Creatures of the Night

So, it's the 2nd of December now, which means we are edging towards THAT time of the year. However, since I work in retail, that time of the year has started for us a couple of weeks ago! Therefore, since it was offered and worked so well last year, I decided to go on the nightshifts this year, again. It's been pretty good, apart from the fact that, when I get home around 6 am I simply am not able to get to sleep until around 9. When it's really bright outside. I have yellow curtains, too, which makes my room even brighter in the mornings. I need to figure out a blackout tactic!!! 

So, yeah, 2 weeks of nightshifts, the first 3 days or so, we had full electricity and were able to listen to music through the speakers. There's 3 perms and 2 temps and a supervisor. Everyone gets assigned their work at the start of the shift and just gets on with it. We'll have "lunch"/"midnight meal" at 1 (whatever do you call mealtime when it is at 1 am?), for the last week we have been watching films during lunch (so far we have kept up an 80s-themed lunchtime entertainment with Highlander, Krull and The Goonies). Also, for the past week we have been cut off of some of our electricity. Some lights are working, that's about it. No music, unless you decide to be extremely unsocial and listen to your iPod. Which I have been doing, cause working in complete silence is freaking me out. 

As much as I love fleeing the X-Mas madness during the day, I do miss my days! I was hoping to maybe get up around early afternoon and hit town for some shopping today. Well, even with my natural sounds relax App, I could not fall asleep for ages. And when I woke up, it was already dark, so I knew I missed the day. Gutted! And I want to have a normal day tomorrow, aswell. So if I can't get any sleep tonight.... 

Tomorrow is our staff party, which I am looking forward to. Will be helping a mate with her Make-up uni work during the day (she'll be turning me into a sort of African queen! :) and then off to partay with the work folks (wonder who's gonna get off with whom this year...).

Oh, by the way: since I had been trying to catch up with both Supernatural and The Walking Dead, it's been very interesting working the nights. There's so many creepy noises everywhere!! I even dreamt I was being attacked by a flippin' Zombie, and woke myself up trying to shake it (or the duvet, in real life) off my arm . I have also started a personal film challenge a few days back. I realised that I have not been watching many films recently, so for 30 days I will try and watch a film a day. I have started 3 days ago and have watched Fargo, 54, Step Up 3D and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. I have not been aiming on watching any particular genre or type of film. Just wanting to broaden my cinematic horizon a little! 

Quickly: One thing that makes nights so good is a mocha! Now, we don't have a fancy coffee machine or a coffee shop that is open that time of day, just a kettle, those little hot choc sachets you can get in different flavours and coffee granules. YUM!!!! Caffeine infused chocolatey goodness in a mug!!!! Love it!

That's it for now (probably for the year, at the rate I am posting!).
Thanks for reading!

x ♥ x

LIFE | This is what leisure feels like...

One week of no work. Booked a week off, without any plans, really, apart from, well, NOT working. The first "proper" weekend- as in Saturday and Sunday" is nearly over and I have done jack all! Apart from watching Supernatural that is. My friend Shona came down on monday for a vue reunion and was raving so much about the series, I simply had to buy the first season. It's sunday now and I am somewhere in the middle of season 2. Quite scary considering the length of one of the episodes. It's so worth it. The dialogue is ingenious, the on-screen chemistry between Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles is amazing (I was probably a little biased, since I watched gag reels on youtube before i watched any of the series), and all in all it's just a really clever series. I love the little references to films and music (and there's probably tons I didn't get). Of course it's rather convenient that both lead actors are pretty s**t hot. Just a massive bonus there! (Hey! I said bonus. Head out the gutter, now!)

However, I shall be more productive in the next few days....maybe?! By productive I mean a trip to London tomorrow with Jojo, and hopefully Tash, if she feels better by then, and a trip to the 'Diff with my pal Kevin. Finally gonna find out what Metro is all about then! :) I should be job-hunting, really, cause my current job is starting to turn from a "inbetween-uni-and-career"-type thing to a lifetime of bagging up other people's purchases. You know, just living the dream! And I will go job-hunting. I'll have all the time in the world when I come back from Cardiff. That is, after tidying my room, sorting my Dvds, watching more Supernatural.... Hi, my name is Procrastination! 

Anyways. It's really nice to just have time to... do nothing! Although after 2 days of doing nothing, I am starting to feel like a right slob! It's getting a little boring now. So, trip to London will sort me right out! (If anyone would like to share any tips on where to go or what to do and see in London, do share!) Maybe someone will just offer me a super cool job while I am there? Just cause I am awesome? I like to think so. Don't shatter my dreams, leave that to reality!!

Right. That's it from me for today.

Thanks for reading,

x ♥ x

LIFE | Today I want to spend my money on stuff that scares me to death, please!

Right, so originally I wanted to post something a week ago, after going to Thorpe Park for the first time. Because I thought it was really funny how, if you think about it, people pay money to get scared to death and get splashed with water. Seriously, Tidal Wave! Might aswell hop on one of those kids' coin operated rides and get your mate to empty a bucket of water over you!

As strange as the concept of theme parks may be, it is always such a great day out!! We had a 2 for 1 voucher, which made it even better. First time for me at a UK theme park. I loved it! Went onto Storm Surge first, where we sat with 3 little girls, one of which told us that she had just lost her tooth.....  went on to X/No way out. Now, my friend was not very clever and told me exactly what to expect! But, although I am not usually much of a screamer, I screamed! Bloody loved it though! We then did the little round where Zodiac, Quantum etc. were. After those rides, both our stomachs were in dire need of some food and rest, so we had our lunch, sat right to a massive noisy speaker. After lunch we were a little unlucky: We decided to brave Tidal wave. After queueing for about half an hour, maybe a little longer, an announcement notified us of a technical issue. We got so close to the front, too. We jumped out of the queue and went back to X?No way out. Half hour queue. And this was outside. When we got near the entrance, an announcement said they had some major cleaning to do (someone's stomach gone mad?!). First we waited. For about another half an hour. 2 mins after we left, the ride was cleared. We were too embarrassed to go straight back so went to smaller rides instead and came back. 

Eventually we got back into the queue for Tidal Wave, (after going on Detonator. The one type of ride I had always avoided. Even back in Germany I'd sit out "Scream" in the Heide Park, but I fought my demons and BLOODY LOVED IT)....where was I? Tidal Wave! We were right at the back. Apart from a little dry patch on my shirt, I was soaking wet! No joke, Everyone was drenched!! Definitely glad we put our stuff in one of the provided lockers just before this one! 

Overall, we had a really fun day. The weather was amazing, too. Definitely a great way to spend your day off!

x ♥ x

LIFE | Where have the last 10 years gone?

So.... It's been a while.

Since my last post, I have been on holiday back to the homeland (Germany) and surprising my uncle for his birthday in Canada. I do love the land of the maple leaf! Even though my cousins liked to make fun of anything English really. Oh well.

Germany was really nice. Got to see my "old" friends again and met my new baby cousin. However, baby's older siblings made me realise, how much of an age gap there is between me and them.

Ok, before I go into that, I should mention that both my cousins pretty much grew up with me. When the older one was born, we went to see her at the hospital and from then on, we'd see each other once a week. We were really close! So close, in fact, that she'd cry everytime they came round to visit and it was hometime already. One day they left us and my aunty had to call us as soon as they got into the door, because she would not stop crying. So, we were close! When she was 4, her brother was born and she'd spend a lot more time with us. Everytime our families met, I'd practically go off with them, playing children's games. Bear in mind, I am 11 years older than my girl cousin. 7 years ago, she would have been 9. we moved to England. I was gutted, and still am, about the fact that I wouldn't be able to be a part of her life anymore. I mean, who is going to educate her in terms of music, or films?! 

Now she is 16, her brother 12, and... she is very grown up! We chat online and keep in touch, thanks to modern technology. But exactly that is what made me feel really old! My 12 year old cousin had to show me how to do certain things on my iPod touch (like taking screen shots.). I would have found out how to do it myself, i just never needed to know. Which made me think: these kids seem to do so much with their gadgets! I would watch them chat away on their iPods, browse the net for cute pictures and quotes to post on tumblr whilst on the phone to their friends, edit photos like pros before putting them up on facebook or instagram, even how they take picture has changed! Whether it's a camera or a phone or an iPod. Keep pressing the button whilst slightly changing your pose and/or angle with every click. I felt old. And even though I like my tech, I do think it is kinda scary to see, how these kids grow up in a half-real/half-virtual world! 

When we first had internet, it was dial-up. We had to unplug the phone, plug in the ethernet cable, wait for a few minutes for the funny sounds to finish and then we had to watch the time. Cause the longer you spend on the internet, the more expensive it would get. And while I love not having to deal with THAT anymore, it does surprise me, how much has changed in just 10 years. So, if I feel this old and not "down-with-the-kids" now, what's it going to be like in another 5 to 10 years? 

Although I turned 27 this month, I really do not feel like 27 at all! 10 years ago, I would have probably thought: "27 is a good age to have your first kid. Of course I'd be married with house and all that". I don't even know what my ideal career would be, unless "lottery winner" counts as a possible career?! 

My cousin's lives are moving so fast. It's all about how many likes you get on facebook and taking and posting the most professional-looking pics. It just kinda scares me.

So, as you can tell, that was an eye-opening holiday. It does make me think about where I am at the moment and where I want to go. Except, the latter is not really that easy to answer. Almost 30 (whoa, that feels weird typing that up), i have a degree that does not really get me anywhere ( i wish i had been clever- and studious- enough to do a "proper" degree like....something science-y. Wouldn't have worked, would it?), my job was meant to be temporary, 2 years on I am getting stressed out about silly work-related problems, I get miserable, because I am not enjoying working anymore, even worse: I can not find anything else because I have not the (right) experience or the necessary qualifications. Not really helpful, is it. 

Oh well. I know "your life's in your own hands" and "if you want change, you have to initiate it" and all that, but I am truly finding it hard to see how. So for now it's: "Keep your chin up" and "something good will come along". And of course: Keep playing the lottery. 

Quite a long post, but it has been MONTHS since the last one. There had been a few things I wanted to write about, but never knew, if it'd be worth it.

So, thanks for reading!

x ♥ x

BAKING | Time for Cupcake

So.... It's been an age since I updated my blog. To be honest, most of the time I don't feel like things happening to me are worth sharing with the world. So I don't bother writing. Although writing itself is so much fun! I really should get started on a script. If only I had an idea....

Anyways, not that much has happened since January. I'll finally get a week off work next week and I shall be spending the week in Germany, with friends and family. Can not wait! I'm excited like a little kid the night before Christmas!!! 

I have finally given into the urge to upgrade my iPod now. I have traded in my Nintendo DSi, some films and CDs and got myself the iPod touch. It's a beauty! I do not regret spending that money on it! And I must say, I am in love with instagram! Such an amazing app!! Yes, it's an app that turns your wannabe arty pics into 'vintage' arty pics, (at times) completely changing the look of the original picture, but as long as it looks good: who cares, right? Also, it's much quicker than photoshop. Which I wouldn't even know how to use. I am somewhat technologically challenged some might say. I have been using instagram to mainly share the fruits of my baking sessions with the insta-world. Yes, I have been busy baking! Here's the proof:

These are my Pina Colada Cupcakes. My workmates seem to really like them, so I like baking them.

Pina Colada Cupcakes

Yummy! I made them as a treat for the work lot, together with a more chocolatey variety. This is my badge of chocolate cupcake with crushed minieggs and a cream cheese icing. 

Mini Egg Chocolate Cupcakes

They were nice, although my cream cheese icing always seems a little runny! They are fine once they spend a little time in the fridge though.

And yesterday I made more cupcakes. I felt like it was my turn to bake again. I wanted to try something new, so opted for Rocky Road and Carrot Cake. No raisins though! Me no likey! And this time I only put nuts in some of the cakes, as the last time some people did not like the desiccated coconut on the Pina Colada cakes. So, here are the pictures:

Rocky Road cakes pre-icing

These are the Rockys before the icing. I love the recipes from the Hummingbird Bakery. I just tweak the recipes by either substituting their suggested ingredient or adding chunky ingredients like chocolate chips, marshmallow or nuts. 

Rocky Road Cupcakes

Say hello to the finished product! I must admit, I was quite proud of these! They looked pretty yummy and apparently didn't taste too bad either! 

Carrot Cupcakes

And this is what my Carrot Cupcakes looked like. I even made the carrots myself! (I had marzipan at home and it turned out it'd be cheaper to figure out how to make them rather than buying them.) Both cake tins returned home empty,. That's always a good sign! 


I will try and post more on the blog. And maybe, just maybe, I can find motivation to write a script! Would be rather nice! 


Until then then I shall thank you for taking the time to look at my blog!


Laters, x ♥ x

So this is 2012...now what?!

Hey Folks!


First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is going to be a great year for everyone. (Although as I type this I can't help but think "why wouldn't there be any accidents or issues just cause our calenders start with January once again? It's just another day in life, really.")


So, it's been a while since I have last posted. The nightshifts are well and truly over. Which is a shame, really! I do miss going to town on the 8.05pm bus, having a little window- or food-shop before walking into work, where sometimes stressed minions would be shuffling around the stockroom, or mister manager would be letting of a little steam amongst boxes of stock we needed to put out. Quick walk into the staff room to fill up the mug with coffee and roll a ciggie and then it's out again with co-smokers for a fag-break. Back in people would be finishing their shift and we go up, chose some good music (no longer restricted by the language of the artist. Swear away, my lovelies!!!) and begin replenishing. It's amazing how long you can spend just putting out stock and finding stuff in the wrong place (thanks, christmas shoppers.). We'd have a break at 1am, where we'd see either funny or weird (drunk) people walk past us (one guy called everything a "prick", when I say everything, I mean including inanimate objects!), few people stumbling, a nicely/business-y looking man falling over... the usual friday night sights. Our break (can't really call it "lunch") was an hour, as usual. But how we never thought of putting a DVD on until 2 nights before the end of night-shifts is a mystery to me. Yes, second to last shift Will decided, as it was drawing closer to Xmas, it was time to watch a little "Home Alone". Watch the first part of the film on our break that night, and the last part on our last night-break. Christmas Eve morning we finished our nights. 


And then it was Christmas. I got a new camera, which i knew I'd be getting. (Mum: "Have you already wrapped up your sister's camera?", me: "Mum, we got her a phone?!", and of course her talking to my dad outside my room telling him, I'd be getting a camera didn't give it away...), Amazon and HMV vouchers (Ima be shoppin'!!!), these two books

and dad gave me a perfume. Since I had just come off night-shifts, I couldn't help but keep nodding off. So I took my prezzies and went to bed. Boxing day was the first day back (didn't have much time to rest, did I?!). Lots of new people that I didn't know and that didn't know me. A till-key (you give me responsibility??) and way too many people shopping. Doesn't anyone want to rest these days? A lot of the temps were rather....let's just say we had better days with our temps. But all those days passed by and before I knew it, it was New Year's Eve.


The plan was to go to Luton to my friend Dean's house, who had come home from Dubai for XMas, and celebrate with him, his family and a few friends. Since I wasn't quite sure where in Luton I would have to go, I tried getting some instructions. I already knew it was £38 for the trains (which did not include tubes, as far as I could see) and a 2-hour-travel. Finally I got a reply and it turned out, it would have been another £18 to get to where I was going and back. That was a lot of money. The fact that I was expected at work at 11am didn't really encourage me to go out either, so I decided, I would have to see Dean another day and have a quiet New Years at home, for a change. And it was quiet. Just another night, really. No fuss, no resolutions (if I had the willpower to change an aspect of my life, I'd do it whenever!), no drink. Perhaps I should mention that I did go to a work-night-out followed by a houseparty the night before. So was feeling a little queezy. 


Now it's the third day into the new year and apart from the last digits in the date, not much is different. Got a day off, which I whould probably spend tidying this room or do other productive things. I do hope that this year brings lots of positive things to people. There has been a lot of negative events last years and it's time for a more uplifted mood. I wish people were nicer. Just generally. It doesn't hurt to say thank you or please. A smile is always appreciated and if some members of the general public could just chill the eff out every now and then, it would make an instant change, even if it's tiny, to everyone's lives.


So. Let me go attempt doing something productive! And I shall try and use this blog more this year. There you go, having one resolution after all! :D 


Laters and stay young,


x ♥ x