Monday 30 May 2011

We finally have kids!

Yay!

so we've been working in a kids club since last Tuesday, without any kids. YAWN major boring.

but today we had 11! So happy, it's lovely to hear them all laughing and playing, I dont believe you can get bad kids anyway but these kids, none of them have been naughty or rude or anything. it's lovely, alot different to my old job but I'm having fun now that we have kids.

I made a friend on the weekend, he's a holiday entertainment rep, so he's a performer and we both came to the conclusion that one of the best qualities and achievements you can have is the ability to make people smile and laugh and feel good, and although these guys are on a luxury holiday and dont have any problems (unlike my old job) it really feels good to see them smile and have fun.



I may end up liking this job!

so my weekend I went partying with the guys on Friday night and then Saturday night/morning and went canoeing again on Sunday. lots of fun and lots of lovely people. roll on next Sunday.

I can't wait to receive my parcel that mum and dad are sending. it's gonna be nice to have some food from home, like cheese sauce and marinade and things. (i cant stop talking about food) but it seems that things are looking up here on the food front, J had a meeting and they're sorting it out and we're getting a washing machine and uniform too! oh the luxury! I've also started to set up home properly in the apartment, I bought hangers and a broom and a door matt and a tea towel. soon it'll be lovely and I'll forget that it was a shit hole when we moved in!

x

Friday 27 May 2011

as if by magic.....

my last post I was talking about how hungry I am.

well, later on that evening, we were invited to dinner at a resturant in Elounda, just down the road, called The Ferry man.

oh my life. it was gooooooorgeous.

we arrived and asked for Akiss and the waiter pointed over to this man who had just stepped out of the sea and was hosing himself down, he was a bit hairy for me but it was like somthing out of the movies. very surreal. he told us to wait while he gets dressed and then seated us at the best table in the house on a pier over the sea.

Lot's of food, plenty of loverly wine, greek singing and lyra and a very flirty owner called akiss, and three hours later we were all comparing fat stomachs and agreeing with how good the food was.

That was the best meal in my life.

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Food and blogging

Two things I miss, aside from the obvious bed, friends, family (not necessarily in that order. are Food and Blogging. 

I haven't had much chance to keep up to date with all the blogs i'm following or update my blog as often as I could at home, but aswell as this one I've been helping to compile our staff one, to let our bosses and collegues at other clubs know what were up to. This might take you to it

Aside from work, we are having a laugh a minute, last night we sat out til gone ten, ordered take away, had a few beers, fran did her fire poi and we were joined by Spa Boy and his friends who are from Lithuania, Abu Dhabi and somewhere else that I forgot. It was nice to finally make some new friends who are from a different country and have different jobs and It was really funny, Spa boy joined us first and asked if we wanted to go for a walk. I looked at Ricky, as he and Natalie had been caught talking about him on the bus and we all fell about laughing constantly for the next 2 hours or so. turns out spa boy is a massuse and he's offered us all massages. YESS!! not in a pervy way at all, but a proper massage. 

I've done something to my foot. a few weeks ago I tripped and it hurt a bit but now It's so sore and swollen by the end of the day. i think I chipped a bone. I cant really run on it or any. oops. must get it seen to. 

So food at the hotel, for staff anyway, is pants, and served in this really minging room. and they dont really serve abnything without meat. so i'm surviving on bread and butter. yum.
Thats all folks. I'll see what we get for lunch now. wish me luck! 

Monday 23 May 2011

A few too many cocktails and one lost Sunday

Oh my, what a night!

hehe! After my last post, we all went out into Agios after watching a film and a few pre-night out drinks. If you ever get offered a shot called fire water, I suggest you dont drink it. eep. I had about 4 throughout the night, not good.

We got into Agios about half 11 (I think) and went straight in to have a bop in the first club of the evening, took some hilarious photos and waited for the Diosce cove girls to arrive. I cant say I remember much about the night but it involved lots of shots, some creepy Greek men grinding against us all, throwing some 'shapes' on the dance floor and talking to four guys from Denmark, one of whom was actually called Thor, as in the god of thunder. cool eh?

From what I've heard, when we left to get in the taxi, I took about four years getting down the stairs and Natalie and I caught the giggle in the taxi and were laughing the whole way home and I was laughing so much I could'nt walk up the slope to the apartments. nice

Oh and at some point I broke my dress doing the splits.

I thought I could tell you a bit about our apartments. I've said already that I'm sharing with Fran. well I'll talk you through a tour. You arrive first, at a big slope and then a trillion steps. at the top of the steps to your left there is a pool area, they finally started filling the pool yesterday (YAY) but only with a small hose pipe so it might be ready for our next day off on sunday.

to the right there are some steps down, and then you're are our apartment, no 12.

inside we have a kitchenette, 3 beds and a small bathroom. If you stand by the pool you can see all across the sea and round the coast. it's nice.

Hope you're all well.

x

Saturday 21 May 2011

Day three of a long summer!

wow! three posts in half an hour,

well I wrote the last post in my room before bed, I dont have internet at the apartment.

I just now in Agios Nikolaos over looking the bottomless lake having some lunch and catching up on some messages and emails


It's beautiful

Today, Fran and I have a day off, so we went to the beach before and lay down to soak up some sun when I heard some random splashing sound, I looked up and there was a fish doing somersaults and flipping/flying/jumping out of the water. it was pretty amazing! I had no idea what to make of it! 

Then I went for a wonder, the beach we were on leads off a hotel, so i mooched round the hotel grounds and found a watersports stand with this man that we have now named Spartan, he was born in England, but has grown up over here, and as the name suggests, he is built like spartan out of 300 (the film) maybe even bigger. he was really nice though and let us go Kayaking for free (we were going to pay but when we got back he just said, it's free girls) 



So my first sea kayaking adventure was pretty cool, I forgot that I've never kayaked where theres waves, so I was a bit chicken at first, but it was great, we went a few miles I'd say, along the coast and found som amazing rock formations and caves and coves and natural archways and massive villas built into and on the cliffs. we also found a Crane, he was pretty cool and flew right over out heads and settled onto the cliffs showing off for a bit. it was seriously beautiful and a fab way to see the island. After our Kayaking (one of my best ideas, i must say!) we jumped into the sea (I waded wearily) and Fran did a bit of snorkelling, as soon as i put the snorkel mask on and wasn't looking a bloody fish came up and bit my knee! 

we're off out tonight so i'm sure i'll have lots of stories to tell you. 

Ciao for now! 




Hello my doves
Or should I say, YASSASS!
I arrived in Crete on Wednesday about 11:30 native time. (we’re two hours ahead) after a marathon of being awake about 37 hours.
I’ve been back at my new home, which I shall tell you about shortly, for about 3 hours, me and some of the girls went food shopping after our first day.
So I arrived in Heraklion, courtesy of sleasyjet with Alesha, staciie, Natalie and Sinead and we’re greeted by two taxi drivers who took us to two nice shiny BMW’s. Now I don’t know if you’ve experienced the way the Greek drive, I must say, they are pretty bloody crazy!  We had people driving on the hard shoulder, we were mounted the central line thing for half of the journey, playing chicken with oncoming traffic to overtake people, all the while watching the little shrines on the side of the road fly by (they build a little shrine on the site of where there has been a fatal crash)
When we got to the apartment (Alesha and Sinead had left us by this time, they’re working elsewhere)  we were greeted by Jenna, our new manager for the season and she showed us our apartments. I cant say they are in any way Luxury, except for the army of dogs and cats that are living on the streets. But after a sweep and unpacking my clothes my room was looking alright.
Later Fran and Ricky arrived from work (Fran’s my room mate) and we went out for mezze in Agios Nikoloas, a beautiful looking place, cant wait to adventure round. The food was pretty good too, in true Grecian style they just kept bringing things out and we ended up taking three dish’s worth back with us.
So today was nice, it was lovely and sunny for the most part of the morning and we spent most of our time rearranging, cutting, sticking and decorating the rooms which are our kids club and crèche and a lovely lady from Sweden came along with her two boys for us to look after for the morning.
Lunch was nice, but there were no knives so the others had to eat their pork chops cavemen style.
So since then, we went shopping, Ricky helped me steal a fridge from another apartment to go in mine, I bleached everywhere, had tea with Ricky and Jenna and here I am now, writing this in bed, with some chocolate and crisps and peanuts. I don’t have internet at my apartment sooo, This will have been posted from the giant reception at work when I get chance.
The hotel: Is lovely, ridiculously posh, very quiet and exciting, I cant wait to have the grand tour of the villas!
I have to just tell you, my last day in England was pretty much a disaster, here’s how it went in brief
-          Woke up about half 8 to get stuff ready and finish my essay
-          12:30 essay finished, did a little dance
-          12:35 get washed and dressed and go into town for last minute items
-          13:00 go to print said essay in my old work.
-          13:01 ESSAY HAS BEEN CORRUPTED
-          Went to get cash out for euro’s.oops!  Spent too much and have less than half what I thought i did.
-          Got bus home (driver short changed me)
-          The next 4 hours...(cried) Tried to retrieve essay, methods included downloading programmes off the internet, Amanda ringing every geek in her phone book, emailing the corrupt file to some guy in new Zealand. No hope. Start again
-          (oh btw, I ordered a cardigan that was meant to arrive on this day, so i could take it with me. Didn’t come)
-          18:30 said goodbye to my Tashie L
-          20:00 got on the train (Helen from work got on too and we chatted)
-          01:00 arrive at Gatwick and spend the next 3 and a half hours writing my essay and drinking too much coffee that is safe for anyone that time of the morning.
So there we go, my Tuesday in a nutshell.
Good night all, don’t let the mossies bite.
And they didn’t! Woop!

-------------------------------
Day 2 at apartment 12, Lidra apartments, Crete.
Just got in, not been any where exactly except hanging around on our balconies. Fran did some fire poi and I tried normal poi and nearly knocked myself out. Then we just sat and chatted and had a bit of a laugh talking about things I won’t mention on here. It took a bit of explaining to some of the others so I can’t imagine trying to explain it over the internet to mum and Amanda.
I snooped about the apartments today, joining yestersays fridge is a washing line and a half rake which i’m using as a prop. Nearly died getting the washing line.
Today I have been climbing about, I don’t know what’s got into me, I’m not tired, I’m happy, I’m not picking at food (good job too, the food in the ‘canteen’ is disgusting) and I’m full of energy. I have climbed trees, walls, balconies, chairs, ladders, all sorts. Brrrrrrrilliant.
Tomorow, (or today if I find a cafe with internet) I am going to take a stroll down to Ag Nik (agios nikolos) and have a nosey round, i need to find a bank, and buy a phone but the phones wont be ready til Monday.

I’m quite sleepy now, today was good but dead quiet. I showed some people round the club though and finally remembered some English words. J
Love to you all. 

Monday 16 May 2011

Re: Subdued late night notes

In my post subdued late night notes, I spoke about seeing His dad and step mum in the pub and feeling awkward and bad.

I had a lovely night out on Friday with friends as a last supper before I fly and they came and spoke to me

It went ok, I think his dad tried to embarrass me for splitting us up, then later on his step mum came and spoke to me, 

I'm glad I saw them, I got to let them know that I am not harsh for doing it. I had my reasons and I got my point across  Also I think they now know just how much work it was for me to lead two lives, one as Fiona the youth worker and student and one as Fiona the RAF wag. 

That's what I was, leading two lives. not hiding them from each other, nothing like that, but when your love is away, physically and mentally for a majority of the year, it's hard for lives to link up. 

That chapter was finished months ago, this is my final review on it. I've moved on. 

x

Rainy days have feelings too...

Did you know that it's supposed to be good luck for it to rain on your wedding day? strange, if it rains any other day in your life, it's a downer.

I think rain just gets a bad press. After all, it helps the trees grow, and the flowers and they bring us oxygen. so it isn't all bad.

Today was rainy. the weather forecast said fine. Oh how they were wrong!

But it didn't dampen my day (excuse the pun)


I had some sad news this week, my friends granddad died, it came as a real shock to her and her family, I feel so sorry and sad. nothing can prepare you for losing someone, you'll never be used to it. When my granddad died, we had prepared that he wasn't going to get better and back to himself, it still hurt like hell but I knew that he wasn't in pain, he didn't have to lose any more dignity and pride.
Words seem so useless, if they appear at all. There is nothing you can say that doesn't sound at least a little like your from a greetings card or being insincere or an idiot.

Last night we went on a bit of a road trip, which was funny and full of us reminiscing, it's just a shame that the trip we took was to pick up a relative of hers in readiness for the funeral. Sad times.

Today, after precisely 3 and a half hours sleep (we didnt get back from the airport til gone three) I went to the zoo :-)

In the run up to Crete I've been doing to rounds and seeing people and some of those very important people are my sister and her husband and children. So we decided to go to the zoo. I hopped on the train at just past 8 this morning and spent a very enjoyable, but wet, day finding all the animals and playing about with the kids.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

7 Days left and I feel ALIVE!





Wow, 


Right now I feel I could do/try/achieve almost anything, and I want to adventure! 


This time next week I'll be last minute pack like I always do, and getting ready to get on the train down to the airport. This time next Thursday I'll be almost there! 


Soo frikkin excited. 


Me, Ghyll scrambling, what a rush!
also, just for adventures sake, after all, (i'm loving this new found kick ass attitude I'm feeling...) I am only a baby still (I constantly forget how young I am, I'm 22, which isnt dead young, but I need to give myself a break) I am looking for more adventures to go on when I arrive back in England after 6 months away, I found a poster advertising the clipperroundtheworld.com and have decided I want to be on the the boat for at least one leg of the race! 






ahhhh! soo exciting, of course rumour has it it's alot of money but I'll find a way to raise some money. 


“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming – “WOW – What a Ride!” – Anonymous


What other adventures can I get myself into. suggestions please!

Tuesday 10 May 2011

My mind is complicated...

There are few people in the world that can sleep more than me. it's actually true, aside from those with medical conditions, I am a champion sleeper.

I hear alot of people who don't sleep when their nervous, or excited or stressed or have a million and one things to do, but me, I just sleep through it all.

Shut eye, 40 winks, old lady naps, boodles, catching Z's, crash, nod off, whatever you call it, I can actually sleep any time, and in most places. (trains, under tables, halfway up the stairs, the bath, with my head hanging off the bed....)

I dont mean to make people jealous of my astonishing ability to shut all out and sleep solidly, I just think it's interesting.
One thing that does interrupt my sleep is quiet in the morning. If I sleep away from home, like on holiday or round a friends I always wake and notice just how quiet it is. or if I'm at home, I have often woken up when the house is empty, because it is just too quiet. weird eh? Nieces and nephews, car alarms, alarm clocks, arguments etc etc, I sleep through them all as background noise, but silence kills me.

I'm one of those people who has to have music while i study too. mainly classical though, nothing that I would want to sing too, but i need a low humming of an orchestra or acoustic singer to keep my mind on point.

whilst studying in the library the other evening, we were practicing a presentation and one of the girls passed comment on how I can listen, type notes on other topics and respond all at the same time, I actually dont know how I do it, to anyone who has spent any time with me, I have quite a short attention span, so I have no idea how I do this feat.

It was always the same at work, I could always email, and have two conversations at once while thinking about another task.

A bit random I know, but I've just been thinking about it a bit.

more later...

Friday 6 May 2011

Searching for that dress (among other things)



I want to know if I am the only one that can go through EVERY single clothes shop in town try on in EVERY shop and still not find a dress suitable?


That is what I have done today. I am irritable and my feet ache and I still have no dress. 


Shop number one, I nearly bought a simple black bodycon vest dress, but I chickened out because it was a tad short. I'm not very adventurous you see. 


Shop number three, I tried on this one shouldered green number, but I couldn't find/afford shoes to go with it. 


Shop number five I felt mocked at the fact that they had the exact number of ZERO dresses in my size, not even the one's I didn't like. 


Which brings me onto the topic of shop assistants. They scare me. I am not the type to be intimidated but put me in a shop, trying to find clothes and I am at my most vulnerable. In that situation EVERYONE is staring at me and judging me.  It's pretty ridiculous. I actually don't mind what people think about me. The shop assistants walking round as working mannequins willing people to copy them, the school girls just been let out and ready to spend their pocket money on the smallest clothes ever, and not to mention the ridicule of looking for your size at the very back of the rail, let alone having to ask for it. take ToSho for instance the other week...


I found this fab Tee that had a slogan along the lines of 'frankie says relax' but it was in Small, Medium and Large. When asked what size a medium is, the shop assistant (a stick thin man this time) looked puzzled when snorted in disbelief at his answer. 'A medium is about a size 10 and Large is a 12' (british sizes) 


WHAAAAT?  


How ridiculous!? 


(Dear clothing stores, shop assistants and manufacturers, this is how you make me feel.)

Monday 2 May 2011

Temporarily un-busy

I don't do well without structure in my life.


I don't do much at all. 


I could not handle being unemployed, I couldn't. I haven't been at work properly for 2 or three weeks now and my motivation, to even move or get up at a reasonable time has flown out of the window and is currently floating around on it's way to Crete ahead of me. 


I have always wondered what it would be like to do nothing, and It's not a bit as glamorous and lovely as you think, in fact it's reeeally boring, I feel for people who are in this position due to bad luck and illness etc and on the other hand I'm sure there are many many people that need a break and would give anything to be doing nothing like me right now. but it's driving me potty and I am pandering to addictive behaviours and hermitism. 


FACEBOOK IS RULING MY LIFE. actually. 
When I was working, I'd check facebook once, maybe twice a day, then it got worse when I got one of those fancy gizmo phones that actually doesn't do have the stuff it promises and signs you in by default. Now, I'm on facebook ALLLLLL the time. I get up, go on FB, after everything I do, I log in, and surprise surprise, nothing has happened. no-one has posted anything interesting, there are no sudden new apps or thingymajigs on it. just the same things that were there 10 minutes previous. 


I may need counselling or something? 


I just Googled it and FAD or Facebook Addiction Disorder is actually well recognised! haha! how crazy, I mean I'm not as bad as they say, for example in  This Blog or the lady who let her baby drown. But it's enough to make me think I'm a bit of a saddo. more so than usual! 


I think I'll have to take drastic action and deactivate my account for a bit or something and concentrate on preparing for going away and write things on here. 


Wish me luck......


(UPDATE: I've just deleted it off my phone and notified people i'm on a ban. Progress!)