Getting along

Dunno why, but it's all just starting to hit me and I am slowly getting very stressed and not a little depressed. (Stress and worry always turns into depression with me. Actually most things turn into depression with me.)

But there is no reason! Everything is going fine so far! I have an appointment to get myself a National Insurance Number and another appointment to see if I can successful claim job seekers benefit. I just signed a contract for broadband so I should be getting internet in the house in under two weeks.

My grandmother has an empty fridge and eats ridiculously frugally so I should manage to lose a lot of weight as I slowly starve, which I guess is good. British people on my flist what are stones made out of, ounces? The way you measure and weight things confuses me no end. And are the like 12 ounces to a stone? Because god forbid it could actually be 10, or something else reasonable. Let's just hope it's not something completely ridiculous like 17! Anyway so far I have lost at least one of those things that make up a stone. Is that a lot or a little?

Another question for the British people: how come you don't all get scurvy over here? I went to supermarket to get some fruit, and nearly had a heart attack. They sell aubergines and apples and all the rest by the piece and not the kilo! (And a single aubergine is more expensive than a kilo would be in Greece!) If I don't find work soon I will starve! I will get scurvy and die!

Anyway. The only thing that is cheaper here is alcohol. So I met my friend Angela on Saturday and we went out for drinks. She invited a french friend along and he invited a mexican friend of his along. They ended up taking us dancing at a cuban club. Dancing latin is tiring! The evening was fun, or was at least until the mexican guy started seriously hitting on me. I liked him well enough, he was a nice guy and it was really fun dancing with such an amazing dancer but I certainly didn't fancy him. And call me a prude or difficult, but I don't hook up and make dates with guys I don't fancy. But I do get very awkward and uncomfortable, because I have yet to master the delicate art of politely turning down someone who you like and will probably be seeing again in the future, but do not fancy. That put a damper on things. I am not in the mood at present with all that I have on my mind to be getting hit on randomly by guys who refuse to take no as an answer.

Anyway. I'm in the library again, and it's hot. I'm waiting for my friend Dimitris to meet me so we can go for a pick nick in the park. He's late as usual, and I'm starving!

The Eagle has landed

I'm here! The flight was perfect. The taxi ride to my grandmother's was perfect. (I got a nice pakistani driver I had a long discussion with. Did you know they speak four languages in Pakistan?)

And now I'm taking advantage of the public libraries wi-fi. And now it's just started to rain... Pity. Because I have plans for today!

I have to see about how my european social security card I got from Greece works here. I was told I have to register with a GP and a dentist? British people on my flist?

I have to visit the job centre and see how things work. See if I can claim any benefits. Wouldn't it be great if I could?

I have to get myself a UK mobile phone number.

I have to start shopping around for cheap internet connection options.

I should get myself an oyster card for the public transport.

And finally I have to go to the supermarket. I promised I'd bring some shopping back.

And tomorrow I have to get myself a library card! How can I live without a library card?

But it's great to be here, despite the rain! I'm feeling very optimistic so far. Mostly because all the people I have come across in public services and information desks so far have been so damn helpful and nice! Do the British choose the nicest people they can for public help desks?

(I need to make myself a new tag for my London adventures!)

And I should get round to changing the title of my blog...

Fear of Flying

I'm flying today! In a bit over four hours to be exact. And I'm already at the airport. Why, you might ask. I decided to share a taxi with my mother. It dropped her off at her work and then took me to the airport. Four hours before my flight!

And you know what's even worse? Athens' crappy airport only gives you sixty minutes of free in internet time! What sort of rubbish is that? Good news is one friend at least is coming to see me off, so I won't be alone the whole time.

I'm as stressed as anything. Have I mentioned how much I hate flying? I had all the checks and rules and regulations that are apt to change year to year. I am severely overweight - you try moving somewhere permanently with 20 kg of allowed luggage at 8 kg of hand luggage. Absolutely impossible! They tell you to take all important papers and documents and all electrical etc stuff in your hand luggage and they expect you to do that in under 8 kg? My camera alone is almost 2 kg! So yeah, I'm stressed, overweight (my luggage is at least) and in a bad mood.

See you on the other side? My grandmother doesn't have internet, but I'll be working something out as soon as I can.

Keep your fingers crossed that I get through baggage check in without too much trouble and without paying too big a fine for overweight!

Influence map

Over at deviantart I spotted this great meme where you make your own influence map, of what influences your art. Truth is I have a lot of influences that I barely realise I have. I made my map using my favourite artists and art styles and the ones I would most like to emulate, or go to for inspiration. Unfortunately my art doesn't ever really end up looking like any of them.




See how many artists you can guess before scrolling down for the list.
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Featured clockwise from top righthand corner are:
Aubrey Beardsley
Gustav Klimt
Egon Schiele
Edward Gorey
Friedensreich Hunderwasser
Alphonse Mucha
Traditional japanese art
Woodcuts
JMW Turner


I really should spend less time procrastinating and more time getting ready for my big move. But I'm so stressed I feel like spending all my time with my head under my pillow.

One last hooray

I'm back in Athens safe and sound and earlier than anticipated. Agistri was lovely, but the crowds drove us away. We had completely forgotten that Monday (today that is) was a bank holiday.

I went with my friend Angela who has also just lost her job and who is also flying to London at the end of the month to look for work. We are all emigrating I tell you!

We thought this would be our last chance to see some sun and sea this summer (unless we make it to the English seaside, and unless you actually consider that sun and sea). Also we needed a bit of a break from the business of getting everything in order to leave.

Being short of money and energy we went to Agistri which is really close to Athens by boat and where it is easy to free camp.


(I haven't got a new compact camera to replace the one that was stolen and I was hardly going to take my DSLR camping so I had to make do with bad quality photos taken with my mobile.)

As you can see we took two tents with us because we were expecting company (none of which showed in the end). You might have also noticed we took Angela's dog Bella will us too. Bella is a beautiful two year old mongrel.


Unfortunately Bella is rather difficult (and possibly a bit spoilt too). She barks at everything that scares her (and that is almost everything) and at all other dogs. As you can guess she did a lot of barking. Everyone wanted to pat her because she's so pretty, but were quickly put off by her incessant barking.

Appart from the new experience of holidaying with a dog, we didn't do much. We lazed on the beach. We got slight tans that we will lose during the first week of being in London I'm sure. We ate and walked around aimlessly. We got bitten by flies. Every time I go camping I return with my legs riddled with big red bites. It seems like horseflies love me!

News from the front

Hello all from windy Agistri!

Yes, I run off to the island of Agistri for a week. It's my last chance for a bit of sea and sun before going to the UK.

I have booked my flight! I fly to London on the 22nd of June! Anyone else going to be in London who might want to say hi?

More news when I get home. I'm being very decadent and splurging out on an internet cafe when we are having a shoestring holiday and free-camping!