Where weird not only reigns...

It's 2011 (and has been for 28 days...)

alexia47 — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:42:04 GMT

Finally gotten round to doing this. At work, but never mind. It's Friday afternoon and has been a hell of a week so I deserve so slacking off time ;)

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? Went to a wedding on a beach, consoled my Mum after my brother came out and my Dad wasn't taking it well, moved in with a boy (technically, he moved in with me but same diff :P), saw my brother kiss another guy, got made redundant, learned a little about wine, drove a car in America and probably a lot of other things. It was an eventful year :P

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I did keep the resolution about writing things down. My diary is very useful. Not sure about saying no to people. I said yes and then subcontracted the obligation recently so I'm getting closer! My new years resolution this year is to keep in contact with my Grandma more. So far, so good :D

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Again, a few people. Two of my semi-good friends have had girls. One is not taking to motherhood very easily, the other like a duck to water.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit? America, Florida to be exact.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? An engagement ring lol

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 17th September, seeing one of my best friends get married on the beach in Florida. Probably the best day of my year :D

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Staying strong when I didn't feel it.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not supporting my brother enough. I was there, but I could probably have been there more.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Actually, no! Best health I've been in for ages :P

11. What was the best thing you bought? My holiday to America.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My Mum, for accepting my brother for who he is and welcoming his boyfriend into the family with open arms. She's been amazing.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My previous employers for making me redundant, although that worked out for the best in the end. My Dad in a way, for ignoring the elephant in the room.

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, food, my holiday and days out. All worth it :D I've actually started saving money again now Phil's moved in.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going on holiday

16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Alejandro - Lady Gaga. Some crazy American lady who worked at Universal Studios was singing it :P

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
* happier or sadder? Happier
* thinner or fatter? Fatter :P Wish I could lose this pesky half stone
* richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercise, relaxing

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas with my family and then spent as much time as possible with Phil, same as last year.

21. How many one-night stands? None.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Dexter, Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, Cougar Town

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't have the time or energy to hate anyone

24. What was the best book you read? Read so many... can't decide!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Paramore

26. What did you want and get? A new phone - Motorola Flipout :D

27. What did you want and not get? An engagement ring :P

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Harry Potter 7

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 27 and I went for a walk around Virginia Water taking photos with my new camera. I had the whole week off though and in the week went to the beach (even though it was November!) to see my friend and her baby.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I'm not sure...

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Cheap clothing that fits OK, same as last year ;)

32. What kept you sane? I still don't claim to be sane

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Joaquin Phoenix

34. What political issue stirred you the most? I live in a box and try to avoid political issues. I know this is stupid but I have trouble keeping up with my own small issues, let alone global ones

35. Who did you miss? My granddad, friends I don't see enough any more

36. Who was the best new person you met? Matt, Amrit and James - All from my new job :D

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010: In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. I still love this quote. I think I re-learn it on a regular basis.

38. Quote a song that sums up your year: Get Happy - Judy Garland

Asking for good thoughts and prayers

alexia47 — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:39:46 GMT

Not been on in a while. Really should do a proper update. Not now though.

Just a quick post to ask for people to send good thoughts and prayers our way today. Phil's Dad is in surgery, right now, having a heart bypass. It's a 4-5 hour operation so we won't know anything for a while. Then we'll be praying for a good recovery. We'd love to see him home by Christmas.

I don't often ask, and I pray even less, but it can't hurt.

lol

alexia47 — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:41:49 GMT

Just got this message on facebook from my ex of over two years ago.

hi, i really don't know how to start this message, but it's a pathetic and late apology. I've not had a drink, but i really wanted to say i'm very sorry for what i did to you, i should have told you in person i was going back to helen. I did enjoy every minute with you, i was afraid to see you upset and i was a coward for that. I never lied about how i felt towards you and i will always regret my choice. I know you have moved on and so have i, but i still have guilt in me for hurting you. I really hope you are ok and also your family x

Two choices. One, ignore. Two, forward to his current girlfriend, the one he left to go out with me and then dumped me to go back to ;)

In other news, four days till Florida woohoo!!!!!! :D

Gah.

alexia47 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:16:23 GMT

In the last seven days I have:-

a) Been to Brighton and been ignored by all females. I wasn't looking but I guess I kinda thought I might get some attention. A blow to my ego but for the best :P

b) My brother has come out to my parents. My Mum took it well, my Dad took it terribly. He hasn't disowned him but is nowhere near ready to accept it.

c) Phil has accepted an offer on his house. When all the legal and monetary shenanigans are over he will officially move in with me. Scary.

Right now I'm trying to process stuff in a severely sleep deprived state. Early night for me.

Stuff

alexia47 — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:01:37 GMT

Wow... it's August. My life is on fast forward.

My brother has a boyfriend. I met him on Saturday. My parents don't know that he likes guys as well as girls and I get to be there when he tells them, for support. Fun conversation that will be.

I've got a hen weekend to go to this weekend, in Brighton, known for gayness and venue of my one and only girl on girl experience.

And I have a boyfriend, of the serious variety.

*sigh*

I'm knackered from going for a run and just from work and life in general. I hope I can get out of my general tiredness/funk and enjoy myself this weekend.

Micro update

alexia47 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:53:26 GMT

Work - not bad
Relationship - had a bad two weeks but pulled through :D He's now being boyfriend of the year lol
Home - good

Good times :P

Meh

alexia47 — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:21:56 GMT

I'm feeling lonely :( I have a bad cold, which doesn't help coz I'm feeling sorry for myself, but I'm definitely feeling lonely.

The people at work are... quiet. Sometimes I can strike up a conversation and we have a laugh but a lot of the time... quiet. And I don't do quiet.

Phil will move in within three week (ish). In anticipation of the move he's gotten himself a new job that's much nearer my place, and ironically a lot closer than where I work now, and he starts that next Monday. I'm still looking forward to it and also worried about the change. Living with a partner full time is gonna be different to part time and I'm not sure how quickly I'll adapt.

Not dead

alexia47 — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:29:47 GMT

Apologies for disappearing on you. I'm not actually sure where the last month has gone :P

Super quick update:-

Job - going well! Seem to be settling in OK and the work is pretty good.
Home - Phil's house is on the market! He's got someone coming to look at it today. This is good and also scary as it means he's really moving in soon. I'm happy, that's a given, but also a little scared of the change (as per usual :P)

I hope you're all well, I'm becoming an online recluse and not ever checking LJ :(

It's finally ending...

alexia47 — Fri, 07 May 2010 10:43:15 GMT

It's my last day at my current company today. I've got a lovely card, my desk is decorated with balloons and "Congratulations" banners (they're focusing on congratulating me on my new job rather than being sad I've been made redundant) and I've got some lovely flowers, a bottle of pink champagne and some chocolates. Barbara has also bought me some lovely Soap & Glory body wash and body scrub. I LURVE Soap and Glory lol So all in all I've done rather well out of this redundancy.

I start my new job on Monday. I'm trying not to think about it. I'm hoping it will all be OK. They're a wine company and they've already sent me two bottles of free wine and I haven't even started yet lol :P

I just want to get today over with and draw a line under this whole mess.

I'm gonna be OK :-)

alexia47 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:15:21 GMT

I have a new job :) It's a £2000 pay rise which is great, but the downside is that it's a LOT further away than my current job so a lot of the pay rise will be eaten up in petrol. However, the company is nice, it's 9-5 instead of 9-5.30 so I should still be home by 6pm, and I'll still have at least the same amount of money to spend each month as I have now, perhaps a little more.

I finish at my current company Friday 7th May and start at my new company Monday 10th May. So I'm out of the woods.

Phew!

I'm not as ecstatic as I perhaps should be, because of the distance, but the company does seem really nice and I'm just happy I'm not going to be unemployed.

It perhaps hasn't sunk in yet that the worrying should be over because I still don't feel like the weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I have one last interview on Monday at a company that's really local, but it's been advertised as a contract role and I want permanent so even if they offer it to me (which would be three jobs for three interviews in a row lol) I still think I'll be going with the company who I verbally accepted with yesterday.

I want this all to be over :P

Things are looking up...

alexia47 — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:28:53 GMT

I've been offered a job! It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination as it's about an hour's commute and it's only a 9 month contract, but the money is good and it would tide me over until I find something closer and permanent.

I've kinda accepted it, but they know I have another couple of interviews to go to so they're getting references before they send out the contract.

I have an interview tomorrow morning but for somewhere equally far from my house. More exciting is an interview I have on Monday for a role that's in a brilliant location, but again it's a contract role and only for 3-6 months. There is a possibility of going permanent at the end of the contract but it's not guaranteed which means I could be in the same situation I am now in 3-6 months if I got the job. Again though, the money is excellent as contracting work pays more than permanent.

Whatever way I go, I have a job to go to if I want it and I can keep looking as my current job doesn't officially end until May 7th. I'll get my final pay from them plus the redundancy money (which will go straight into my savings and be around £2000!) at the end of April.

I want the closer job because, well, it's closer :P A LOT closer :P It is, in fact, around the corner from my old company to which the journey was blooming marvelous! So I'm crossing my fingers that I get offered that and we'll take it from there :D

I've still got more opportunities landing in my inbox and people have actually phoned me this morning asking if I want to interview for the job that they turned me down for, so they've obviously not hired anyone for that yet lol Maybe they'll interview a butt load of people and realise I was the best they were gonna get ;D

Feeling better...

alexia47 — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:26:33 GMT

I'm feeling a lot better than yesterday. My phone has rung a lot today and I've got three interviews arranged over the next four days. Two are a little far out but would be OK as a stopgap, but the one on Monday is really close to home, a good journey and the agent seems to think I've got a good chance of getting it.

It's a contract role, which I've never done before, but there's a good chance it would go permanent at the end of the contract. Also, contracting work tends to pay better as well.

So hope is not all lost :) Think good thoughts for me over the next week or so :D

Bugger

alexia47 — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:54:45 GMT

I didn't get the job. They liked me, but went with someone with more experience.

Bollocks bastard wank.

Fuck.

So I'm being made redundant and don't have a job to go to. I've got an interview on Friday but the company is miles away. I will try to be enthusiastic about it. I've had some calls from agents today about possible interviews but nothing solid yet and nothing nearly as good as the role I didn't get.

Poo.

Halfway to A or halfway to D

alexia47 — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:30:46 GMT

Well, we're halfway thrugh option a, I am redundant from my current job as of May 6th. I should hear about the job I want by the end of the day.

Commence the good thoughts.

Failing that, I've had a few calls this morning about more possible interviews but it's all still very uncertain.

I'm desperately trying to remain positive and upbeat about everything.

It's hard.

good thoughts

alexia47 — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:13:34 GMT

*exhales*

I need you all to think really good thoughts for me. Reeeeeeally good thoughts. I had an interview this morning for a company I really want to work for. It's a design agency and they're really good. Reeeeeeally good. It would be a good salary and a role I think I'd really enjoy. And hopefully be good at.

I think they liked me. It seemed to go well and there was lots of smiling and positivity. They've got more people to see but I should hear either way by the end of the week.

Tomorrow I have a meeting at my current company where I'll find out if I'm being made redundant.

The best thing that can happen here is that I get made redundant, get a big payout and then get this new job. Win:Win.

The second best thing that can happen is that I get this new job and my current company decide they won't make me redundant yet, so I'll just leave on my own accord.

The third best thing that can happen is that I don't get this new job but I get to keep my current job for a while, giving me more time to look for a new job.

The worst thing that can happen is that I don't get this new job and I get made redundant tomorrow.

Pray for option one people. I need all the help I can get and I really wanna be able to stop using this icon...

alexia47 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:43:51 GMT

Tomorrow morning I find out if I have a job.

Tomorrow afternoon I have an interview :) Hopefully I'll have another interview within a week as well.

Cross your fingers everyone :D Thanks for the good thoughts so far!

Still getting paid... just

alexia47 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:36:38 GMT

I still have a job... for now. There will be another meeting next Wednesday to decide how we move forward. I'm job hunting furiously.

Wish me luck guys.

I'm feeling slightly less shit but this is still a crappy situation.

Crap.

alexia47 — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:21:25 GMT

I might be getting made redundant. It's actually quite likely. I'll find out on Thursday.

I'm feeling sick, in denial and... happy? Don't get me wrong, I need a job. I need to pay my bills. But I hate that place. Hate it so much that the idea of being told to take some amount of money (hopefully enough to make it until I find a new job) is actually... good?

It's not a definite but it's likely.

I'm scared.

However, I did get a call today while I was on lunch from an employment agency telling me about a role that I was interested in and I'd already told her I was interested before I found out about my possible redundancy. Therefore I'd already been put forward for it. I'm desperately hoping I get an interview for it now because it seems I'm going to need a job. Very soon.

I'm looking at this as a sign. A positive sign.

Cross your fingers I get an interview because if I don't then I really don't know what I'm going to do. I'll be OK for a few months if I don't get a job immediately but I don't want to eat into my savings which are already diminished.

*sigh*

I've phoned Phil, he was supportive as always and told me it was going to be OK.

I hope it is.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

alexia47 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:42:57 GMT

I've just about recovered from the major freak out I had on Tuesday night. I didn't think a new TV would cause me to hyperventilate, but apparently I was wrong.

Phil is moving in. Well, not right now, but he's moving in later this year and he and his brother will sell their house and move in with respective girlfriends, Phil into my flat and his brother will buy a place with his girlfriend. This is good and what I want to happen. I have, in fact, been suggesting Phil moves in with me for some time now.

To ease the moving in process we decided that over the next few months Phil would move some of his non-essential stuff over to my flat, so when the big moving in day came it wouldn't be so much work. Brilliant idea, bring it on. He also has always hated my old TV, which although antiquated (compared to the latest TVs) and second hand, I've always loved because it's mine and, hell, it was free :P

So Phil asked if he could buy a new, big, flat screen TV. He was paying for it and really wanted it so I thought why not? I even bought a new TV unit from Ikea for the thing to live on. It's been sat flat pack under my spare bed for two months until the time came to build it.

Phil and I have had three days off work this week to decorate his bathroom (bit of a palaver but that's another story) so he decided it would be the perfect time to order the TV. We build the cabinet at the weekend without a hitch and it looked pretty cute in my living room. Phil was happy because something he helped pick was in my living room and I was happy coz it looked cute :D It was sitting next to the old TV and old TV stand, just waiting for the new TV.

Tuesday evening the new TV arrived. It's big, it's new, and it's not mine. It's Phil's. And it's moving my TV out into the spare room (where it doesn't really fit) and just dominating my room with its giant newness. Couple the feelings of dread I feel at change in general with the stress of moving heavy objects and untangling hundreds of TV, DVD, games console and Sky box related cables and you've got a pretty stressed and freaked out Lexy.

But I've had a few days with the new TV now. Phil isn't here right now so I'm doing a little bonding time with our new TV. I have to admit, it looks kinda awesome :D

Ironically, there's a new DVD stand to the right of my PC which has come from Phil's house and is crammed full of his DVDs and CDs with a couple of mine in there to fill in the gaps. This piece of furniture seems to belong there and almost looks like it's always been there, possibly because I've put and candle and two cuddly toys on the top of it ;) Phil said it makes it look like it belongs because it's got bits of me on it.

So the first shock of Phil moving in and my flat changing is over. I'm sure there'll be more freak outs to come, culminating in the massive freak out of him actually MOVING IN permanently. I'm not sure he realises that this is weird for me as well as him. I know he's the one doing the physical move but he's coming into my space which I've got used to living in alone for the most part. Everything is where I want it and it's all mine.

I've got to get used to giving that up a little because I want to move into the next part of my life and the next part of my life is Phil.

ETA: I just read this quote on ariestess's journal and it fits this post so I'm re-posting. I hope she doesn't mind :D

Love ennobles us to maintain a steadfast commitment to the well-being of someone or some cause greater than our own petty ego. Yet there is no love without the courage to surrender to something more priceless than yourself. -- Cornel West

Oh boy...

alexia47 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:18:24 GMT

It's March. When did that happen? I hope you're all well.

I'm going to Wolverhampton tomorrow for work. Grr.

♥ ♥ ♥

alexia47 — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:59:29 GMT

Funny thing about faking being happy and positive... do it long enough and it seems to turn into reality.

I'm not gonna say I'm happy at work, but I'm not as miserable. I'm BUSY now, like whoa busy, which is always better for me. Days are flying by and I'm not clock watching. The people I work for are still jerkwads, but in general I'm getting along better since my slight bollocking. I guess I just needed a bit of direction again or something. I'm left so much to my own devices I suppose it was good to be noticed, even if it was for the wrong reasons.

Saying that, if a better job comes along they won't see me for dust ;D

On a non-work front, I seem to have practically detached myself from my online life (apart from Farmville/Facebook which I need a 12 step programme to break away from) and although I miss everyone I think this is probably a good thing. Real life is happening.

It's valentines day this weekend and that's obviously something I enjoy more now I have someone to share it with. This'll be my third VD in a row that I won't be single and the second with Phil. We're going out to dinner tomorrow and going into town later today so I can get him a gift. He's already spent WAY too much on me by paying for my new glasses (he insisted) which were NOT cheap. He really is generous with his money when it comes to buying things for me/us. He's also very good at budgeting and saving. I really am lucky. My best friend's husband is TERRIBLE with money and the amount of arguments they have about it is painful.

For those not coupled up this valentine's day, and also the ones who are, I send you all my love :D ♥ ♥ ♥

sigh

alexia47 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:27:14 GMT

I've had a colossally bad day at work, and just when I thought it was over it got worse by having a meeting with my boss who basically said I seemed like I was becoming negative towards my job.

She's quick that one.

*sigh*

Can't be positive about a job I hate so will have to fake it until I find a new one. I just hope I find a new one fast.

Music recs

alexia47 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:56:42 GMT

When my computer died I lost a TONNE of music and can't remember what I had. So, perfect time for some new stuff :D

Please recommend me your top albums so I can have a downloading fest!

Muhahahaha xD

alexia47 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:36:01 GMT

You would NEVER guess where I am. I'd open up the floor to guesses but you'd all get it wrong so I'm just gonna gonna tell you.

I'm in a cupboard.

...

Yes. A cupboard. And I'll be here all day and all tomorrow.

And you do you know what?

I'M LOVING MY CUPBOARD!!!!!!!!!!!! XD

I really am! Totally loving it. But I need to explain why I'm in a cupboard. So here goes.

You see, work has sent me to the evil trade show in Coventry. A show I was dreading going to. Getting up at 5.30am, driving over 100 miles partially in rush hour, and then standing on a stall demoing a website system I'd never used before for a company I don't even work for (part of the same group, but not actually my company. I was pimped out) was not my idea of fun. Throw in a night alone in a shitty travel lodge and having to find a pub to eat in when everyone else is at some swanky trade show dinner and you've really added insult to injury.

However, as it turns out the woman running the stand wasn't actually aware that I was going to be coming.

*pause for absolutely no surprise at all*

So because they weren't expecting me there was no station set up for me with a laptop etc. Luckily I had my own laptop in the car (for using in the hotel tonight, travelodge wifi abuse YES) so I went and got it. They were gonna set me up in the front but I didn't want people looking over my shoulder when I was setting up the sites as I didn't know what I was doing.

So, they set me up in the storage cupboard thing that all the bags, coats and catalogues are in! My own office ;) But you see, my cupboard is AWESOME! They've made me wear this vile bright yellow outfit with HERE TO HELP! on the back, and I don't want to help so no one asks me anything while I'm in the cupboard, the cupboard has unrestricted internet access (ABUSE YES!), there is music playing in the exhibition hall so I can listen to that, if I get bored of that I have my own music on my laptop (and I bought my headphones :P) and I'm not at all downloading an episode of House to watch this evening xD xD They would actually kill me if they realised I was hogging the bandwidth like that, but as an entire exhibition hall is wirelessly using the same connection I don't think anyone is gonna notice lol

I have my mobile, which ironically I have received a call from an employment agent on this morning, so I can phone, text, email, go on facebook, LJ, talk on Trillian... it's like being at home, only at home people don't keep offering me tea and coffee!!!

OK, so occasionally someone asks me to set up a website, but this system I'm using is so easy that you can do one in 10 mins and so far today I've only had two to set up lol

So these two days have gone from a nightmare to being two lovely days in a cupboard :D hopefully they won't expect me to come out of the cupboard at any point ;)

*considers making Lexy ♥ cupboard icon*

And I'm being paid for this! And for my petrol and any expenses incured over the two days.

Mauahahahahahaaaaaaaaa xD

It snowed

alexia47 — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:37:50 GMT

We didn't build it, we found it lol Personally I think my hat looks warmer ;D