Where's the time going?!!!
It's Thursday already!! Eek!!! It hardly feels as if I've just arrived and already we're more than halfway through the week! Even though you really dont do that much whilst you're here (or at least, I don't really ever seem to!) time just slips away and seems to accelerate as you near the end of your visit...

So, having a really lovely time so far. Rachel's all loved up with new bloke Jim, Loopy and Sniper are very excited about Peanut (only 5 and a half months to go!) and its actually been really nice to get to know Sniper a bit better too this trip. Its so great to see them together, taking the piss out of one another and just making each other laugh all the time, although we had a bit of a scare yesterday when Loopy got a call from the school to say that Thomsk had been taken to A and E. Clumsy bugger had fallen off the swing at school and first we'd thought he'd cracked his skull open but fortunately, when Loopy got to the hospital, he was fine but was just winded and had landed with a thump on his back. The X-Rays were all OK, so no harm done but dyspraxia strikes again, I think!!!

Yesterday, we checked out the local market (lots of fresh nuts, fruit, local cheeses and SPECTACULARLY bad fashion) and - after the Thomas drama was safely resolved - Rach, Jim and I went up to Bellapais Abbey to have a wander round and grab a late tapas lunch. Its really beautiful up there, with stunning views over the island and out into the sea. The Abbey itself is also really impressive, very well preserved and complete with the world's own cutest ever stray puppy who kept following us around - so sweet!!

Back from the Abbey around 6pm - enough time to shower, change and head down to China Garden with everyone (including Thomas who was fully recovered!) to listen to Brian sing. Was a fun night - poor Rach and Jim were fading fast, though, so left at half time with Loopy and Thomsk, so Mum and I stayed til the end. Was great to sit and chat and listen (even though I was getting eaten alive by mossies!) - finally got home around 11.30pm.

So today, a nice quiet one, I think. Am just pootling around the villa this morning, tidying up a bit before going for a bit of tanning by the pool. Taking Mum and Loops for lunch later - maybe sushi?

Only in Northern Cyprus..... watch out for giant killer toads!!
So Mum, Loopy and I were out doing a spot of shopping this morning in Lemar, after a very nice coffee and lunch in Dukkan. As well as refamiliarizing myself with all the new variants of Cadburys that seem to have sprouted up whilst I wasnt looking, Louise and I were also amusing ourselves greatly with looking at all the crap English labelling on the kids toys. You would think that in the whole of the island, they could afford to employ just ONE person who spoke fluent English! Or maybe they do, and that person has a whale of a time coming up with such classics as
"A Pleasant Welcome Gift for Children" and "Best Manufactured Contents For Stimulation".

However, the one that really did have us both in danger of wetting ourselves, was the deluxe Police and Traffic cop set - there, in the midst of the fierce looking plastic policeman, cop cars and traffic lights, proudly sat 2 barriers that defiantly proclaimed "TOAD BLOCK"!!! Absolutely bloody priceless. Cue plenty of mental images of Turkish Cyp policeman nervously manning road barricades, gripping the barrels of their automatic rifles whilst they strain to hear for the sound of giant killer toads approaching....

If, however, you hear on the news that I have, indeed, been devoured by a hungry amphibian, Ill guess it wasnt an entertaining typo after all and the Northern Cyps will have got the last laugh!!!

Very happy bunny

Yey!! So, after the whole year planning, my Fibro Forum has finally come to a close and its been an absolutely stunning success! Am really, really pleased - especially since my boss was there! Am absolutely knackered cos its been 3 days of full-on stuff, but i'm extremely happy and so now can really enjoy my holiday with the folks and some serious chilling out!! Yey!! Cyprus, here I come!!!

WHY, oh WHY????
Does housekeeping ALWAYS knock when you're sitting on the loo???? Literally, within seconds of my arse hitting the seat, invariably there's a tap-tap-tap at the door and the cleaner instantly appears, as I'm still shouting a panicked "hold on, just a minute!!". I'm beginning to think I'm the unsuspecting victim of some international private joke amongst housekeeping staff....

Greetings from Athens!

Its a tough life sometimes. Am now in Athens for my big meeting that I've been working on all year (eek - fingers crossed all goes well!) and about to head into a 6 hour slide review meeting. Thats the bad news (or a necessary evil!). The good news is that the hotel is lovely (thank goodness - a little bit Eighties but charmingly so!), with a stunning view of the Acropolis and *drum roll, please* I have a suite!! Whooo-hooo! Usually doesn't happen (despite me being the one signing the cheque!!) but this time, Eileen came through for me so I have an big suite with separate living room, dining room and an enormous outside terrace facing the Acropolis. Just the job for sitting outside, with a gin and tonic and watching the sun set over Athens. Which basically is what Rachel is doing right now, whilst I'm stuck in slide review - relaxing in the sunshine by the rooftop pool with a dacquiri!

Life ain't so bad!

So I guess one consequence of my appalling weekend at Club Getaway last weekend is that its really led to a renewed appreciation of New York City life and its people.  OK - the men here might universally be completely crap (for one reason or another) but at least most of them are reasonably intelligent and crap, rather than the knuckle-dragging neanderthals and meatheads I met last weekend!  So, I'm smiling easier over the last few days and really relishing where I am, what I'm doing and the freedom I have to be who and what I choose and do whatever I like.  I'm so fortunate in my life and very grateful for what I have - and I'm re-energized to absolutely make the most out of living in Manhattan, whilst I'm here.  Rachel and I went out to a comedy club tonight which was great fun (one of the comedians gave me his number after the show!), and tomorrow night Niz and I are off out to Bargemusic for a bit of culchah!  A little light Mozart whilst bobbing around on a barge in Brooklyn - game on!!!  Beats Beer-Pong at CG anyday of the week!!!

Only 2 hrs to go..
..before I can get out of here and go back home! So, obviously discovered that summer camp just isnt my thing - I think it would have been different if I'dve come with someone. I also cracked and had some wine last night at dinner (this place is driving me to drink!), so have a sore head to add to the general misery! Ah well, at least I gave it a try!!

(Pole) Dancing Queen

Interesting. So it turns out that I am a million times better on the pole than on the trapeze!! So after lunch, was time to trek over to the trapeze nets where we all got harnessed up and given a quick tutorial on what to do (hands wide, hips forward then a little hop jump off the platform). I was actually quite nervous and the really really wobbly ladder on the way up to the (very) high platform didnt help matters! (at this stage, i was totally regretting the second helping at lunch!). One of the teachers gave a demo of what we were supposed to do - easy! Looked dead straightforward - no problem! Wow. Nope. Discovered after I launched myself off the platform and discovered i'd instantly transformed into a dead weight, that i am NOT a natural trapeze artiste!! BUT i did it! Just the once and have no real desire to do it again, but one more to tick off the list! I just couldnt get my legs up and hooked over the bar, so just ended up swinging in the air! Made a half-hearted attempt at a backflip but then just let go to bounce into the safety net below. Actually getting off the bloody thing was hard work too! So decided to quit whilst I was ahead (probably a good call too - one woman earlier in the morning pulled her shoulder really badly and ended up in hospital) and head off early to pole-dancing class.

Oh my God - what a riot!! It was absolutely hilarious and great fun! The woman teaching it was completely awesome and, for the first 40ins, was teaching us all these sexy moves, without the pole. It was really quite bizarre, to be a room with 24 other women, all complete strangers, and being encouraged to dance sexy, toss your hair and basically do whatever felt good! But after a few minutes of feeling self-conscious, you got into it and just enjoyed the feeling of your body moving to the music and doing what felt good. We didnt get long on the pole - just one twizzle each, but it was so much fun, I think i may have found myself a new hobby when I get back to Manhattan! A bloody good workout too - after all the day's activities, I'm completely exhausted! Is half 4 now, so I think i'm going to wander down to the water's edge and chill out for a bit - there's a open grill at 5.30pm which, apparently, is a better option than dinner!

Day 2 in the Big Brother House...
Had a slightly less frenetic day today - the weather was absolutely beautiful, so I tried to focus on just enjoying being out in the sunshine and the surroundings, rather than the reminiscent feeling of being back at school this place is invoking. I think I've figured out that - the bigger the group, the more introverted I become. Unless I'm with friends, of course, but this place just makes me want to find a quiet corner on my own rather than to try and insert myself into already formed cliques and gangs! I think most bonds were forged through beer on the first night, so I kinda missed the boat but thats actually fine by me. I came for the outdoors, the biking and to try the trapeze - all of which I've done, so well done me!!

This morning after breakfast, I went for a walk into town (taking some great pics along the way) then back to camp to sit by the lake and read the paper. I also made a tie-dyed t-shirt!! And it turned out surprisingly well!! (so, I'm a natural at pole dancing and making tie-dye t-shirts but suck at the trapeze - its amazing what you continue to find out about yourself!!) Its interesting watching people here - especially the packs of single women who rove the place looking for fresh male meat to pounce on! Am glad i'm not one of them!! Was a bit of a lazy sod, so instead of the intermediate bike ride (12miles), instead I did the bike and hike in the afternoon - a mere 6 miles with the quickest (and shortest!) hike ever! It was OK - was nice to be outside and moving and to feel as if I'm starting my biking training! First purchase when I get back to Manhattan though is a pair of padded shorts!!

So, its now 4.20pm and I think i'll probably go and chill out by the lake again and read the rest of the paper. And wait til its time to get on the bus back home to NYC tomorrow.

I've got to admit its getting better...
A little better, all the time. OK - so after an inauspicious start, things have improved at Club Getaway - coped with all the craziness last night by hiding out in Moose Lodge and watching the Daily Show and Colbert Report before heading off to bed at midnight. Got up relatively early this morning at 7.30am (one of my roommates spent AGES in the frigging bathroom ironing her hair for 20mins!) for breakfast coffee and the early morning hike at 8am. Was bloody slippy cos was over roots and rocks, up the hill, but the view from the lookout at the top was worth the climb as it gave a great view across the whole camp. Scampered back down, had breakfast (which was great - nice clean oatmeal with fresh fruit) then off for a 6mile road bike ride at 10am. Figured I'd better start somewhere! All was going well until PFIZZTT!! after only 20mins and i got a flat! Had to stand round waiting for about 20mins til they brought a new bike for me, but eventually got underway again and was a fun ride (not too many hills!). Got back to camp around 11.30am, so grabbed a coffee and then went and did Randy's Ab lab class. OUCH! He's this 6'3' black adonis of a guy with the most chiselled and defined abs I've ever seen and he was great fun! Then time for lunch (again, great healthy options) and a spot of blogging before my next set of activities - trapeze at 2pm followed by pole dancing for ladies at 3pm! Bring it on!!

I want to getaway....
from Club Getaway!!! Oh dear. Today is the proof that not all spur-of-the-moment decisions are good decisions!! So am here in the TV room of Club Getaway and wondering if I'm going to be able to cope with all the idiots all weekend. Basically didnt realise that I'd signed myself up to a 3 day frat party!! Not sure if I was being a little naive, but i was really focusing on all the great outdoorsy-type activities and really hadnt given too much thought to the fact that I'd be surrounded by 500 or so people drinking themselves into a stupor. Its only the first night and maybe I should give it a bit longer but if I could jump into a car and drive home tonight, I would. Perhaps things will improve tomorrow once i've met some more people perhaps to hang out with but, unless you're completely hammered tonight, i feel like i've turned up at a party i've not been invited to! Ah well...

I've seen Dan Smith!!
He exists!! Yes, THAT Dan Smith! Of the "I will teach you how to play guitar" flyer fame - he was putting up a flyer in my local hardware store!! This posting will only really mean something if you live in New York where Dan Smith will not only teach you guitar, he can also teach you a considerable amount about how to put up flyers!!!

Back in the Big Apple!

I love to travel.  But I also love the feeling of coming home too.  So had a safe and uneventful journey back from Madrid today and have come back to an absolutely glorious sunny afternoon in Manhattan.  The perfect welcome home.  The boys were very glad to see me and haven't stopped following me around the apartment yet! They do seem to have shed about 3 times their collective bodyweight in fur since I've been away, though, so I'm off out to do some food shopping and stock up on sticky rollers!  

Am actually really excited to be back as the rest of this year has some very cool things lined up for me.  This weekend there's my crazy summer camp.  Then my meeting in Athens and seeing my folks in Cyprus in 3 weeks time followed by my cycling adventure in Asia in November.  Also really looking forward to starting training with Lacey next week at this fancy pants new place plus also my crazy notion of starting a band! I'm really looking forward to getting into serious training for my cycling holiday and taking my fitness to another level.  As Lacey would say, BRING IT ON!!!!  Then, to cap it off, Mum should hopefully be coming over to spend Christmas with me here!  A perfect way to end 2008!

OK - back to the present - there's shopping, cleaning and laundry to be done!!!

The Night of the Shirt-Munching Arse Lady

Just got in from a great last evening out in Madrid with Conor and Nicole - amazingly have managed to resist the lure of the rooftop bar tonight and so am writing this at the very early hour of half 11, when most Madrilenos are still just going out to eat!! So we met at 8pm and decided to retrace our steps back to the area we went to on Friday night. After a false start (caused by a complete collective failure to read the map correctly!), we headed off in the right direction and had a very pleasant stroll through town, enjoying such sights as the Museum de Jamon (brilliantly marketed Ham shop) plus the magnificent Plaza Major,very reminiscent of St Mark's Square in Venice.

After managing to find the right road (and confirming the waitress from Friday night wasnt fibbing as Casa Lucio was indeed closed!), we were all being a bit crap at deciding where to go for dinner so, in the end, the matter was settled in the time-old fashion of tossing a coin! Ended up in this place just across the road from Taberna de los Lucio, of fried eggs and chips fame from before. There we encountered a quite arsey waitress who was nonchalantly non-helpful (any requests were mildly considered and then simply declined with a "no"). We also encountered yet more of the strange fashion of the moment of women in men's shirts - this time, an utter classic in which the woman's arse appearing to be trying to eat said shirt. It was really quite a sight to behold. Had a great dinner with lots of entertaining banter with quote of the night coming from me in describing the big fat grapes that had come with the cheese as "grapey globs of goodness". Still dont quite understand why Nicole and Conor found it so funny! After dinner, wandered back via the Plaza Major again, stopping to buy a tub of ice-cream on the way. So, now have to start my packing ready to leave the hotel bright and early tomorrow - fingers crossed for a safe and uneventful flight!!