Vienna waited for me

So, it's been a while since I blogged. It's been so long, I'm not even sure where to start. So much so that I have been putting off blogging for the last few days, which is turning what I need to write about into more and more, making me want to write less and less. It's a vicious cycle I tell you.

Well, last weekend I went to Vienna, which was very nice, except for the weather. It was the first nice weekend in London, with clear blue skies and sunshine and in Vienna it was... raining. Plus the Viennese are very grumpy. But after about an hour, I reached a point where I was like, yes, I am an Imperialistic English-only speaker, yes I am loud, yes I don't know your customs, get over it. It was very refreshing. I also put on a distinct American accent to avoid connection with Australia, to protect our international rep. Basically I sat around in coffee shops, ate alot of cake and schnitzel and occasionally saw some kind of significant sight (Schonbrunn is definitely worth the trip, but take a book and some food because that hill is waaaay to steep to walk up in one go!). While coming home my bra almost caused an international incident because it had too much metal in it and kept setting off the metal detectors, which earned me several minutes of a middle aged Viennese woman poking at my breasts in front of the 100 other people waiting for the flight. Great. But survived it and came home in one piece! Now I am stressing about exams, getting ready for the moot, worrying about what to do after exams and the like. Gosh. I can't wait for them to be over! But then I can because I am nowhere near ready yet! Gah!

Anyway, thats all I can think of right now..... Until I can recall more!

Spring in my step but not in my heart

There is no spring in my heart because my entire chest cavity is filled with risotto. There was a point at which I could have stopped eating it and frozen some, but I ate right past that point and on into oblivion. Gaah. SO there is no space for spring in there. But it is on it's way, judging by the bright light coming in the window right now.

Well this is my COMPLETELY ADORABLE niece, Skye Lily. See, I told you, she is already cooler than the other babies just by having my in her gene pool. Lucky thing! Can't wait to see her :)

So! What's new? Not work, not uni, not mooting, not nothing. I really am going to have to start doing some crazy stuff to keep people reading my blog. Went to the Brick Lane markets on Sunday, which I definitely recommend. Lots of food, but I didn't find a bike which was what I was there for. Better luck next time.... Or maybe I need to stop expecting to find a good bike for fifty quid or less? Thoughts?

In other news, I am up to my eyeballs in exam study, so if someone wants to take one for me you certainly may. International human rights law anyone? It's up for grabs! There is a rumour going around work that I am getting married this weekend (because I am in VIenna). I know I should dispel this rumour, but actually I am thinking about going with it a bit, inviting everyone via email and attaching my gift registry. Everyone who can't make it will have to buy me a present. And viola! New shoes. But this would be wrong, evil, bad, etc. Hmmmm....

Congrats to my brother and sister-in-law

Yes, it's finally true I am an auntie. Her name is Skye Lily and I have to say since becoming an aunt five days ago, the heavy weight of responsibility is bearing down upon me. Who but me will give her make up years before she's ready? Who but me will let her watch an MA 15+ film at my house when she's 10? Who but me will give her tim tams for breakfast? Who but me will send her high heels from New York? Yes, it's a solemn duty I undertake, but I promise to do it all to my utmost, to infuriate her parents, and to ensure, from this moment on, that she has at least one bad influence in her life.

That's the big news at the moment, unless any of my readers have been following Charlie Sheen, the dispute between Russia and Georgia in the ICJ or the royal wedding. I'm guessing few of you have been because, well, you all have lives.

But happy april everybody, I'm one month closer to having to find a job, get a life and a new flat, and decide if I'm going home or staying here. Hmmm. Time does insist on bringing the difficult decisions, doesn't it?

1920's, classes, speed dating, marathons, time travel: oh what a two weeks it's been

Yes, it has been two full weeks since last I blogged, and I'm very sorry but I have been somewhat preoccupied. Oh all, right I've been lazy, this whole month it's been like a life sucking leech in my heart, urging me to stay on the sofa and do nothing, NOTHING! Well, here are the highlights in no particular order:

Went to a 1920's party (I do love these themed parties). It was an underground speak easy, so very fun. Absinthe, of course, was free flowing, and the dresses were crazy and spectacular. Judith, Slawa and I ripped through the night, stealing hats, dignity and the dance floor. Much fun :)

Classes have officially ended. I have the month of April off to study, study, study ahead of exams in May. Can't wait for exams to be done, of course, but I really am not ready for them. Very odd to have classes finished, as I may never attend another class again. Strange. Had an end of year party (with muffins!) and I saw my "personal tutor" for the second time since starting uni, and the first time this year. He gave me that "I know you from somewhere, don't I?" look and I smiled. Yes, you do.

Work is lame. They have started doing speed dating there on Saturday nights, run by a special company called "Asian D8" (because Anglo-Saxons are not marriage material). And they all want to buy cocktails. And it adds and extra hour and a half of work onto my night. Tsk. Tsk.

I have signed up to do a half marathon in September to force myself to get fit. 13 miles? NO problemo.

Had a special event at church on Saturday. Lots of young people sitting around, talking about God, which I have to say is pretty epic. I had to leave early for work though. It was an odd night. My friend Judith has been staying with me, because she had some friends from Germany staying with her ("the German posse") and she no longer fitted in her room. So Saturday night, we finish work around one, hit McDonalds for dinner, sit on the street eating McDonals, with people trying to sell us some drugs. Epic win. Then we head on down to meet the German posse, who are grooving at some all night party. Then se head on over to get us some bagels then GO HOME. All sounds like very nice, quiet, not very late night right? Well it would have been. But daylight savings reared it's ugly head, meaning I lost an hour of sleep. And I had no idea it was coming, until one of my customers told me. Why are these things not advertised???

Sunday night, Arabic food. Odd. But nice. And today? Chilling. My sister in law is in labour, so next time you speak to me, I will be Auntie Kat. Scary.

1920

What is that bright light? oh. The sun.

Yes, it's a sunny day in London, but I am stuck sitting inside at university. Tomorrow is my day off and I bet you it will rain. Curses!

In other news, my weekend was extremely tedious. All I did was work, work and work. I also did some sleeping which was nice. Also made the discovery that my flat mate is still alive (I hadn't seen her in many many days) which was good news. Nice to know that she is doing well. Also raised the important question: how long do I need to go not seeing her before I contact the police? Unknown.

In other news, I have spent the last three hours applying for jobs I won't get, waiting for my moot meeting. Yeeesss, mooting is back on, back to thinking. I am extremely unhappy about the prospect of this I must say. I would like to go back to watching Scrubs and chilling for a while longer. Oh well, soon uni will be over, and I will probably be a very well qualified unemployed person, so plenty of time to enjoy JD and Turk then.

I'm tired and my feet hurt but the show keeps rolling

Worst. Night. Ever. Well maybe not ever, and I suppose that saying something like that given that there was a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan last night, it seems a little trite to refer to MY night as the worst night ever. Oh damn, now I've given myself some perspective, and I'm not sure I can continue complaining about my night, given that I am alive, my family is safe and my life has not been shattered.

Well, last night I was at work, and I was supposed to be finishing at 10, when my arch nemesis came up to me and asked me to close for him, and he had things to do and lives far away etc etc. My instinct was to tell him to SHOVE IT, but I needed hours so I agreed. I would not have agreed if I knew he was going to sit around the bar for two hours after his shift finished having a laugh with his mate. Plans? Really? Bastard. Then it was just so busy, and drinks were taking so long so everyone was annoyed and no one would tip me and then some JACKASS who clearly doesn't understand the phrase "excuse me" stepped into me while I was carrying a tray of drinks, spilling them all over me, meaning I had to clean it up, make new drinks and take them over to my table who had been waiting about 20 minutes, who then complained to my manager, while I'm standing there covered in coke and beer because I took all my spare shirts home. Ok, that was a very long sentence, but I feel better now. Then I missed my last bus by ten minutes, and had to walk 30 minutes home. BAAAAAH!.

In other news, mooting is recommencing on Monday, and I have done ZERO work, so I need to have a serious cram session tomorrow night (working today and having lunch with some of the church girls). So it will be a quiet and boring weekend for me. Bliss.

Here are some funny things I have heard tube drivers saying over the last few weeks which will make you smile I think:

1) We had been waiting at the station for about 5 minutes, and were finally ready to go. "Ok, here we go, doors are closing. No, it's ok, you jump on there fella, there's space. Now we're going!"

2) "Ok, this train is now ready to depart. Mind the closing doors. Have a nice day everyone. Byyyyyyyeeeeee!!!"

3) "Ok everyone, if you jump into a closing door, it will close on you, then reopen, meaning you are in pain and we all have to wait for a bit longer. There's another train in 3 minutes. You can wait. Stop damaging the train."

:)