A surprise

So, who decided to text me the other day. No, not fucking beardman (who coincidentally did, again, over christmas. Idiot)

Ireland! :)

He's coming to visit. Eek! Loco wasn't happy. I've had to explain to him about Ireland when he texted me one day. He is now at the top of Loco's list of worries seeing as we only stopped seeing each other when he moved back to Ireland and if he hadn't we might still be seeing each other blah blah blah... All true, but the fact is, he doesn't still live here and now I'm with Loco. And I love Loco and wouldn't want to spoil that by being a bad girl.

Anyway, I ignored his text - I didn't know what to say! Then a couple of days later I got another saying that he has now booked his flights for him and his bird to come over.. Well then. That sort of placated Loco and it means that I should be able to see Ireland now without too many problems.

Until - Ireland calls me to say he is in fact coming over before he comes over with his bird, for a weekend with his work colleagues. Eek.

Now what do I do....

2006 - A summary

A little late, but then you know what they say, better late than never!

Highlight: Meeting Loco. Kaiser Chiefs Concert. Ski Weekend!

Lowlight: January was definitely a low for me in Barcelona, so many friends had moved on and I felt very sad.

Holidays: Nothing worthy of mention. Stayed in Spain - visited Andalucia, Valencia and other bits of Cataluña

Number: 8

Boyfriends: 1 - Loco :)

Flings: 2

One Nighters: 5 - very hussy like. bad me.

New friends: One or Two but not as many as I would like

Jobs: Same one as ever

New skills: A little belly dancing

Another year in Barcelona...

Fashions

The infamously low Spanish wages mean that living here I cannot treat myself to as many nice new clothes, shoes and bags as I feel I deserve. However, I decided to allow myself some new things as I have practically worn out my current selection of clothes and am in desperate need of some new togs.

Sod's law means that the one time I wish to purchase something, I cannot find anything! So instead of a nice new coat, some jumpers, a pair of boots and perhaps some jeans I come away with absolutely buggar all.

This makes me mad.

Is it perhaps because there is a shortage of clothing in Barcelona? No, there is no such shortage. Why then is it that a girl who wants to shop and has her credit card at the ready purchases nothing, nada, zip??

Well the reason is simply that I just hated and despised everything I saw in the shops. This season's clothes actually offend my eyes. I can only sum up as sparkly, shiny legging shorts. Aggh! bleugh! Take them away!

Leggings?? One word - WHY?
Shorts?? IT'S WINTER!
Shiny pink puffa jackets? - words fail me

As I walk around the shops, loco in tow, muttering away to myself "no. no. no. no. repulsive. no. mmmaybe but no... fashion these days.. grr ." a little thought passes through my head.. i push it away.. and it comes back..

I seem to vaguely remember my grandmother saying the exact same thing not so long ago. Waaaa! Another sign of my getting old! I don't even like fashion anymore. Even Loco remarked that all of the things I looked at were for old ladies :(

However, I did see one coat I liked, one coat I fell in love with, but with a price tag of 378 Euros it may just have to stay in my dreams..

2007 - My first post

Happy New Year!

I am back from the festive break and back to work, boo!

To be honest, I could have posted all through the holidays, sitting around at home with nothing to do but eat, drink and be merry but I was just extrodinarily lazy.

So to sum up my holidays:

Traditional Christmas Eve Night of Boozing: Poor - so hung over from 2 nights before was unable to face alcohol. Best friend has allergic reaction to lipgloss.. also unable to drink. Most people had gone out on Saturday so places were very quiet and boring. Traditional nightclub that produces fake snow was even more full of chavs than usual. My favourite kebab server at my favourite kebab place has upped sticks and moved to London. Home at 1:30

Presents from Santa: Good. Many and varied. My favourite being a zip up top which I bought for my brother but it didn't fit him so I kept it for myself.

Visit to UK by Loco: Good. He behaved well, I took him to London, we posed for photos in front of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben etc etc Also indulged in english beer, fish and chips, cold trukey and stuffing.

New Year: Fair to Middling- stayed in home town -bad. Went to club that played a whole array of music from 60's to rnb and indie - good. Friend who I went with has been recently chucked by her bloke, so depressed and upon seeing ex-bloke's best mate wanted to leave - bad.

New Year's Day - BAD. Went for breakfast with ex and old friends. Have only seen ex once since we broke up 3/4 years ago. Was bad idea.. all old feelings of rejection and hurt came back. Return to Barcelona - Good. Loco's parents came to pick me up from airport as he was away. Am fed and watered and pampered like any little princess should be.

Reyes - V. good (in Spain the three kings bring your presents on 6th January not F. Xmas) I went to see the parade, managed to catch some flying sweets, ate nice food. Nice presents from Loco's family. Loco could do better on present buying front - must train him. Played on Singstar and Buzz all weekend.

I am a copycat

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?

I tasted marujana butter

I tried belly dancing

I stood in waist high snow

Sang karaoke in public

Had an orgasm from oral sex

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Give up smoking - check

Don't drink so much - check

Give up caffeine - I cut down

Give up mcdonalds - I think I went 2 or 3 times

Stick to the 5 date rule - hmm.

My new ones

Go to the gym - or at least cancel the registration!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No. I don't know anyone who's had a baby

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. And I'm glad.

5. What countries did you visit?

UK and Spain. Boooring.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

A pay rise. To be in credit. A nice place to live. A new coat. A driving license

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
3rd June - The day Loco and I first kissed

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Falling in love - properly.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not getting the job I wanted.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes - I felt shitty for the first half of the year and had various tests only to show that there is nothing wrong with me. I'm feeling better now - must've been the fags and booze.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A portable hardrive.. random but true

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Mine?

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

V's - fucking bitch. (bitter? me?)

14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off credit cards :(

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Christmas! Loco's Birthday

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Besos - Canto del Loco (ha! just got how ironic that is)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?

Happier - Last January I was really low

b) thinner or fatter?

I would say the same - perhaps a touch on the porkier side

c) richer or poorer?

Poorer. Always poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Saving.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Spending.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I think I'm doing this too late.. It's too early to say

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

Yes - totally and utterly head over heels

22. How many one-night stands?

5 - no comment

23. What was your favourite TV programme?

Lost. Prison Break.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Hate is a strong word. Am dissappointed in. and Yes I do.

25. What was the best book you read?

Life of Pi - (I was late reading it I KNOW)

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Panic at the Disco!

27. What did you want and get?

I wanted to be loved. I got it!

28. What did you want and not get?

a payrise. The job of my life

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

Volver

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I spent a week celebrating culminating in a big party. I was 24.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

An exotic holiday to see new places and things

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Null and Void. No money = no clothes. Fashions 2006 = bleugh.

33. What kept you sane?

My work colleague Maria, my friend Maisy and Loco.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Wentworth Miller (Prison Break)

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Elections in Catalonia and the fact non-Spanish residents can't vote. grr.

36. Who did you miss?

Ireland. Roy.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Loco! (what a surprise)

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

Don't tell lies.

My last post ever.........................................NOT

One hour to go before I get to leave work and not return for three whole days :) I do like the part of the December bank holiday I am actually allowed to have.

Today it is even colder than yesterday, maybe it will snow after all and lots of happy little catalans can scurry up to the mountains for a cheeky bit of skiing. or not.

Speaking of Nots, I went to see Borat the other day with Loco. As much as I try to get Loco to enjoy some anglophonic humour, perhaps Borat was not a good place to start for a beginner. "Yo what up Vanilla face" doesn't really translate well in subtitled Spanish. I did find the film amusing although there were moments where my hands went over my eyes and I cringed in a "oh please god he cannot have just done that. oh he did. oh no" kind of way.

Loco thought it was funny in places but that in general he had crossed the line too many times. I was also unsure as to whether Pamela Anderson knew about it - I have now found out that she did - how much funnier it would have been if she didn't know.

Apparently the police were called a total of 91 times during the filming of Borat. It doesn't really surprise me to be honest.

Anyhoo happy holidays shoppers

Let it snow...

It's so cold! Winter looks like it has finally arrived in Barcelona, after months of abnormal warmness today it is cold and rainy and a bank holiday. Alas not for me, some of us unfortunate guiris are slaving away in offices, hotels and restaurants all over the peninsula while many Spaniards have also been given tomorrow off and have gone away for a few days.

Normally the December bank holiday sees Spaniards flocking to the hills (mountains) to start the ski season. This year there is no snow, all the ski resorts are closed, so many have headed for the coasts. A friend of mine who has gone abroad to France for the ski season informed me that he is also short of work due to lack of the white stuff. Poor little ski workers - what will they live off?

Last year in November I froze my little... ok medium-large.. bum off in November so this year I had my mum bring all of my ski gear over early only for it to lie unused in a box in my wardrobe.

I at least have Friday off and am as yet undecided whether to go somewhere with Loco for the weekend or hang about here. Hmm.

So things kind of came to a head last night with some shouting, crying, stamping of feet and long heaving sobs.

I told the loco one that his jealousy just couldn't be.. it causes arguments and stresses me out. And I don't like being stressed out.

So, he had a little think about that and we shall see how it goes.

Jealousy

This week has been fucking tiring.

Jealousy has been rearing its ugly head near non-stop all week.

Loco really has a problem. And it's not that I don't understand because I am incredibly jealous of his ex-gf that he was with for seven years. However this does not make up for his incessant jealousy of everyone and everything. He is even jealous of my work, and today I got into trouble for it - Long story.

I work bloody hard at my job only to have him make me look a fool in front of my boss.

It's starting to get me down.. sometimes I think, maybe this isn't working, better to stop this now than let it drag on. One of my friends is convinced that he is compulsively jealous and will never change and his behaviour show that he wants to control me.. which is kind of how I feel to at times.

Oh. I just don't know. I'm stressed and confused and cannot be arsed with it all.

Bring back nsa beardman.

Catalans. Argh!

At some point last week Loco informed me that we had been invited for lunch at the weekend at his ex-work colleague's house with some of his other colleagues.

"Ok" I said.

On Friday Loco informed me that his work colleagues might speak in Catalan.

"Hmm" I said


"But they probably won't" he added

"Hmmmm" I said.

On Saturday armed with the obligatory bottle of plonk, we set off for lunch in one of the many industrial polygonic urbanisations that around these parts they like to call "a village". The BBQ was lit and we milled around the garden waiting for everyone to turn up. I believe that during this period I exchanged a few words reagrding Prison Break with a colleague of Loco's that I had met once before and then that was it because

For the next 6 hours I sat and listened to everybody laughing and joking away in Catalan while I sat there like a lemon barely understanding a word.

Were these people unable to speak Spanish? No. The majority were of a spanish mother tongue and had spent some years living in Cataluña, yet knowing that there was a non-Catalan speaker they still chose to converse in Catalan for the whole time.


Did at any point anyone try to make any conversation with me? No they did not. Other than Loco who does not speak in Catalan but understands perfectly. However he didn't really get that for his one sentence spoken in Spanish there was 100 sentences that had been spoken in Catalan making up the rest of the conversation.

What did I do?

I quietly sat and raged. And daydreamed about smacking each and everyone of these uncivilised animals with a big long stick over the head. Especially one of Loco's uber-Catalan friends who, for some reason, just looking at him makes me seethe. I've only met him 3 times. I don't really know why I dislike him so much. It's just his face I think.

The we left.

The rest of the night was a write off. I was full of nervous energy and bored but my bad mood meant that I didn't actually want to do anything. Happy Days.

NEWSFLASH

I have worked out how to let the general public comment on my posts. Splendid!

Comment away my little love monkeys

A night of madness

Back in 2004, a friend and I were asked to help at a charity ball to be held at one of the fancy hotels in London. We readily agreed, donned our ball gowns and off we flounced.

On arrival we found that the organisers planned to shove all of the "helpers" in a little back room for the sit down meal, meaning that we would miss out on all the fun.. no chance.

With a little encouragement from the person who had asked us to help, we waited until the lights were lowered and everyone was at their tables to find a couple of empty spots that we could fill.

We spotted a half empty table at the edge of the room and made our way there. I earlier had spotted a couple of hot guys and was pleased to see them seated at our chosen table.. Fate or coincidence?

We were lucky enough to have quite an interesting mix of people, including a Del Boy type entrepreneur, an actress, an investment banker (one of the hot guys) and a up and coming film producer - his reason for attending being that he was auctioning a walk on role in his new movie.

We got quite drunk at dinner and moved onto the dance floor to tear it up with our c-razy moves. My friend decided she would buy a round of shots for everyone forgetting that we were in a 5 star hotel and she was an impoverished student. I can still remember her face when the barman informed her that the price of each shot was 8 stirling pounds.

The ball started winding down and Del Boy asked us if we would like to accompany him to his nightclub. Well, yes we would, so off we all went to this famous nightclub in the center of London
which Del Boy claimed to have just purchased. I still am unsure as to whether this was a fabrication or beding of the truth but I was happy enough to believe it for the night and supped my VIP vodka quite contentedly.

At this point my friend decided that she quite fancied the film producer that I had spent some time making eyes at but not one to let bros come before hos I let her at him. Only that she decided to tell him about her boyfriend. And he gave her the edge. Leaving me to continue making eyes.

At some ridiculous hour of the morning the club closed and the actress suggested that we go back to her house for an after party, which everyone seemed to agree was a good idea...

To be continued

Torremolinos Prostitute

Not a penny, or should it be cent in this case.

5 tickets and I only manage one lousy number meanwhile Loco picks up a tenner.

In other news - I have been googled! Well.. not really.. unless Torremolinos Prositute counts.

:P

Housemates. Grr

Went for lunch with my housemate Lily today and apparently my other housemate, Rafa, has been bitching about cleaning or lack of it..

This makes me mad. Firstly as Rafa is here to do a course which consists of 3 hours per week. Lily and I work 40 hour weeks. Rafa never leaves the house (or appears to never leave the house) so therefore spends 37 more hours than Lily and I per week. This gives him plenty of time to clean, admire his cleaning and then bitch that we haven't done any. He now thinks that Loco should also do cleaning (Loco also works 40 hour weeks). Needless to say Loco was pissed about this especially as Rafa has full access to Loco's playstation and games for the 37 extra hours that he is around on his own.

His other gripe was that I ignore him. Bullshit. When no one else is around he ignores me! Not a word comes out of his mouth. Idiot.

This weekend it's yet another Euromillions rollover and once again I am feeling lucky!

180 million euros.. just think of what you could do with that! My imagination has been running wild.

Today I plan to buy 5 tickets.

Fingers crossed.

I have officially become boring with my days and nights consisting of work, food, sex (if I'm lucky) and sleep.

I spend the weekends lunching with Loco's family and sleeping siesta and shun parties and drinking in favour of a movie or Prison Break..

Anyone reading this.. is there anyone? .. well whoever you are.. I know the tales were far more interesting when I was a semi-alcoholic nympho and I apologise for my utter lameness

Have I at the tender age of 24 become.. OLD?

The week gets worse.....

Loco hasn't really forgiven me for lying and I can see that this will be brought up time and time and time again if he has his way.

Things just feel strained between us and it's horrible :(

Things haven't exactly been going great in my little world recently.

Loco has been causing me some stress. I never realised (you never do), how many insecurities he has and I feel like I am treading on eggshells with him.

He is jealous of ALL of my male friends and some of my female ones too, not too mention my boss, housemates etc.

It gets me down as I don't feel that I can behave normally when we are around other people as he accuses me of flirting, fancying them bla bla..

My friends tell me that this behaviour has to be reigned before it gets out of control.. and I agree.. but how to do it??

Take last night for example, a friend (male) has been visiting for a few days. He's already visited in the past and so knows some of my friends already (some more intimately than others). So we went out for a beer with a couple a people and I tell Loco to come along. He arrives with his best friend. Drinks one beer, sulks therefore making me sulk then pretty much demands that we leave. I decline and give him my keys so I can stay a bit longer as it's my friend's last night in Bcn. I then feel guilty for having stayed and promptly leave.

This isn't normal behaviour and it drives me mad!

So last night was very bad.

Loco has been asking me for sometime about the night we went to the concert.

The Sergio Contreras concert where Worm ended up sleeping naked at my house.

I have for some time been trying to convince Loco that Worm slept on the sofa. Alone. Clothed.

Last night I found out that he in fact knew all along about Worm naked. In my bed.

Yes, his friend had decided to tell him the truth about a month after it happened. I have been lying threw my teeth.

I KNOW - we weren't together, it's none of his business etc etc and I should have just told him BUT I decided to lie. D'oh d'oh d'oh.

And just as it was going so well, we'd had a nice date on Thursday, hung out with his freinds on Friday.. and then this.. cue tears, remorse and guilt.

Result: An even more insecure, jealous boyfriend.

AGHHHH

Guess who had the audacity to text me last night...

Beardman!

What a joker.

3 months of nothing and then a casual text as if nothing has happened..

There's a word for what he thinks I am - Stand by shag

well not this time