Wednesday 23 June 2010

Egypt!!

A really quick post, like a postcard I suppose!!

Egypt was great, really hot and amazing to be by the Red Sea. We managed some snorkelling, including a boat trip to some reefs, and we went quad-biking in the Sinai Desert at sunset which was cool, very dusty but a great experience.

We chilled a lot on the beach, sunbathed a bit, and watched some World Cup matches, yay!!

Tragically though two baby birds fell out of their nest above our balcony and died on our terrace. We buried one during half-time of an important footie game, but the other one wasn't so lucky :( It was quite distressing, but reception didn't respond to my asking them to please move the nest :(

Had a good early evening out in Na'ama bay on the last day, but ate something bad and have been suffering for 3 days. I'm still feeling pretty grotty but went into work today, meant to have an early night tonight but having nasty stomach cramps so I'm still up. Gaahhh!!!!!

Anyway, I need to go to Ikea and catch up with some friends this weekend. One of my friends is coming to stay the night before an interview on Monday, so it'll be good to catch up with her too!

That's all for now folks, I'm beat. Night!x

Sunday 13 June 2010

Eeeegypt!!

This time tomorrow I'll be arriving at Gatwick airport!!

Managed to get all my work done (I hope) on Friday so I came home to Prestwood for a nice weekend break. I was supposed to head back to Bristol this afternoon but I haven't gone back yet... The lure of drinking wine was too great (and much too nice an evening to spend in the car).

Yesterday we went for a long walk along the Thames from Hambledon to Henley-on-Thames with some family friends, and had an amazing lunch at a lovely Spanish restaurant. The walk back was difficult because we were so full (three courses for £12.50??!!!! It's daft to refuse dessert...), although it probably burnt some calories, which would have been much needed, hehe :)

After a light dinner, we watched England vs. USA. What a boring game. I actually thought the Americans played pretty well.. Rooney kept very quiet... I strongly hope Capello gives them a good talking-to over the next few days, we need wins!!!

This morning I read the papers and Mum cooked a lovely roast beef lunch. We went for a walk and since then I've had a relaxing afternoon, thinking about driving back to Bristol and deciding not to, Skyping my laddie and just watched the film Miss Potter - such a touching story.

Anyway, I think I'll probably head back to Bristol tomorrow morning after sorting some things out. My bus to Gatwick is at 3, and my flight leaves at 10pm tomorrow!!!

I'll blog when I get back! Ma'a salaama for now!!

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Spanglish

I've just found this blog through an article I read on the BBC. It's so funny, because this Spanglish is, quite often, how my brain sounds.

A lot of the time, I want to say things, but I have to speak in English and it somehow doesn't quite come out how I meant it. It's a bit stupid, since I'm only a native English speaker who acquired Spanish in the last 10-15 years, but I did so much growing up during my time in South America (both times, 18-19 yrs old and 21-22), that it is entrenched in my internal communication.

Speaking in Spanish (even if it's just to myself) helps me to remind myself of grammar and the sound of the language, and I actually speak a kind of Spanglish at times with at least three of my friends (some of whom I lived with in Peru). It, like the BBC article says, gives us more nuances - with all the vocabulary of these two huge languages we can truly express what we want to say. (As well as that, it makes us laugh... and psychologically the idea of three native English speakers speaking in Spanish or Spanglish a good chunk of the time is probably very interesting!!!)

Anyway, I'm too tired to go into this much more for now but it's something I might come back to - maybe one day I'll post an entry in whatever language(s) the words come out in!!

Tuesday 8 June 2010

busy!!

The weekend was toooo short!!!!!

BBQ and Karaoke on Friday was great, with me and my colleague kicking off the singing in fine style. Songs sung by us and the students ranged from "What goes around" by Mr. JT, to "With or Without You", to "Paparazzi", to "Yellow Submarine". Obligatory numbers were "Macarena" by the Spanish bunch, "Volare" from the Italians, and a new entry from the Turks, "Kiss Kiss" (yes, that Holly Valance classic... apparently it's a rip-off of an old Turkish number).

Saturday was an early start after just 6 hrs sleep, and off to London with 43 Italian teenagers. After walking down to Buckingham Palace & on to Westminster, we parted ways at Trafalgar Square, and the Italians hit the shops. I went to meet an old uni friend for coffee, then hit Waterstone's for some holiday reading, and then sat in the park next to Buckingham Palace to read a book in the sunshine. Headed back on time thank God! I went straight out to the staff dinner at Bangkok House, an amazing Thai restaurant, and enjoyed some good banter with my colleagues before a couple of us went onto the pub for a couple more drinks. Dancing followed before we headed home.

I was exhausted so after a (very) long lie-in on Sunday I pottered around, picked up my car and then just watched LOADS of How I Met Your Mother, love it, a lot!!

Two days at work and I'm getting through some good stuff. Had a really constructive meeting with my boss who's impressed with me, yay, and managing to somehow be quite knowledgeable and organised. All good, so I'm feeling pretty content with it all.

So, anyway, I'm off to watch some TV or read my book for a bit, and then hit the hay!!

Thursday 3 June 2010

phew.. and it's only thursday

It's been a busy busy week since I last posted.

Didn't do much over the long weekend and after a crappy day at work on Tuesday the rest of the week has been much better but just very busy!!!

Tomorrow I prob won't go home from work as we're doing a barbecue and karaoke that all needs setting up, onions chopped etc... and unlikely to finish before 11pm. Then I'm up early on Saturday to take 43 Italian teenagers to London, leaving here at 8am and getting back around 9pm. Blaaarhh!!!!!!!

Anyhoos, I'll deserve my Sunday!! And maybe some yogaaaaa yay!
xxx