A weekend in Dublin

Salsa Cafe with Diane and the Swan
Quiet weekend one before last
No Pub Quiz but The Apprentice final
Lindy Jazz
House insurance and other paperwork!
Half day then Dublin:
Meal at Cafe Kylemore
National Museum
Avoca shopping and yummy lunch
Chester Beatty Library
Dublin Castle
Irish music and dancing
Temple Bar
Hop on Hop off tour bus, incl 2 live renditions of Molly Malone!
Guinness Storehouse and more live music
Plenty of Guinness

Now hen night finalising, invitation writing etc soon....Been selected for next year's annual function committee, new opportunity come up for event managing of Djam 2010....

Evolution festival at Quayside, birthday meal at La Vita, Cragside with parents, Lindy Jazz, spoke to Joo-Lee about bringing Lindy to P&G SSC, Bollywood version of Wuthering Heights, collected LBS hoody, tapas at Northern Stage with B, tapas at La Tasca with parents, Fine Art degree show launch party and Julia S's birthday drinks at Pitcher and Piano, cancelled plans with Oli last weekend, Oli saga LOL, 5 and a half mile JOG, drinks with Oli and Rohan, more Lindy Jazz, Katy Perry concert cancelled so drinks at the Salsa bar and the Forth with Jenna instead, Whapweasle gig at the Cumberland yesterday, Black Swan tonight. As little as possible this weekend, bar work Pub Quiz on Sunday and The Apprentice and BB10 catch up ;)

Hmmmm not been for a jog in a while! Should go at some point this weekend, is going to be Monday now! Ooops, 2 and a half weeks... More tentative hen night planning for Sare, salsa/bachata with Alex el gato at the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth, future private lindy hop lessons with Oli, Pitcher & Piano and Uno's, Memorial dance night for Jonathan Brooke, town with Jenna and Abi, no Eurovision BBQ but Bar Luga, Greek restaurant and Nancys for flamenco band in evening, failed trip to see the Whapweasels at Whitley bay on Sunday (it got cancelled!), Lindy Jazz, birthday and surprise birthday Vicci Tarry home pub quiz with Fajitas before the Apprentice, State of Play and drinks at Bar Beyond with Oli, Desperate Housewives, possibly Jazz Cafe tonight...

So, after the 'Pub Quiz' in Fenham, was Joo-Lee's Ladies styling class in Durham (New College campus)the next morning, then there's been Uni Swing class, Mauricio Reyes @ Bar Beyond, no Ceroc still but The Apprentice, GBSEx booking and Dublin and Southampton, more meetings at work, incl one with Julia Cantwell, LBS Ball and afterparty at Simon's, meeting with mortgage adviser at Abbey, mortgage sorted, Starbucks, 2 BBQs and some shopping, Coffee with Angie et al, Hadrian's Wall walk and meal at Twice Brewed Inn, Newcastle university does Strictly Come Dancing at St James' Park, Chillingham Pub Quiz, no Swing Summer party or BS or LBS, jog in Jesmond Dene x 2 (not v good) and Keswick yesterday with work SSC = wet. This evening is Lindy Jazz social at Durham Masonic Hall - buffet and social Blues dancing.......

By that last mini entry, I meant that there was actually someone who was employed to be at functions like ours so that people could have their photo taken with him James Bond style!!!! Was a very convincing lookalike!

Hmmmm so no swan, then yes swan - including demonstrating with John Wood, the Boat that Rocked, more Lindy, the Apprentice, no yoga, no LBS still, mortgage advice, lost £50, post office and passport from solicitors, survey - tick, tango blues, Cluny drink with Jenna, no crazy tea party or BBQ, Gig at the Cluny - Chew Lips, the Amazing Babies and The Virgins, Iams team Pub Quiz - The Random Furry Catflap of the Enigma v P&G Killed My Dog, lottery tickets, no Ceilidh, One-to-one, meeting with Anne Perrin, Little Saigon with B, planning for Edinburgh, Dublin and Amsterdam.....LBS ball coming up, House 'pub quiz' in Fenham, ceroc, poss uni swing and argentine tango, maybe Beyond, Andy and Angie, Rohan's BBQ, no Blackpool or ballroom or Nancy's :(

Sean Connery lookalike was at P&G Ball!

Happy Easter!

Quayside Market, nice weather, Spanish-speaking, lunch at Rumpolis with Jenna, Sam, Catherine and Abi; hot chocs at the Mal Maison, only 3 jogs, tandem learning with Marcela at Intermezzo and Starbucks, book launch of Kicked Out at Waterstones, more Lindy Jive, not much yoga, upcoming ladies styling swing class at New College Durham instead of horse-riding trek in Northumberland, tango blues to come, found house-not signed, no beer festival, The Duchess and The Women, coffee with Rui, Mary and Oli round for lunch, kitchen and bedroom cleaning, Sarah's wedding planning, watching another DVD, seeing Let the right one in, Tom Snell's Elite Easter gathering, Stanhope, BBQ, trip to Gosforth, Pub Quiz, Black Swan. Tynemouth and Jesmond Dene this weekend.

That's the last 2 weeks of my life!

Busy week!
Monday I went for a jog but only managed 2 and a half miles before I was soaked in the rain
Tuesday I went to Lindy Jazz at the Black Swan, which I'd never been to before, so that was fun
Last night, met Catherine (not Campbell), Jenna and Simon for drinks at the Charles Grey and Head of Steam, were going to go to Tup Tup but it opened too late.
Tonight have sacked off a jog in favour of a nap, fish and chips and a long bath! Currently copying some of Oli's music to my iTunes, since I've managed to wipe all my music off my laptop!
Tomorrow, am going to Morrisons to buy food for Saturday before going to the Swan early for salsa.
Sat morning I have some viewing - was 4, not reduced to 2! - then Diane and Matthew are coming round for lunch, am going to Anna's exhibition at the Baltic and then is Catherine's birthday night on on Sat incl a meal at Pani's
Sunday, I might go down to the market at the quayside, want to do a drive around and do a big jog, and maybe meet up with Diego and Marcela - although they don't know that yet!

Back at work...

Came back up here on Weds night after a hellish journey up on the train.
Was meant to be going to the Newcastle University Dance Show, but as I thought it would be another v amateur student performance, and I'd already seen the LBS routine which was the only act where I knew anybody, I went to the Chillingham Pub Quiz instead with Anna, Steve, Sam, Kirsty and Hannah.
Apparently I missed out on not going to the dance show cos it was really good!
Still not been on any more jogs yet! Ooops.
Anna dyed my hair on Thursday night,
Went to the Black Swan on Friday night.
Had a meeting with a mortgage adviser at Andrew Craig's in Gosforth yesterday, but she didn't show up.
Spent most of yesterday afternoon getting ready for the P&G annual do last night at the Hilton: amazing.
Got a goody bag with a bottle of wine and a bottle of vodka, toy cigar, feather boa, playing cards and a box of lindt lindor milk choc truffles in. There was a 3 course meal (coffe unfort not included), champagne reception, shedloads of wine on the table and we got £10 worth of drinks vouchers each, £20 worth of monopoly money to exchange for tokens to play on the 4 casino games there, and tickets for a go on Scalextrix and the Shooting Gallery. There was so much to do, I barely went near the dancefloor! Great prizes were won in the raffle too, oh! and we also got a lottery ticket each, but I lost mine early on in the night.
So today I have mainly had a headache. Checked the tyres on my car and am about to hoover the hall and landing. Fun fun fun!

Worcester

Went back to work on Friday for the day, spent it catching up on last 2 days holiday and preparing for being away until this Thurs!
Not been on any more jogs yet
Got back here late on Fri (11pm ish) and watched some Comic Relief
Met Hannah, Charlie and Steph in the Postal Order for brunch on Saturday, did some shopping (lots of, actually!) and had my contact lens appt...
Hannah and Charlie came over in the eve for a bottle of wine before going to the Hand and Glove, Heroes, Luna Bar, Bushwackers and then staying the night here.
On Sunday we (mum, dad and I) went for lunch at the Old Chequers and saw some show homes down at Diglis
Finished SATC season 4
Ruth came round on Sunday evening for macaroni cheese, cheesecake and a catch up!
Went to the Bullring yesterday with mum and Paul came over in the eve v briefly with his current car.
Saw The Reader at the Odeon last night and then Mum and I joined Dad at the Dragon for a quick drink.
Today, saw Maria at her house on Malvern Road this morning, drove to Shrewsbury with Mum this avo to see G&G, and saw Salma this evening at her house on Bath Road.

Hmmmm the last week in note-form

Only 3 jogs, can do over 4 miles.
Went to see the International Festival of Music and Art at the Journal Tyne Theatre (4th March), and then for a quick drink at Bodega afterwards.
Discovered I had the entire SATC season 4 unwatched in my room, so has been occupying me for the last few days!
Cocktails at happy hour at Florita last Friday night with ppl from Xtreme. Reult: Saturday written off except for Chinese takeaway in evening, so no clubbing with Jenna and co as planned.
Coffee with Nikos on Sunday, Bar Beyond for salsa on Tuesday.
Yesterday and today off work, so bit of necessary shopping and getting new railcard, Starbucks coffee, SATC, ENT appointment, seen Mum (up working at St Nick's), yoga class (P&G sport and social club, of which I am now a member), meal at Santana's and out to Popolos and Tup Tup Palace last night.
Company shop and The Vagina Monologues at Journal Tyne today.
At work again tomo, and going down to Worcs tomo night until Weds avo. Planning on brunch at O'Neills on Sat morn, shopping and out to Bushies in evening. Shopping with Mum at the Bullring on Monday.
Looking into GBSEx/Barcelona salsa week/cuban salsa weekender at a castle in Wales for this year.

Hmmm I'm getting lazy so it's going to be in note form again:

Parents been up to visit and view houses/flats for me
Went out for meals at Rumana, Bangkok cafe and Sal e Pepe
Been to cinema to see He's just not that into you and Confessions of a shopaholic
Been to the latest Latin Connection event - 3 x Cuban Salsa World Champions!
Went out for house meal last night at Santana's
Have decided to have a tidier house!
Had Jo's leaving cards night. Jo's back in Bunbury now for a few days before she goes travelling.
Booked all my tickets for various dance shows and hoodies etc
Not been to Andrea's casino night

That's about it!

Ill.....and ill again!

The last 2 weeks in list-format:

Chronic indigestion/gastric reflux - a day off work
3 visits to GP in one week re above
Diane's house party
No jazz cafe but 'The Divorce' instead (crap film)
One jog last week due to illness and bad weather
Live on Spanish lines but no calls, handled a few emails
New hire training - brilliant
Volunteeres to help with next team quarterly
Helping Ollie with scorebaord for initiatives competition
Usual Ops and knowledge & advocacy meetings
Cheese and wine night at North Terrace (Intsoc)
Black Swan and Hoko-10 with Andrea and housemates/colleagues
Lunch with new chums from training
No Leeds and London due to illness
Ill with Flu for last 5 days!

Ill.....and ill again!

Was ill off work the Friday before last with chronic indigestion/gastric reflux. On the Sat eve, went to a house party at Diane's on Claremont road and then was going to go the LBS/Swing social at the Jazz cafe but went home and watchend The Divorce with Anna and Jo.

On the Monday morning, I had a blood test at 8.15 re the gastric reflux, then had a manic day at work before popping to Tesco off the coast road briefly after work. On Tuesday, it was another busy day, with some training for the Spanish lines, as I went live for Spain Weds and Friday last week, but no one rang me!!!! Answered about 10 emails. In the eve had a stress about whether or not to go down to Leeds and London this week (I haven't, cos have had flu again!)

So Wednesday I was at work by half 7! Stayed until half 4 (non-UK line hours are 8-4) and I recorded a message re the lines being closed on Thursday for training purposes. Weds night I went to the Intsoc cheese and wine night at the North Terrace, Thursday I had my new hire training, which was a series of presentations and team-building activities. The oontact centre closed at lunch time because of bad weather, but we stayed in training until half 3. Got to have lunch with people outside of Iams, for once!

Had 2 meetings on the Weds (ops and knowledge & advocacy) and have been asked to help Ollie make a scoreboard for the initiatives competition he's set up. Have volunteered to help with organising something for the next team quarterly. Only managed one jog last week, because of illness and bad weather, can now run over 3 miles now.

Friday I was busy catching up on what I'd missed due to training on the Thurs, went to the Black Swan and to Hoko-10 in the eve, got back at 3am ish on Sat, and have been ill with the flu ever since! Managed a brief walk to Heaton Perk for some food and fresh air yesterday afternoon, but that is it. Have read and slept lots. Back to work tomo, will probs be loads to catch up on. Was meant to be on holiday yesterday and today, but Clare has v kindly transferred it to March.

First team quarterly

Had my first team quarterly meeting today, which meant the whole day off the phones! Kicked off with people bingo, then had a business update from Carl, followed by 'living the brand' - a series of presentations/activities about the psychology behind marketing and how consumers choose a particular brand, how consumer experience is the make or break of it, and how we would brand ourselves as individuals.

We went for a brisk team walk over an extended lunchbreak (as had to be in half an hour earlier than normal) and had a presentation on the art of communication (how our personality affects our communication skills) and then Carl gave a little presentation on salary/ratings and promotion criteria. There was a 'radiation' team challenge (complicated!) and it ended with an awards 'ceremony'. Mine was the Give It A Go Oscar.

Last Friday we had our cheese and wine evening, and Saturday Mary and Vik were up and we surprised Mary with an early birthday party. Sunday, I went to Castle Leazes for the LBS 'technique' workshop (didn't do a lot). Tuesday night, I went to Bar Beyond for salsa (and even the classes at Castle Leazes beforehand), last night I was meant to be going to the Intsoc social at Nancys but locked myself out the house and went to Anna's STAR talk instead (Student Action for Refugees) a society of which she is currently President. Tonight was going to go to LBS but have an awful stomach ache. Tomorrow night, is a work pub crawl round Whitley Bay! Oh, and last Saturday during the day, we cooked and ate at Linda's house in Seaton Sluice(another work social).

Only managed 4 jogs last week in the end (really only three and a half cos stopped 3 times during one run!) Been every night so far this week, and am up to just under 2 miles without stopping.

Didnt go to Mr Lynch's after all on Friday, but did manage the Black Swan on Friday, after my day off when I had my haircut, did lots of shopping and watched Miss Potter. Basically managed Morrisons on Saturday before Julia and Hannah came round for a Mexican feast dinner.

Sunday night Anna had people round for a cake bake for Student Action for Refugees (STAR), Monay night we stayed in (I had a mini head neck and shoulder massage at work during the day) and last night we went to the music quiz at the Chillingham again. Decided not to go to Shearer's for Intsoc social tonight. Is LBS tomorrow night and our cheese and wine evening on Friday....

Busy week

Hmmmmm so what have I been up to in the last week? Watched Black Books last Thursday night with Steve and Anna. On Friday, Mum came up so we went to La Gabbia for food and then watched Bucket List on my laptop. Saturday, went into town and mum bought me some lovely shoes. In the eve it was Strictly live!

Sunday, I slept mainly, and saw Slumdog millionnaire at the Tyneside. Monday, we had this internal job fair thing at work and in the evening I went ice-skating. Anna has her American friend Megan from exchange in Australia to stay this week. Tuesday, we went to the Music Pub quiz at the Chillingham and during the day I had a work plan meeting with Clare. Yesterday was the usual ops meeting and we saw Blood Brothers at Theatre Royal - amazing! I have tomorrow off work so am going shopping and getting my hair done. Off to Mr lynch later for cocktails.

Aiming for 6 jogs this week rather than 5 last week, but will have to do 2 in one day if I want that to happen!

Great North Run - Aargh!

I'm doing the GN Run! Have run every night after work so far this week. Tomorrow's might not happen, cos I'm going for Taesuk's leaving drinks with Xtreme people at Floritas after work.

Have had video conferences with A.G.Lafley (our CEO), a 'Relax? I don't have time!' meeting (which basically comprised of meditation and hand massages) with Pam Hayes, our Occupational Health person and the usual ops meeting and coaching with Clare plus a new product training session with Linden. Some Job Event thing next Monday, which we get time off the lines for.

Haven't started on the Spanish line yet, volume isn't high enough yet. Have been swotting up on some vocab just in case, though. Tuesday night we went to the Chillingham and half joined in the pub quiz, last night we had Hannah over for a card session. Played, among other things, Racing Demons - for which my overall score was +1, I spent most of the game in minus numbers!

Tomorrow after Floritas, I'll be popping to the Swan (didn't manage last week!) Saturday mum is coming up and we're seeing Strictly Live at Metro Radion Arena, might be seeing Twilight at the cinema before that. Sunday I will be sleeping as usual (plus my jog now!)

Happy New Year!

New Year's party was quite good, despite only knowing Oli and Jo. Played Twister and Ring of Fire, tried a Cuban cigar (eugh).

On New Year's day got up at one thirty and then late afternoon ish went for a walk in Jesmond Dene with Jo and Oli. Friday night as people still weren't back in the house and Jo and Oli had gone up to Edinburgh, I stayed in and watched Mamma Mia. Saturday was a little lie-in and Morrisons, lunch in Heaton Perk and then Mum and Dad came up to bring me my new car! Now have a blue KA. We went for dinner at The Cornerhouse and then Sunday I had a proper lie-in. Had some stuff to read for work and finished my MEB application - finally!

Monday was the first night with all of us back, I cooked some form of chilli con carne with fajita sauce, nachos, tortilla and ciabatta. Anna and I were going to go the gym but we didnt, lol. She was ill with a cold though. Tuesday I had an ENT appt at Freeman hospital and then went to Bar Beyond for a bit of salsa. Last night I went to Anna's STAR meeting, Oli cooked us yummy macaroni cheese and then we watched the Jonathan Creek New Year special on iplayer. Had the usual ops and Initiatives & Advocacy meetings. Have started planning for the next quarterly in early Feb. Tonight Jo has come back up to visit/stay indefinitely so we've had fun catching up (on the last week!) and Oli cooked us all bangers and mash. My P&G cherry and kirsch pudding from the hamper was eaten for dessert(not my cup of tea!)

Tomorrow it's either the Cluny, Cumberland Arms or Black Swan and on Saturday it's the usual lie-in and Morrisons, plus Tynemouth walk, and tea and DVD at Julia's. Sunday I will be desperately cramming for starting on the Spanish line on Monday. Aargh!

A few photos of the last 5 months or so....