Things are moving a bit faster now. The weekend that passed I finally managed to conclude all my packing and moved my essentials to my parents house and all the rest (books -lots of them!-, kitchenware -what can I say, I cook- and furniture to storage. My sister had moved a couple of weeks earlier to an Thuseio where she's renting a room.
So yeah, I'm stuck staying with my parents in the suburbs until I finish the last of my business here and leave. My parents have got cranky with age and there's no space and privacy, but it's not for long.
In other news I got a macbook pro! Yay! Since I'm homeless and will be taking advantage of my family for the near future, I couldn't lug a desktop around. I loaned my imac to my sister who had her macbook stolen in the break in and my mother decided to give me a birthday/christmas and whatever present all rolled into one and got me a macbook!
I'm still getting used to the new screen size. Before getting it I spent weeks obsessing over size (wink wink) and if I could be satisfied with 13" or whether 15" would be better, and how I was spoiled with the 20" I was used to. (You know what I mean?) I was so obsessed with size I kept on asking my friends' opinions on the subject. It got so bad that one day over drinks I asked a male friend of mine point blank "How many inches is yours?" without prefacing that I was talking about laptop screens. I assumed he'd understand what I was talking about. He didn't. Which wasn't surprising, especially considering our previous conversation was about gay politics in Greece and our next one was his sex life. Unfortunately he didn't answer my (unintentional) question. No matter. If I really want to know, all I have to do is ask a mutual friend of ours who is the world's biggest gossip and has first hand experience.
Better go to sleep now. I spent all day tracking down official papers, and I'll be spending all day tomorrow trying to get them translated. (Anyone know what a Hague stamp is on official translations?)
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Flying apart
It's been a while. I have been busy and depressed and preoccupied.
I'm busy packing my life into boxes to be put into storage, because for the foreseeable future I will be homeless, and most probably unemployed, dependent on the charity of family. *sigh* In between packing and getting rid of stuff I have also been trying to get my papers, attestations, tax forms, social security and all that other paraphernalia in order. It's not easy.
I find it hard concentrating at the moment. I'm too preoccupied by all the things I have to put in order so I can leave the country and I'm still too stressed by the break in. And well, Athens has degenerated into chaos once more. We've had protest marches, riots, police brutality, murders lately. The other day I went to the center for some business and I had to run through a big cloud of teargas to get into the metro station at Suntagma Square. Really heavy duty teargas, the stuff that stings and chokes.
**
I just had a call from a friend to tell me her father's in hospital. I'm very close with her whole family, so I really should organise myself to get over there and see them.
I'm busy packing my life into boxes to be put into storage, because for the foreseeable future I will be homeless, and most probably unemployed, dependent on the charity of family. *sigh* In between packing and getting rid of stuff I have also been trying to get my papers, attestations, tax forms, social security and all that other paraphernalia in order. It's not easy.
I find it hard concentrating at the moment. I'm too preoccupied by all the things I have to put in order so I can leave the country and I'm still too stressed by the break in. And well, Athens has degenerated into chaos once more. We've had protest marches, riots, police brutality, murders lately. The other day I went to the center for some business and I had to run through a big cloud of teargas to get into the metro station at Suntagma Square. Really heavy duty teargas, the stuff that stings and chokes.
**
I just had a call from a friend to tell me her father's in hospital. I'm very close with her whole family, so I really should organise myself to get over there and see them.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
More shitty news
I sincerely hope that my run of bad luck is going to finish some time soon. I think I might have had as much as I can take.
Let me remind you. We have been evicted from our apartment (the owners want to use it for themselves) and have to be out before June. I have lost my job. And just yesterday burglars broke into our flat. Oh, yes, we were robbed. At two o'clock midday while we were at work. I even took a crappy photo of our broken door with my mobile as proof.
That is the state of our door. We put a temporary lock in but it will take at least a week for them to put a new door in. So yeah, I'm feeling very very low.
What did they steal? Fortunately not everything because they were interrupted by the girl upstairs who heard them and called the police. They took:
- my sister's Macbook Pro
- about 300 euro in cash from my sister's bedroom
- one of my sister's pendants
- my ipod
- my little compact fuji camera
- my old half dead laptop
- my bank cards (I kept them in the house because I was afraid of getting my wallet stolen)
- ALL my extensive collection of earrings
I think the fact they took my earrings stings the most. I had lovingly collected them over ten years and had finally managed to amass almost all the colours and stones I wanted.
What we learned out of this? Burglars go straight to the bedrooms. They emptied every single box or pot or basket or drawer searching for cash. They had even begun on the shoe boxes and sock drawer. They didn't touch the living room, kitchen or bathroom. They didn't even look in the chest of drawers in the hall opposite the front door. So guys, stash your cash or jewelry in a coffee tin in the fridge. Safest place.
Let me remind you. We have been evicted from our apartment (the owners want to use it for themselves) and have to be out before June. I have lost my job. And just yesterday burglars broke into our flat. Oh, yes, we were robbed. At two o'clock midday while we were at work. I even took a crappy photo of our broken door with my mobile as proof.
That is the state of our door. We put a temporary lock in but it will take at least a week for them to put a new door in. So yeah, I'm feeling very very low.
What did they steal? Fortunately not everything because they were interrupted by the girl upstairs who heard them and called the police. They took:
- my sister's Macbook Pro
- about 300 euro in cash from my sister's bedroom
- one of my sister's pendants
- my ipod
- my little compact fuji camera
- my old half dead laptop
- my bank cards (I kept them in the house because I was afraid of getting my wallet stolen)
- ALL my extensive collection of earrings
I think the fact they took my earrings stings the most. I had lovingly collected them over ten years and had finally managed to amass almost all the colours and stones I wanted.
What we learned out of this? Burglars go straight to the bedrooms. They emptied every single box or pot or basket or drawer searching for cash. They had even begun on the shoe boxes and sock drawer. They didn't touch the living room, kitchen or bathroom. They didn't even look in the chest of drawers in the hall opposite the front door. So guys, stash your cash or jewelry in a coffee tin in the fridge. Safest place.
Monday, 11 April 2011
Sexy men and women
Because I've got bored of talking about the mess of my life, here's something completely different and utterly frivolous.
I decided to make a list of my celebrity crushes over the years.
12 male celebrities I have fancied at one time or another
1. Ewan Mcgregor - how can you not?
2. Colin Firth - has anyone seen Valmont? the one time he played a bad guy?
3. Jeremy Irons - Brideshead Revisited anyone?
4. Raplh Fiennes - words can't describe how disturbed I was when he actually made me possibly maybe like a nazi officer!
5. Kevin Bacon - isn't it nice he's played in so many films?
6. Clint Eastwood - the only reason I watch spaghetti westerns
7.Dennis Quaid - the only person who can make a southern american accent sexy
8. Tim Buckley - ever fallen in love with a voice?
9. Jarvis Cocker - in the 90s Pulp was totally my favourite britpop group
10. Jake Gylenhaal - what can I say? sexy and funny
11. Brent Corrigan - he singlehandedly converted me to gay porn
12. Chris Colfer - he makes me want to pinch his cheeks and ruffle his hair like a little boy (disturbing that!)
And because I might be straight, but I'm not blind:
10 female celebrities I find attractive
1. Audrey Hepburn - if I could only be her!
2. Katherine Hepburn - she has serious style and attitude
3.Elizabeth Taylor - I used to think she was the most beautiful woman ever
4.Helena Bonham-Carter - need I say anything?
5. Andie Macdowall - I confess that it's mostly because of Four Weddings and A Funeral
6. Salma Hayek - because latinas are the best!
7. Penelope Cruz - ditto
8. Kate Bush - all around amazing!
9.Karen Gillan- how can you not adore Amy Pond? (she get's a colour photo because she has red hair!)
10. Emma Thompson - I don't find her beautiful so much as insanely likable and funny and all around lovely.
I decided to make a list of my celebrity crushes over the years.
12 male celebrities I have fancied at one time or another
1. Ewan Mcgregor - how can you not?
2. Colin Firth - has anyone seen Valmont? the one time he played a bad guy?
3. Jeremy Irons - Brideshead Revisited anyone?
4. Raplh Fiennes - words can't describe how disturbed I was when he actually made me possibly maybe like a nazi officer!
5. Kevin Bacon - isn't it nice he's played in so many films?
6. Clint Eastwood - the only reason I watch spaghetti westerns
7.Dennis Quaid - the only person who can make a southern american accent sexy
8. Tim Buckley - ever fallen in love with a voice?
9. Jarvis Cocker - in the 90s Pulp was totally my favourite britpop group
10. Jake Gylenhaal - what can I say? sexy and funny
11. Brent Corrigan - he singlehandedly converted me to gay porn
12. Chris Colfer - he makes me want to pinch his cheeks and ruffle his hair like a little boy (disturbing that!)
And because I might be straight, but I'm not blind:
10 female celebrities I find attractive
1. Audrey Hepburn - if I could only be her!
2. Katherine Hepburn - she has serious style and attitude
3.Elizabeth Taylor - I used to think she was the most beautiful woman ever
4.Helena Bonham-Carter - need I say anything?
5. Andie Macdowall - I confess that it's mostly because of Four Weddings and A Funeral
6. Salma Hayek - because latinas are the best!
7. Penelope Cruz - ditto
8. Kate Bush - all around amazing!
9.Karen Gillan- how can you not adore Amy Pond? (she get's a colour photo because she has red hair!)
10. Emma Thompson - I don't find her beautiful so much as insanely likable and funny and all around lovely.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Stuff
A little update:
Yes, I have quit my job, my boss - who despite underpaying me is actually a nice guy - agreed to the two months I wanted before leaving. Our landlords are still kicking us out. My sister/flatmate has found somewhere to live while she sorts herself out. So starting from June I will be homeless and jobless. I have not yet decided exactly when I will go to London. I have too many other things to sort out first.
Now that I have come to a decision, I'm feeling less stressed and confused. That doesn't stop me from getting randomly scared or overemotional though.
To offset the maudlin self-centeredness of this post so far, look at this cuteness:
This morning when stepping out of my building I saw this cute graffiti on the road just in front. Later on my sister called me (while I was in the town planning office no less) to tell me her boyfriend had drawn it as a surprise for her. Her bedroom balcony overlooks the road. I thought it was sweet and kind of romantic. My sister found it embarrassing. She's a bit uptight like that.
Yes, I have quit my job, my boss - who despite underpaying me is actually a nice guy - agreed to the two months I wanted before leaving. Our landlords are still kicking us out. My sister/flatmate has found somewhere to live while she sorts herself out. So starting from June I will be homeless and jobless. I have not yet decided exactly when I will go to London. I have too many other things to sort out first.
Now that I have come to a decision, I'm feeling less stressed and confused. That doesn't stop me from getting randomly scared or overemotional though.
To offset the maudlin self-centeredness of this post so far, look at this cuteness:
This morning when stepping out of my building I saw this cute graffiti on the road just in front. Later on my sister called me (while I was in the town planning office no less) to tell me her boyfriend had drawn it as a surprise for her. Her bedroom balcony overlooks the road. I thought it was sweet and kind of romantic. My sister found it embarrassing. She's a bit uptight like that.
The Colours Meme
I'm sick sick sick. So I'm staying at home from work today. Everytime I call up sick, I always get the feeling they don't believe me. Ah, well!
Have you come across the colours meme? I was given the colour green.
Ten green things:
1. The basil plants I have on my balcony outside my bedroom.
2. The beautiful teapot my sister got recently from a second hand shop in Psyrri.
3. The kilt I bought when I visited Edinburgh.
4. The old Pireus buses used to be green. Most memorable of all was the 040 joining the center of Athens to the center of Pireus, affectionately called the "green bus".
5. The wellies I bought from the little village of Skipton when I went camping in Yorkshire in August and it rained the whole month!
6. Spinach! Which is in season and is one of my favourite greens, particularly because it's so versatile.
7. The green olive oil soap I prefer (and use for many different things.)
8. The green clay I use as a face mask.
9. My prefered type of serviettes, Always Ultra Normal Plus.
10. Green tea, the type of tea I drink most often.
Have you come across the colours meme? I was given the colour green.
Ten green things:
1. The basil plants I have on my balcony outside my bedroom.
2. The beautiful teapot my sister got recently from a second hand shop in Psyrri.
3. The kilt I bought when I visited Edinburgh.
4. The old Pireus buses used to be green. Most memorable of all was the 040 joining the center of Athens to the center of Pireus, affectionately called the "green bus".
5. The wellies I bought from the little village of Skipton when I went camping in Yorkshire in August and it rained the whole month!
6. Spinach! Which is in season and is one of my favourite greens, particularly because it's so versatile.
7. The green olive oil soap I prefer (and use for many different things.)
8. The green clay I use as a face mask.
9. My prefered type of serviettes, Always Ultra Normal Plus.
10. Green tea, the type of tea I drink most often.
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Backed into a corner
Things have been getting shittier and shittier lately.
The boss called me into the office today. He cut my hours and my wage because we have no work. (I dare you to live on 700euro a month!) But he also told me that he has to fire one of us. I was sure it would be me, instead it was the other girl. The one who is married with two kids. The one who has been working for the office longer and actually enjoys the job (I don't particularly like my job anymore). The one he said he'd prefer to keep. Why? Well, I'm cheaper for starters. But he said it was because he knows I'd never find another job the way things are, whereas she can claim unemployment benefit (400euro for six months I think, might be more due to kids) and has a husband with a wage (no idea how bug his wage is).
I think I'm going to tell him to fire me instead tommorrow. I think the universe is conspiring to tell me that moving to London is the inevitable choice.
I think we need a pick-me up after this.
The boss called me into the office today. He cut my hours and my wage because we have no work. (I dare you to live on 700euro a month!) But he also told me that he has to fire one of us. I was sure it would be me, instead it was the other girl. The one who is married with two kids. The one who has been working for the office longer and actually enjoys the job (I don't particularly like my job anymore). The one he said he'd prefer to keep. Why? Well, I'm cheaper for starters. But he said it was because he knows I'd never find another job the way things are, whereas she can claim unemployment benefit (400euro for six months I think, might be more due to kids) and has a husband with a wage (no idea how bug his wage is).
I think I'm going to tell him to fire me instead tommorrow. I think the universe is conspiring to tell me that moving to London is the inevitable choice.
I think we need a pick-me up after this.
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