The flat with the gays fell through. Bastards.

As did about 5 or 6 other options.

I am going out of my mind, I have seen a room that does not meet ANY (not one) of my requirements but I may have to take it out of desperation until I find something better.

My requirements were the following:

• An exterior room preferably with balcony
• A large room with a double bed
• Friendly Housemates - no couples
  
• Close to work/In the center
• A large modern kitchen
• A terrace for sunbathing and bbqs in summer
  

What I got:

• A small room
• with a single bed
• and a window overlooking the liftshaft
• in an old (but large) flat
• with a skank, old, however much you clean it will never look clean kitchen
• A couple

My first newsletter

Hello everybody,

Well have almost finished my first whole week in Barcelona... and it´s not been too shabby! Out of the six nights I've been here I've arrived home drunk on four of them, so for someone that has no amigos, it's not bad going! (Incidentally I have a total of four amigos now). It was the second birthday celebration of the company I work for on Wednesday and I used it as an opportunity to make some friends with some clients here. It's amazing how many Germans and Austrians haven't even heard of The Sound of Music!! Madness.

Apart from working and the partaking of a few cheeky beverages the rest of my spare time has been taken up searching for a flat. What a nightmare that is! After looking at what seems like a hundred million places, I have narrowed it down to a place I saw today. Some of the places I have looked at have been truly strange, I went to one yesterday and the owner had huge photos of his dog with bows in her hair and many, many tacky little dog related ornaments all over the apartment. I decided that it wasn't really the place for me.

The apartment that I think I will choose is cool. These two gay guys live there, an Irish guy and a Spanish guy but they´re not a couple.. the room is really sunny.. has it´s own terrace and only 20 minutes walk from the beach.. which some people think is a bonus! The guys also seem very friendly and stuff and they have a little cat called Coco but the best thing about it is they have a guest room for visitors so I think I'll probably take it. But fear not, I will not be turning into a fag hag.

The weather, you'll all be pleased to hear, has been absolutely gorgeous. Today as well as being really really really sunny it's also warm... get in!

I've hardly eaten or slept all week but I have walked about 25 miles and seen loads of Bcn but not really any touristy places and although my heart lies in Madrid, Bcn will do for now! The main problem (as with France) is the locals, they´re just so rude. Luckily there are not many local people that live here which suits me fine as I don´t understand a word of their strange language!

My new job is good. Lots of freedom to do things how I want, really nice building with outdoor terrace that looks onto a little square and even more cats (eight in total), I have to feed them everyday!
Tonight, hopefully I'm out for my first night of hard core party time and tomorrow I'm going to spend the day and night with some distant Spanish relatives ... from past experience I'm guessing that's gonna be special.

THE UNEDITED STUFF

I am currently living with a crazy Argentian guy, we have been out quite a few nights on the bevvies and ended up kissing in Alpha club (a cool indie rock club on Gran de Gracia). We consequently have ended up getting it on which I think is a baaad idea for the following reasons
1. he is short, much shorter than i am when i'm not even wearing heels.
2. he is very hairy almost like a gorilla
3. he is a BAD kisser

Reasons i should discount the above reasons
1. he has a beautiful cat, fluffy and white...
2. he has taken me out when I had no other friends.
3. he takes photos of random walls.. hilarious.
4. Where is my mind
5. good cook

Having looked at the above I can conclude that all reasons are stupid.. but it is only a bit of fun after all.

Written November 2005 but fits better here


Wow.. what a long time since I last wrote and so much has happened.. have made so many new friends and lost a few along the way too :( Have had 2 jobs and men have come and gone with no-one sticking in my heart or mind..

Well in a nutshell after I graduated in Summer 2004 I worked as a PA for 6 months in my home town. The job was good and the people I worked with lovely.

After "living" at home for a few weeks althought in reality spending most of my time at my friend Katie's, I could bear it no more and I moved in with 2 friends of mine, Marcus and Paul, 2 cats, Tigger and Gizmo and a Dog, Holly.

Towards the end of September 2004 Gerbil got the old heave-ho and I embarked on the first of a few flings with Caitlin's 18 year old neighbour.. probably not my brightest idea but fun at the time and since he's moved to the USA I now have somewhere to stay over there too!

In November I went to Berlin with work where I met my current boss, who offered me a job in Spain working for his company.. I met with him again in Madrid a few weeks later and decided to accept the job position in Barcelona! Crazy scary times! While on my weekend in Madrid I also met Mr Mexico who I became mildly obsessed with for a while. Mr M was a (i think) gorgeous Mexican who is absolutely lovely although I was to find out later perhaps slightly mentally unbalanced.. (this is sort of a theme in choosing men)

My last few weeks in UK went by in a blur of parties and driving lessons.. those few months I did some of the craziest things like the night in London which I will perhaps expand on another time.. bad.. very bad.

On the 13th January I booked my driving lesson and failed.. and so flew out to Barcelona on the 14th with no licence, no accommodation, no friends.. people had said I was being brave but I thought nothing of it until I was on the plane thinking 'oh my god.. what the hell am I doing??'

I needn't have worried.. apart from the apartment search from HELL.. i must've looked at about 60 places.. I met so many great people!! (and a few not so great)

Argentina - My first housemate - a crazy Argentian - in my first couple of weeks we had many a drunken night!

Mr Catalunya - My boyfriend of 3 months.. we weren't really suited, he wanted a quiet life while I was addicted to the spanish nightlife.. he left me as he needed stability in his life something I was unable to offer.

Head Chicken - I have lived with HC now for 9 months.. he is from Mallorca and very self important although we get along fine most of the time.

The Kraut, V - my very german work colleague - a love hate relationship but we became good friends in the end.. has now left BCN :(

Leibemuffin - G - I met him on my first day of work. For ten months we saw each other every day and spent the weekends partying... left BCN last week.. I miss him :(

well.. that's just the start.. 18 months is a long time to try and fill in the gaps. I kept a sort of newsletter diary which I will now post as well, although this was edited somewhat due to ex bf's being on the mailing list etc so I may add to these newsletters with some other information that others were not privvy to..

Barcelona - My new home

64 things about me

In a rather large nutshell

1. NAME ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
My forehead - fell down some stairs as a toddler

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
photos - lots and lots of photos of family, friends, cats plus a couple of postcards

3. WHAT DOES YOUR MOBILE PHONE LOOK LIKE?
which one? I have 3.

4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
I listen to a bit of everything, I like Spanish stuff as well as English stuff. Indie, Cheese, Jazz, Flamenco.. I'll have a bit of it.

5. FAVOURITE BOOK
I like Penny Vincenzi books.. chick lit.. I'm a sucker for it. I also like books about WWII. What?

6. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
Fish and Chips. Decent chinese food. Marks and Spencers. Cheese Straws

7. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
Anything makes me cry.. anything.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?
Té blanc - Bvlgari

9. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS
Coffee - used to hate it, strange how tastes change

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIZZA TOPPING?
BBQ sauce, chicken and pineapple

11. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Do you know what.. I'm not hungry.. what's wrong!

12. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
Yes, I speak fluent Spanish, bit of French, a little German and I know a few words in Swedish.

13. DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE?
I like a lot of people! it's good to have friends

14. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MARRIAGE?
Bring it on. White dress, big party, friends and family.. oh hang on.. I guess one day doesn't count for a whole marriage. I would like to believe that one day I will meet someone that I wanna spend the rest of my life with..

15. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Sometimes you have no choice

16. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Actions speak louder than words apparently. But I like to say it with words.

17. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Blondes have more fun

18. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN?
myself .. to find out where my damn mobile is

19. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
rude people and my sister

20. YOUR WEAKNESSES
Shoes. Cocktails. Chocolate. Men.

21. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Nose. Boobs

22. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN IN LOVE?
I always think I'm in love only to find out that I am sadly mistaken. truly just once

23. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My beautiful eyes

24. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
My kidneys and liver and brain would thank the lord.. i would become a criminal

25. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
my friends from UK to come over for a party

26. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
As many as I can afford

27. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Great great grandmother supposedly

28. WHICH FINGER [S] IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
ring finger

29. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Last night, like i said I always cry

30. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
No... it's so bad, a big messy scrawl

31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE VEGETABLE?
Peas and cabbage

32. ANY BAD HABITS?
Yes. Lots.

33. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD?
All the Backstreet Boys Collection. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Soundtrack

34. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL?
Errm..

35. DO LOOKS MATTER?
On a love interest level I think you have to be attracted to a person in a "I think he's sexy" kind of a way

36. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?
Crying

37. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
in UK

38. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
Yes and No. I can make best friends in a second but men are a different story

39. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE TOY AS A CHILD?
Ted

40. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR MOBILE PHONE?
Lots. and lots that I don't remember who they are

41. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY?
Tall, dark, handsome, well endowed with a car and a house. Gold digger? Me?

42. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
shameless hussy.. true say.

43. WHAT IS THE MOST PAIN YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED?
Dropping a plate on my foot. Tooth ache. Period Pains.

44. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE COLOURS?
Blue and Red

45. LAST THING YOU ATE?
Chicken and roast potatoes

46. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
a boy :P

47. WHATS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Eyes, height, hair, hands

48. FAVOURITE THOUGHT PROVOKING SONG?
Linger - Cranberries

49. FAVOURITE DRINK:
Singapore Sling

50. FAVOURITE ZODIAC SIGN:
Aries

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT?
Sport. Ha!

52. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?
Blonde.

53. EYE COLOR?
Grey

54. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?
Sometimes

55. SIBLINGS?
Two

56. FAVORITE MONTH?
June

57. FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Christmas Eve. I am such a child.

58. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
not shy.. I just prefer them to ask me out.

59. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Both

60. KISSES OR HUGS?
Both

61. BIGGEST FEAR?
Drowning or being burnt to death. Wrinkles

62. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?
They say - there is always someone in love with you and you just don't know it

63. ONE THING THAT NO-ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT YOU?
Sometimes I fantasise about girls.

64. FAVOURITE FILM
Dirty Dancing