The joys of moving..

Of course the shippers don't turn up when they are supposed to.

And I am missing a receipt to pick up my currency, Orange can't transfer me from one department to another, no one can pick up at the airport and it's taken me a week to get the address of the B and B I am staying at when I get there..

The paperwork never ends

Never has the printer and scanner been so well used.

I wonder if in Colonial times people just got on a boat, got off and that was that. Is the world any better or different for all out bit of paper, ID cards, contracts, visas - surely it is just a ruse to keep us busy and keep people employed.

I keep meaning to blog about things I see or hear in London but frankly, unless I write it down, it's gone, gone, gone.

The only funny thing is that I tell people I am moving to Africa and they do act like it's Joseph Conrad's time or something- a mix of fear, admiration and "you're clearly bonkers".. although some people look at the tube and sigh - lucky you.

x

The Librarian

Yes, the contract finally arrived and I nearly died.

It said "librarian" at the top. What the f....?

I find out two days later after much chasing it is a budget issue.

It is also only for 6 months but it is a staff placement so let's see. The shipping, sorting, medical clearance, visa confusion now begins in earnest.

It is a risk, I could be here again soon if things come to an end too soon but it is also the gateway to a new world and life.

How exciting.

Will be off in a couple of weeks me thinks.

x

What's the true cost of photocopy paper?

I wrote this piece on the environmentalist blog

http://world.the-environmentalist.org/2009/06/whats-true-cost-of-photocopy-paper.html

but things get confusing now because this blog is personal, not professional. However, I had to use the same log in and email as a contributor and writer for them as I couldn't be bothered setting up a new one. Perhaps silly of me.

So - I've had to untick this blog from my profile so people can't see it.

Ah - the age of google and gmail - so much for personal, professional divide.

New experiences

Kundalini Yoga - weird but good. Lots of heavy deep breathing.

Vinyasa Flow yoga with tiger balm as the bearded teacher nipped behind, pulled your top up and rubbed into your lower back joints.

Getting feedback on the writing project.

Stuff..

Barclays in Nairobi?

I pop to Barclays on my way back from the nurse who has just given me a polio booster.

"I always wanted to go abroad and a be a nurse in Africa or Asia but I got married and had kids and my life was over" she muttered. "Now I'll never do it."

I told he she could do it when the kids left home but she looked unconvinced.

Anyway, into High Street bank Barclays I pop and stride to the customer service desk.

Part of me feels like acting in a play "My good woman, do you have a branch of your establishment in Nairobi, Kenya?" but I don't of course.

Instead I say - "Would you be able to tell me if you have a Barclays in Nairobi."

She looks at me. She's not young, not old - maybe late twenties but with a somewhat gormless stare.

"Oh..um...I dunno. Where?"

Kenya I say again. Nairobi.

"Oh - I don't know how to find that out..." "She calls to someone else - do we 'ave a branch in ....where was it love...Nairobi? Nairobbery perhaps I intone. "Oh..we don't have a list of global branches."

For Christ sake I think.

I say - "Don't worry, I'll look it up myself on the net - can you not even give me a phone number to call..?"

Ah yes. I think two things at this point.

If the banking system is in a state of collapse, why are they employing people that can't apparently even think. Secondly, it reminded of an earlier argument I had with an employee at Abbey who wouldn't believe that Switzerland didn't have the Euro. They may be paying big bucks at the top but I suspect it's peanuts at the bottom.

Wasted time...

God I hate wasting time and I feel as if I am wasting time all the time at the moment. I've been told that the contract has finally been approved which is great news but now - have I heard a word back. One step forward, one step backwards. So here I am in limbo again - no work, no structure, waiting, waiting, waiting.

Of course there are things to do and sort out, paperwork, jabs, packing but really - I could do it all in a week and be gone.

I know time is a luxury - so why do I feel as if there is too much of it swilling around now?

I am writing but have had feedback and need to do rewrites, I am reading a lot but that feels like dead time too sometimes, seeing friends - all of whom are busy, busy, busy and trying to relax and store up energy as I know the next move will take it out of me and then I'll be wishing I had more time again!

What's new people?

Are you interested that the Northern line has signal failures all the time?

Or that it's been hot as hell?

That I took the Thames River boat cruise to Greenwhich last week, or went to visit a friend in Chichester and we went to the beach in the UK AND IT WAS HOT AND THE SAND WAS WHITE!!!

Or that I've been sorting through boxes and giving things away to lighten my load and that I again, wait, wait, wait for a piece of paper that should change my life.

When it arrives, we shall celebrate.