ThatP

Help, I need a GoodDoctor

2006-08-31T21:26:00.000Z

How mad is this? I just moved and need to register with a doctor, and NONE of my neighbours are proving to be any use at giving me a recommendation (telling me about the child-care doesn’t really have any relevance to my life!).

Last year I bought a new webcam for my mum’s birthday. She’s wasn’t going to get a 3G phone anytime soon, and an odd quick webcam MSN chat really made her day (am I a good son or what!). So I spent a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon looking a various reviews. I read some PCPro reviews, I think I read a ZDnet review… Then of course there are the lists of user reviews on Amazon and the likes. Marvellous: once I was suitable informed, I was able to make a good decision – and get the perfect present.

Now back to choose a new doctor. Do you know how I chose my current doctor? I found a list of doctors and chose the nearest one. The thing is, in my catchment area, there are two GP surgeries that are really close by. How am I to know which is better? Come to that, each surgery has different doctors; how can I know which to go to?

Isn’t it mad, that I can make a better-informed decision about a stupid webcam, than I can about my doctor. I mean, come on, which is more important, a webcam gadget, or my health? Yet, the information is all about the trivial one!

And this my friends, is where www.gooddoctor.co.uk will make a difference. It’s just been launched, and is trying to convince every web surfer to write a review of their doctors/surgeons/chiropractor etc…. Once the reviews are in – people like you and me will finally be able to make informed decisions about the most important things in our lives….. and about bloody time too! I just hope enough reviews get written before I need anything important done to me!

This seems like such a good idea – especially since the government backed down over a similar scheme recently! No excuses – go there now (it needs you to work)!

Surely everyone’s been to a doctor or dentist in the past year or so?

Link: www.gooddoctor.co.uk

Read this and totally agreed

2006-05-08T11:41:00.000Z

Humans have a terrible tendency for “confirmation bias”; seeking out views that agree with their own.

Moved

2006-03-26T21:25:00.000Z

Gosh - moving is a killer.... All moved into to maman's place now.. It's funny, when I've got "my" computer up and running, I feel at home - especially is I've got my usual bathroom stuff... It's funny, a mobile full of my numbers and a computer seem to be more essential than anything else to feel at home these days...

Ahhhhh. Can't wait to move into our new place, but having a few weeks here with maman will be nice... I love spending time with her - and her boyfriend is great fun too... Happy days.

Straight? Unhappy? www.gay.com

2006-03-24T18:15:00.000Z

If the source of the object of ridicule wasn't so disgusting and misguided, this would be even funnier - as it is, it's very clever. Well done Justin Watt!

WhatTheHellAmITalkingAbout? An ex-gay movement ran a billboard campaign in the US which said "Gay? Unhappy? exodus.com".... and the very brilliant Justin Whatt from www.justinsomnia.org created a digital parody which said the reverse! He even used their original graphics because Parody is protected under the US under Free Speech...

Then, in a bizarre twist, Exodus International issued a cease and desist letter to him demanding he take down the image from his website.... So not only does this bigoted organisation attack gay people, it now also wants to stifle free-speech. Luckily www.justinsomnia.org seems well connected and got a whole legal team to defend him free of charge!

I can't tell you how pleased I am by his actions. Some years back when I was working for Eurogay we ran a series of articles on religion and faith - and I have to say that what we learnt of some ex-gay organisations made me very upset indeed. For a start (at the time - I haven't checked into this since the article in 2000) the biggest group is Exodus International, and it claims that 30% to 50% of those who follow their programs are successful. This means that means that 50% to 70% fail to convert. How can you call this success when after all this huge effort, despite really hating the fact that they are gay, 70% of the people who try to convert fail. It's none sense! That's not success... The Human Rights Campaign described it best when it published its research which shows that, ""ex-gay" ministries and "reparative" therapy programs can cause grave psychological damage to those attempting to change their sexual orientation". That's the result of these programs - that's what these freaks do to people.

Another reason to believe that the ex-gay therapies are dangerous is that a British Ex-Gay movement, has recently abandoned its conversion programs - saying they do not work. When I spoke to Jeremy Marks, the founder of the Courage Trust, he said the programs had been a mistake. If even a member organisation of Exodus International thinks it's all one big mistake - it's time to do something!

What makes is so sad is that it can leave already vulnerable people feeling awful. I interviewed someone who had tried the programme and it made he so miserable. And of course, there's no need for all this self-hatred and repression when so many people have reconciled their faiths with their religions - groups like www.lgcm.org.uk do excellent work.... So well done Justin Whatt for your excellent parody!

http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?date=2006/03/22/4

http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/speech/24714prs20060322.html

Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

2006-03-24T17:00:00.000Z

Sometimes you don't know the source of stress until it's gone.

A massive source of stress has just gone. Turns out I wasn't really stressed about the oven. Perhaps a little - but no, turns out the real source of stress was about the sale of my flat. I accepted the offer from the buyer back in January, and we still hadn't exchanged contracts - yet the buyer wanted to complete and move in by next Wednesday..

Well, I've exchange now. And what a difference!!! I feel great. I can't believed I was so stressed about it, that I didn't realise that's why I was stressed. Phewwww :-)

that's better

2006-03-24T16:03:00.000Z

Gosh, I don't half get worked up about nothing.... feeling much better now (especially as have fixed spreadsheet!)

P x

Super Stress

2006-03-24T14:31:00.000Z

It's hard to decide not to be stressed - but that's what I'm trying to do right now..... I just had lunch with Praveen and spoken super-briefly with Mr J on the phone.... and they both remind me of how to relax.... They're great influences..

The cause of the stress? well I'm feeling a huge amount of background stress in anticipation of tomorrow's move... It's hard to decide what to take and what to put in storage. Clothes, definitely take clothes, and the computers? Is two enough, or should I take a third. no, take two and the other two can go in storage. How about paper work? How much do I need? Oh, mustn't forget to measure the furniture so we can make decisions in the new place without having to get stuff taken out of storage... So much to do, so much..... Then I've got to "make good" holes in the walls behind mirrors etc... That takes ages. Must buy the "filler" to do so...

And then there's the immediate cause of the stress...I had doubts at the beginning of the week about the oven. I became convinced we should get one with a "pyro clean" function. And so I started looking around, and couldn't decide. Mr J helped. The Agenda Bitch who knows a thing or two about kitchens, helped... Today was the cut off date to order (as the kitchen has started to be made, and needs to be the right size for the oven etc)... and suddenly, in the end, I ordered a different oven because it's got the Pyro clean and a rotisserie.. Sounds fabulous, and good value. Probably a great buy. I believe, and this is the weird part, I believe this is going to be a great oven. But all I can think about, is that we've not seen it "in the flesh" and I've not had time to apply the usual ResearchP treatment. I can't be sure this is the best oven for its price. And now it's ordered. And I cook a lot - what if this turns out to be a crap oven? It'll be all my fault.

Why didn't researchP act earlier? I know why. Because I chose not to. We'd found something we liked, and I thought it'd be good to go with the flow and not be a ResearchP for once. I'd seen the first oven had got an award, and that was enough.

So instead, I've changed my mind at the last minute, not done the full research and have no idea if what we've ordered will be good - all I know is that it has the functions and features we wanted. But how about the others?

I'm a mess. I know this is insane. "It'll be fine", is what Mr J will say. Praveen told me it'll be fine. Even if I did make a huge mistake - it'll still be fine. But instead if feels as if my brain has crashed and is going round in a loop of "what if it's wrong. I didn't research it properly, what if it's wrong, what if it's ugly. I didn't research it properly. what if it's a bad choice.I didn't research it properly" this loop-thought is driving me mad.

It'll be fine. Maybe that's the answer. I just need to answer the question: "what if it's wrong?"

"If it's wrong, it'll be no big deal. no one will care. I'll handle it.". There simple.

OK, I admit it, I'm stressed. Moving is no fun. no fun at all. Oh, and despite being called the "Excel guru" at work, I can't get this blasted spreadsheet to import data correctly. Something's changed, and I can't see what. Aghhh.

Today..

2006-03-23T13:08:00.000Z

... it's sunny. Today must be a special day

Foxtons

2006-03-22T17:09:00.000Z

Did you see that BBC report on estate agents last night? Blimey - I'm selling through Foxtons.... They're evil!

Mother's Day

2006-03-21T16:04:00.000Z

Being a global citizen and all, I found this to be amazingly interesting.... It would appear that the 14th May is the most common date for Mother's Day around the world - but it goes to show how much variety there is! International Mother's Day 2006 Around the World
12th February 2006	Norway
8th March 2006	Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia
21st March 2006	Egypt, Kuwait, UAE
26th March 2006	Gibraltar, Rep. of Ireland, UK
7th May 2006	Angola, Azores, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Hungary, Madeira, Portugal, Spain
8th May 2006	Korea
10th May 2006	Mexico
14th May 2006	Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Curacao, Cyprus and Northern Cyprus, Czech. Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mariana Islands, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norfolk Islands, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Sardinia, Sicily, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, St Croix, St John, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin, St Thomas, St Vincent, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad, Turkey, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
26th May 2006	Poland
27th May 2006	Bolivia
28th May 2006	Corsica, French Guiana, French Polynesia, France, Gabon, Guadeloupe, Lebanon, Martinique, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, St Pierre / Miquelon, Senegal, Sweden
11th June 2006	Luxembourg
12th August 2006	Thailand
15th October 2006	Argentina, Paraguay
26th November 2006	Russia
8th December 2006	Panama
16th December 2006	Iran

Although that is the clearest, it turns out of course, that it's DAY not DATE driven, so it really should be:

Argentina – Second Sunday in October
France – Last Sunday in May
Lebanon – First day of Spring
Norway – Second Sunday in February
South Africa – First Sunday in May
Sweden – Last Sunday in May
Yugoslavia, specifically the Serbians – Two weeks before Christmas

All smiles

2006-03-21T12:13:00.000Z

Ha - it turns out Mr J was also thinking about the sofas during the day. I'd sent him an email saying I'd found out the new buyer of the flat didn't want to buy them - and he also was thinking that selling them to get new ones was extravagant... Given the current job insecurity, it all makes sense to keep them - and they are gorgeous sofas....

Actually we had a great chat - he seems more open than ever, which is probably the single most important quality in a partner (well, from my perspective obviously).

I have to say I feel amazing. I love him so much. And somehow, I am surprised at how relieved I am about the sofas. I kinda always thought the new buyer wouldn't want them - I'd offered them before and she was non-reactive, saying simply "well, send more details and we'll see". She'd seen the sofas when she saw the flat, and if she'd loved them, she'd have known already. Given they're not cheap etc, her subdued reaction made me think she probably wouldn't want them. I tried, that was enough. But somehow, keeping them makes me so relived. They were expensive, and parting with them made me down - plus it was yet another chore... They'd been included in the quote from the movers, there were so many factors - it's just much easier (and cheaper) this way!)

We also ordered the Tatami for the new bedroom today. I'm so please Mr J likes Tatami as much as I do. The new place is going to be kick arse amazing. I can't wait.

I've also made peace with the fact that we're moving this weekend - despite not having exchanged contracts for the sale. If it happens great, if not, well we'll have moved out and we'll need a new buyer - getting stressed about not knowing was worse than just being calm and moving out whatever happens. Let the water flow, and go with it. Much better than trying to plan to divert the river without knowing if it's going to rain or not. Go with the flow - ah, nice and calm again.

Actually Mr J is largely responsible for this sense of calm. He really is so calming. I love that laid back attitude he has. He calls it lazy, and in a way I know what he means - but that's the natural side of being calm... I get stressed easily and I am super organised and achieve a lot... Sometimes things come in pairs. That's not to say I can't relax and enjoy a beach - and ditto for Mr J. When he wants to, he achieves a lot too.... I suppose in some ways, we're both on either side of being perfectly balanced. Neither of us is extreme, and together we make a great couple.

You know, I still can't quiet believe this has happened to me. And I don't mean that in a smug way - I am genuinely in disbelief that this is part of my life. Lucky me.

Sofa bitch

2006-03-20T19:29:00.000Z

Well, I can't call her a bitch really - but hey, it makes me feel better for like, 1 second. I bought two ridiculously expensive sofas in October, and decided to move 2 weeks later. Financially, they were the worst decision I've ever made. They cost a small fortune. And they're gorgeous sofas. Super elegant shape, each has only one arm, which is perfect for the room they're currently in... they're in pretty blue. Great. Except of course that I'm moving and that the one arm they have is in the wrong place for the room they're going into. And the new buyer of the flat doesn't want them :-(

--- 30 minutes later ---

As I was blogging above I realised how stupid it is to try to sell them. They cost a fortune, are almost brand new, and selling them will see a spectacular destruction of value. Plus there the cost of buying new ones! The truth is that despite them not being the most comfortable sofas, they're OK in comfort department, and look amazing. I've been telling Mr J that I needed a bit more blue in the flat, and they could be it! Having said that, he's the one who dislikes them the most. He's got his heart set on a white leather combo - and I desperately want to have balance in decision making.... I wonder how hostile he would be to keeping them? I've layed them out in a new configuration here and think I've found a way to make them work in the new place..... not ideal - definately not... but they work, they look cool, and they save us having to shell out a fortune on new sofas.... which (given my doubts about continued employment), is really quite comforting.

Am also having similar dilemma about the dining room table. Mr J hates it apparently. Given how much cheaper it was than the sofas, perhaps we could compromise and sell that, and keep the sofas? I think he dislikes it quite strongly....

Hmmm - I don't want to impose my will.... but I do really hopes it sees it the way I do.

The one thing I really don't want, is for him to go along with something, but disagree about it inside... I worry that sometimes he does that, to keep me happy, but that he gives in or doesn't feel he has a choice. I think the therapist would say that I'm projecting my feelings of weakness onto him, rather than worrying about something real... but I don't know. I see her point, but I also wonder if I'm right. I try to reconcile these two feelings by asking him many times what he thinks, to give him ample opportunity to tell me.... and also I keep telling myself, if someone doesn't say something, then it's not my responsibility to try to second guess him - and I get so stressed trying to second guess people, invariably I get things wrong... All very dangerous if you ask me. I'm striving to let people tell me what they're thinking and not second guess them....

Hmm. not sure where this chain of thought is going. I'm confusing myself now.

Pre-move buzz

2006-03-20T09:34:00.000Z

Oh my god, we're moving out this weekend. The movers won't come till a week on Tuesday, but by then we'll be living with my mother. We still don't know when the new flat will be finished, so this interim stay with mum could last a while. It'll be something like 6-8 weeks I suppose - but during the time most of my stuff will be in storage & well be living out of suitcases - which will reduce any mess and negative impact we have on mum's place, and in a way will reduce the stress - "out of sight, out of mind" and all...

But it's weird. In a week's time I'll wake up in St John's Wood, this time next week my flat will be empty and I'll have one last day to pick anything up before it all gets put into inaccessible storage. I can't quite imagine anyone else living there instead of me. Very weird.

But there's still a lot to do - I sent out my first batch of "I will no longer be at this address - please cancel my ....." type letters... I'm quite proud of myself. I had pre-printed the letters, so all I needed to do was fill in the reference numbers, which made the whole task a whole lot faster. But there are so many of them, I've only got half way through (and that was the easy half!)! Last time I moved, it was out of the family home. Mum stayed there a while longer, and I didn't have any of the utility bills in my name - this time it's a whole different story. I'm a company director of two companies and nearly 30 years old... it's amazing how many ties I have already.. and how many people need to be informed!

At times I wonder why anybody bothers to move? (although moving in a a joint place with Mr J is definitely reason enough)

Time for Brunch

2006-03-19T12:30:00.000Z

I love American style brunch. French Toast, Waffles, Sausages, newspapers..... Finally I've found the perfect place, and it's got funky high ceilings with industrial type decor too.

I LOVE www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk

and best of all - Natalie and Mr J will be there too... fabulous.

(PS - having loads of sex at the moment - I'm lovin' it )

Unmotivated

2006-03-17T15:47:00.000Z

I'm so tired...We had a lot of conflict at work last month - so much so, that I thought the whole firm would fall apart. But it didn't.... yet, ever since I've lost a lot of my motivation. I wonder if this is my calling in life, or if it's time to move on! This week I've been particularly unmotivated. Both at work and with my personal projects... Hmmmmmm :-(

A good old chat

2006-03-17T13:22:00.000Z

I have to say Mr J and I had a really good chat last night. He came home from work with two bunches of Tulips (which I adore) and gave me a lovely little hug.I was in bed at the time (because I'd been up half the night and was exhausted).... and then after going to a charity fund-raising dinner at the House of Lords (3rd Black Tie event in 10 days) we had a great chat in bed before we feel asleep.

I'd been feeling the something was wrong with Mr J for the past few days, and I was concerned that he hadn't told me about it.. I worry quite easily, and he's so very precious... that a tiny part of me (and I stress tiny part of me) got worried.

Yesterday we talked about it, and I asked about anything slight thing that was on my mind. And he was great. Nothing specific is wrong with him, but he talked about various types of stress at work - I realised we haven't spoken so much in detail about his job recently, and hearing what he's been up to, and how busy he's been reassured me. There's nothing I've done wrong, and nothing I've omitted to do.... and he loves me and hopes we'll grow old together....

It's funny, when you're with the love of your life - how insecure you can feel if you think, even for just a second, of what life would be like without that person.... I suppose in a way I feel vulnerable, because emotionally I'm dependant on him. His happiness literally makes me happy. and he's not been as optimistic as usual, and it's affected my mood.... I hope things bounce back.

So very precious

2006-03-16T13:27:00.000Z

Oh I had ever such a feeling last night. I'm hopelessly in love with Mr J. Hopelessly in love. I can't imagine living without him. I think about him constantly. They say men think about sex ever XXX number of seconds - and I think of him even more often than that.

He's been a bit quiet the past few days, and on Sunday he seemed a little distant. I asked a couple of times what was wrong, and nothing was. Perhaps he was just tired, although if he's stressed or making up his mind he also gets quiet like that.... But somewhere at the back of my mind I wanted to be there for Mr J to share what was wrong... I also realised that I'd been quiet assertive in the past couple of weeks. I thrive on organisation. I tend to plan every aspect of my life, so I can make the most of every day. Filling my days with life.... of course, a plan can always be changed, but I do like plans. mr J, however, likes being spontaneous - and I love that in him. I love the way he is, and I love the calming influence he has on me. On my own, as long as I'm not depressed (which often happens when I'm alone for too long), I do tons of stuff. I suppose I do lots to stop feeling alone and depressed.

With Mr J, I do less, and it's calmer. I like it. He has this amazingly chilled vibe about him. He's so cool. Everyone warms to him immediately - and yet his calmness is matched by fantastic charisma. And he can get excited and show enthusiasm for things - he's such an amazing combination.... I'm so very lucky.

Anyway, we're organising the renovation of the new flat. We've got a team of builders, we've had to choose a kitchen, tiles, agree budgets, organise financing, selling the old kitchen on eBay, find bathroom furniture, design and order Tatami.. the list seems endless. And everything takes ages. And the longer we take, the longer it is till stuff is ordered - and even when it's ordered stuff takes ages to arrive.... it's all very time consuming, and there stress there as well.... And well, my organisational side just kicks into overdrive... And in the last few days especially, well, Sunday was the trigger (although I was aware of it before), for me to realise that Mr J's spontaneous side has been suffocated for a while. And I feel so guilty about it. I feel really really guilty. I love his spontaneous side, and although there is a lot to do - perhaps we can take our time about it.. We'll stay at my mother's place for a month and a half - would it really matter if we were there for two and a half? Probably not.

So I've been feeling guilty, and then last night when Mr J was away on a work trip, I watched Desperate Housewives, which I usually love. Except there was innuendo of infidelity and it made me feel awful. The guilt of suppressing Mr J's spontaneous side, and his distance on Sunday made me think how awful it would be not to have Mr J..... And then Mr J didn't call and I felt awful. I miss him when he's away and the simple glimpse at the imagination of what it would be like without him was enough to make me feel so blue.

It was tough night as well, because there were road works with one of the pneumatic drills outside my flat until 4 am - so my sleep was really bad...

But we've spoken on the phone and I confessed I had a bad vibe - he was so loving, as he always is.... he's caring and gentle and lovely. And he's mine. He's so precious, so very precious..... Lucky me.

Gross

2006-03-13T11:58:00.000Z

They're clearing a blocked drain in the basement and the whole building reeks with the smell of rotten eggs - except of course, the smell isn't coming from eggs. It's totally gross. Interestingly, the guy who sits behind me has no sense of smell - none. Ever. I can't see colour, he can't smell. What a funny pair we make. Although, I'm asthmatic, short-sighted and dyslexic - so I think I beat him in the inept rankings.

Every time someone opens any of the doors the smell just gets stronger. It's very off-putting, I can barely concentrate on my work. I had an egg sandwich for breakfast from Prêt. I'm not sure how I feel about that, given the current smell.

On another note, I see I'm quickly becoming addicted to the blog again. It's amazing how quickly that can happen. KL, I'm blaming you. (Everyone else can thank her LOL). Px

Phew

2006-03-13T08:44:00.000Z

I’ve only been at work for 10 minutes – no, 11 minutes – and I’ve already got out of tonight’s speech. I’ve managed to arrange for my brother and a colleague to do it for me. Fabulous!

Oh bugger

2006-03-13T08:08:00.000Z

Oh the plus side it's a bright sunny Monday morning down here in London... on the downside I realised in the shower I haven't prepared my speach for this afternoon - I've got to write a big one for tomorrow, and kinda forgot about today's.

I guess I'd better make a move and get to work!

P x

Black tie with a panto twist

2006-03-12T11:27:00.000Z

Wow last night was FUN. After a hugely successful day (we managed to decide on tiles for the floors and walls for two bathrooms in about 2 hours - which might sound unspectacular .... But I have to confess that it took us 10 WEEKS to decide on a kitchen.. So 2 hours in comparison is just spectacular! Oh, it it came in on budget and will look KICK-ARSE amazing. Can't wait.... Can not wait!)

Anyway, post tile-shopping-success, it was time to go to Mr J's Panomime 20th Anniversary Black Tie dinner. The dress theme was "black tie with a Panto twist", and obviously I knew it was going to have lots of people who I'd never met, with a few I had..... What I didn't realise, was that it was going to be amazing fun. OH my god was it fun. Got really tipsy (Hey KL, you know what I mean by that, don't ya! Oh we miss KL!!!) and had SO much fun. Of the 120 people, I was one of only 4 guests, so it was a big honour.... Mr J of course looked drop-dead sexy as per usual (it's him in the picture on the right)..

Mr J woke up with a headache, but I scraped through without one! He tried to claim he wasn't too drunk, but then I pointed out that I couldn't remember getting undressed last night, at which point, he realised that he couldn't either - which also explained his headache....

Ah, life it is fun - oh, talking of which: Friday (which was day 1 of new the blog) also saw the start of yet another of my "LIVE FUN" campagnes. Fabulous - I do love having life-fun campagnes. It was all triggered by an online "Life expectancy" website I had visited during the day. The website asked you loads of question: all the standard ones (age, gender, urban/country residence) and then went on to lifestyle questions (smoking: no, stressed at work: yes, get stressed easily: yes, allergies: yes, enjoy waking up: no etc etc).... and then told me - t o m y h o r r or - that it expects me to die when I get to the age of 64. Sixty-fucking-four. That's so young. I don't want to die when I get to 64. By the time I get there, the age of retirement will be 70 - hence it expects me to die before I get to retirement. Well, no thank you. So I looked back at the questions, and thought that there were many things I could do nothing about - but "stress" and "happy" type attitudes which crept up a lot, would be something really easy to fix. So bingo - a new life-fun campaign.

Also, I'm turning 30 this year (i.e. almost half way to death apparently), and you know what? It's time I started living young again. I keep doing this, and I always enjoy it. So I'll get some more funky young clothes (although I have been quite good at this in the past year or so - my wardrobe is definitely sexier since the last time I blogged), buy some more baby-blue contacts (that I love so much), and ensure I keep my hair as short as I like (I've slipped into the habit of only having it cut every 4.5 weeks, when really I love having cut every 3.5 weeks.

Fabulous. Live fun, live young - I will live a long life.. (Although, mind you, I'm too scared to actually re-take the death-test, just in case it doesn't make a difference. So I;'m going to live in stress-free denial instead. LOL)

Right, back to GD.co.uk - the end is almost in sight.

P x

Projects

2006-03-11T13:01:00.000Z

OK so today's task in Plan New Flat is to find new tiles.... Nothing too fancy mind you - I've got plain white here and that looks cool... I think I've convinced Mr J to go along with that for the new place.. Dad recommended a place called Olympic tiles - or something... Trouble is, I can't find it online. Not a good start.

Also doing the GD.co.uk project today - it's difficult to do so many things at once! Still, Mr J & I have a black tie party tonight, so that's something to look forward too (esp. since Mr J does look very sexy in a Tux).

P x

Loved-UpP

2006-03-11T00:51:00.000Z

I suppose one advantage of this whole blogging craze, is that we now have all these cool tools available to make updating easier - I think I'm going to like this!

Well, lots to catch up on, but my biggest news is that I'm in Love. I've met this amazing sexy, cool, chilled, fun South American man - and he's all mine. I'm potty about him. Madly in love. It influences everything I do, and my mood at all times.

I can't quite believe how lucky I am - god knows (and don't hate me for saying it myself) I deserve it. Life has thrown some shockers at me - in the tragic sense... but now here I am, in love, completely with someone who loves me equally.

I think I always wondered if this feeling would happen to me - especially after the rape I used to consider myself to be damaged goods. And now, instead, I feel like a million dollars. Life is truely different.

And boy have things moved on at a pace with Mr J. Wow. We met and pretty much fell in love straight away....Since then, he's taken me to Colombia to meet his parents, we moved into together into his place in King's Cross (where we had the most stunningly delightful KL Kiwigirl as our flat mate) and now, just because we weren't going fast enough, we've bought a cool place together in Shad Thames with river views.

And all this, my dearest readers, in less than 9 months.

Right, it's almost time for bed - but before I go, I just wanted to say a quick hello to thank every one for their emails (althought these days guys, you're supposed to answer in the blog) I'm stunned that so many of you have been checking the site for as long as you have!

LOADS has happened - I'll fill you in...

see ya soon,

P x

Hello stranger

2006-03-10T17:35:00.000Z

So I'm at work, ready to go "home" ("home" is a little loose at the moment. It's more like a storage unit.. We're going to move out at the end of the month) and I stumble across: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/technology/4780774.stm

Huh? Blogging Book competition, I read.. Silly me for not pursuing ThatBook.... Silly me I think. Then I seer Russell Davies. And I think, "hang on a sex".. oops half-intention typo. "hang on a sec", "Russell's got a blog". And I feel a little (tiny little) bit miffed. "what, Russell's had a blog, turned it into a book, and didn't tell me". "humpf" I think. Then I look at it, and think "gosh, and he's not even bothered to put a picture of himself in it". Feeling even more miffed.
And then, and this is embrassing. I don't know if I'm more miffed that Russell hadn't bothered to tell me, or that the (prize nominated) blog in question is actually such crap. Well, not crap per-say, but so un-Russell like. How does that make me feel. Do I no longer know Russell? In the past few months of silence, has he become greesy-spoon addicted? Oh my gosh, no wonder he didn't tell me - he's no longer the man I knew.

But no. all along, it's a completely different Russell Davis. I only figured this out, of course, when I click on the "about me" page... thank the Lord, I've not fallen off the end of the earth. Normality has prevailed. Marvellous stuff.

Perhaps it's time for me to re-start my Diary (a.k.a Blog). Weird. The last time I wrote started writing a diary online, the word Blog didn't even exist.