussie
So I just got off the phone to my job agent. Three seconds into the phone call he'd rendered me useless, turned into a momentary vegetable. This was a stark reminder of this strong weapon the English have against us.
I'd been warned about it as soon as I arrived but didn't quite understand or pay it much significance. It wasn't long though before I'd fallen victim to a very well-timed attack. I was bounding sprightly down the stairs one morning in the house I was staying when my flatmate hit me with it and I just froze, staring.
What did she do? She'd said 'You alright?'. That's all; a simple greeting equivalent to 'how are you?' or 'how you going?'. But this is one that seems to tweak the Australian brain into submission. Not once when I've been presented with this greeting have I been able to utter a single word in reply.
It's the unfamiliarity of the greeting. Their ambiguous way of expressing it. The speed with which they fire it at you.
I'll consider myself properly assimilated when I can reply 'Good, thanks, yourself?' without pausing enough to create awkward silence.
I'd been warned about it as soon as I arrived but didn't quite understand or pay it much significance. It wasn't long though before I'd fallen victim to a very well-timed attack. I was bounding sprightly down the stairs one morning in the house I was staying when my flatmate hit me with it and I just froze, staring.
What did she do? She'd said 'You alright?'. That's all; a simple greeting equivalent to 'how are you?' or 'how you going?'. But this is one that seems to tweak the Australian brain into submission. Not once when I've been presented with this greeting have I been able to utter a single word in reply.
It's the unfamiliarity of the greeting. Their ambiguous way of expressing it. The speed with which they fire it at you.
I'll consider myself properly assimilated when I can reply 'Good, thanks, yourself?' without pausing enough to create awkward silence.
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