Moving....again!

My company establishes Western Europe as a Business Area, of which Portugal, Spain, France and Benelux are part of. Now, following the restructuring programme my company is taking into effect since October 06, each country's office is to be centralized in one, representing each BA. This means relocation of offices. In my case, to Belgium, to Brussels in particular.

This came as a shock, but decisions are taken and there's no going back. It's not making much sense to us, if we look at the country they decided upon - it's very costly and the fiscal burden is huge on companies. In terms of savings, Brussels doesn't seem to fit the bill. But, hey, who are we to have a say?


In practical terms, our department of 11 people will have to, either moving to Brussels or leave the company. Out of these 11, 4 will work from home, so they're saved. The rest will be fired, if moving to Brussels doesn't please them. I'm the only one who seems to be in the conditions to accept the deal, as I'm the youngest and have no strings attached in Spain. Basically, they're counting on me. So, the scales seem to be on my side and it's my moment to ask.


The move will take place by the end of June, so we have nearly 6 months to clear all the mess, teach the new Belgians and all of this with a smile. I'm the only one who's actually smiling, but can't show it out of respect for my colleagues. It's a crap place to be for them, as they have kids and their houses to pay.


Conclusion: another country to live and work - it will be the 5th, if I don't count my own, Portugal. Oh dear, just the thought of packing everything again.....

Nano

Here's the cheapest car in the world, and I quite like it. Especially the concept of wanting to change the world by 1,700 €... Ultralow cost, to try and make a change in the emerging countries. Thanks, Mr Tata!

Relocation

Well, the start of the year couldn’t be more auspicious (I’m using this word often, what’s the matter with me?). Apparently, a change of office is on the works, an international change, I mean. So, and if the rumour is confirmed, the change is to a less sunny country…This weekend, you can guess what my homework will be, no? Internet wise…

Meanwhile, this is a photo of the city that I'm talking about. Do you know what is it?

50 reasons why we might be single

From The Times. Might be accurate in some lines, actually....

50 reasons why you’re still single
Do you wonder why everyone else is coupled up, apart from you?

MEN because you...
1 Wear side-buckle shoes
2 Use the word “chillax”, as in “chillax, babe”
3 Use the word “babe”
4 Have glow-in-the-dark stars above your bed
5 Have nothing but a broken sandwich toaster, a camp bed and a 60in plasma screen in your flat 6 Believe that certain things are self-cleaning
7 Wear short-sleeved shirts in the summer, but are not a postman
8 Wear a duffel coat in the winter, but are not Paddington Bear
9 Have “Thug Life” tattooed across the back of your neck
10 Have sold your forehead to an internet advertising agency
11 Affectionately address your friends as “stinker”
12 Prefer the “fist bump” when meeting strangers, and always insist they “lock it in”
13 Have knees that chafe
14 Regard the in-flight meal as the highlight of any flight, or holiday, for that matter
15 Own a pair of Crocs
16 Are only gay when you’re drunk
17 Stand for the national anthem
18 Refuse to remove your Bluetooth headset before making love
19 Throw baked beans at people who tease you
20 Shave your legs “for sporting purposes”
21 Have ever taken more than one mobile-phone photograph of your genitals
22 Have telephoned in a late-night radio dedication
23 Have a stuffed parrot on your shoulder
24 Believe all worthwhile women are under 25
25 Have a name for it

WOMEN because you...
1 Have a calendar stuck to your wall with pictures of babies in plant pots
2 Have a “lucky” thong
3 Have more than zero stuffed animals on your bed
4 Still use scrunchies
5 Are described by your friends as “mad!”
6 Are described by your friends as “Samantha”
7 Know all the words to Mariah Carey’s Hero
8 Have written poetry in Costa Coffee
9 Use the expression “defo”
10 Have an extremely long nail on one of your little fingers
11 Have ever got corn rows on holiday
12 Get visibly angry if people don’t get what you’re trying to mime in charades
13 Spell your name with a “y”, where there should really be an “i”, as in “Clayre”
14 Dot your “i”s with a circle
15 Posed with your cat for your Facebook profile photo
16 Have a five o’clock shadow
17 Have bought yourself a Ginsters All Day Breakfast Roll
18 Write in coloured ink and/or use smiley faces in handwritten letters
19 Think the energy crisis can be solved with crystals
20 Will not relinquish control
21 Spend all your time with your best friend and her husband
22 Own 27 volumes of Now That’s What I Call Music!
23 Have mistakenly given yourself “wedding hair”, thanks to overzealous use of curling tongs
24 Have said, “Oh my God, you’re a Gemini?”
25 Own a pair of leather trousers

Have you ever thought about this? :)

Sick

There, there, there, 2008 is already here for a week and I haven't noticed it yet. Been sick for the last 5 days with all the flu symptoms you can think of. Maybe this start of the year isn't auspicious, but, what the heck, what can I do about it? I've been on my bed for longer than I recall, I'm sick of being sick. My family doctor smiles when I step in his office, knowing beforehand that Ibuprofen is the medicine for me. I'm sick of him too. At least, he gave me 2 sick days to stay at home and not going to work (by the way, I'm supposed to be enjoying holidays!). Arghh, I swear I'll be thankful of my good days.

2008!

Tomorrow night we'll be thinking about the new year and our resolutions... one for each sultana (actually, here in Spain, they don't eat 12 sultanas, but real grapes....).

Anyways, we'll be in our friends' huge house and I'm hoping his swimming pool is well covered, as I can already see some midnight diving....

Hope 2008 brings the same as this year, I can't ask for more, can't complain really. Basically, the trio - health, love and money - that big equation that seems to summarise our lives' goals. We all want it, the more the better. I keep playing Euromillions, keep going to the doctor checking out regularly and, as for love, I keep looking. It will come, I'm sure, I feel 2008 will be what winemakers call a 'vintage' year... I'll keep my fingers crossed, hey?

Happy New Year, plenty of love for everyone!

Spas and shoes

Apart from the Foundue Set and the 6 bottles of Cava - the Spanish equivalent of champagne -, I very much liked my presents... there's a catch here - I basically knew what I was going to get beforehand, because this year we decided to make a list to avoid unecessary gifts. We went straight to the point. Except for the shoes from Sacha London which I love, my Mum is the best. Of course, I´m a massage lover and I've been dying to get one at this place. Not only was I offered one, but it's also the best one of the pack!

C'mon, spas and shoes are a girl's best dream! Hurrah!

Useless gifts

Saturday night fever - 2

My previous Saturday nights in Madrid have all been all about partying... It's good to come back to the party lifestyle :) There's so much out there to look at!!! C'mon, just look at us and you'll see we've been having fun. Last night was a very very late night in Pacha, I guess it will take a while to forget what a funky time we had.

Here's some samples...some more are promised and they will be on the way soon!

Home sweet home

Going home for the weekend is always a good reason to smile :)

On these occasions, I always stuff myself with cakes and food in general that are hard to come by here or that simply taste better at home, with that flavour that brings back memories and tastes particularly fantastic!

It's a very short visit, but doublefolded - in one hand, visit parents and friends and finally bring back my winter jackets (that we need desperately) and, on the other, to visit customers on Monday and Tuesday. After working for 2 years with these people on the phone, I'll finally will have the chance to say what I think of them eye to eye :) No, they're sweethearts, really! They're well groomed!

Au Revoir Simone-The Lucky One

Air - Sexy boy

The Chemical Brothers - Do it Again

The Chemical Brothers - The Salmon Dance

Creepy stalker

I have a stalker.
I see her every morning, waiting for me by my car.
She’s in her small Hyunday and she is scary.
She gets into fights with other people because of me.
I can’t trick her, because she knows where I live and what time I leave for work.

She’s after me….and my car spot!

The Brothers will work it out...

Amazing weekend of concerts! 2 in 1.

Saturday:
Au Revoir Simone and Air…Sexy Boy was cool, danced all gig long, got fascinated looking at the front boys’ white and tight pants. They were quite ‘fashion’
as any true Frenchie is.

Sunday:
The masters Chemical Brothers really were wicked, loved the explosion of colours and images on the transparent screen behind them. The lasers and colours really made the show, together with the mood of the thousands of people that filled the Madrid Arena. When Black Rollin’ Beat started, there was an out roar and the people jumped like one single mass, arms up and smiles on their faces. I was remembering my student years in the UK, when I first heard of them and danced their hits on Wednesday’s at Arabella’s, our alternative disco…On Thursdays we had Student Night on Tokyo Jo’s and the music was more commercial and targeted at young drunk crowds.
Can’t believe those years were crucial, as it was also the year of Trainspotting and Underworld, Oasis, Prodigy and a few others. I was at the right place with the right people.
Last night the gig brought back those sweet memories of northern England at the late nineties…

My (fake) Miu Miu coffer

I just bought this bag, it's quite cool :)

Obviously mine isn't a real Miu Miu coffer, like the one Reese Witherspoon is sporting, but it looks exactly the same...

I told you I was on a silly mood!

Shallow obsessing strongly encouraged here.

Silliness

I feel silly* today, I won't say anything :)

* silly as of happy silly, I'll come back later!

REY JUAN CARLOS INCREPA A CHAVEZ POR INSULTOS CONTRA AZNAR 1

The Spanish King showed he's human after all and shouted a 'why don't you shut up' towards Chavez who, later, called the King a bull...
Ahhh, politics!....

Wow, Earth!

Go and watch this movie NOW!

http://www.loveearth.com/uk/film

Earth is, without any doubt, the most beautiful movie ever.