Our last day!

Its an absolutely bizarre thing to think that today is my last day of working for the next 6-8 months before Lee and I take off on our big adventure - it's his last day too but he is tres hungover from his work christmas do last night so it might be a slightly different enjoyment.
I was on the tube this morning, slightly hungover, squashed up next to some guys woolly coat and I actually felt nostalgic. No more rushing from one underground line to another at 830am, no more pushing and shoving with grumpy city workers, no more getting up at 7am and wrestling with my snooze button, no more watching the world go by at work - though my current job that I say goodbye to, has been one of the best experiences I've had! So thanks to the guys!

But back to my point - how fun to think I'm just going to be permanently on holiday from 5pm this evening.

No amount of Homer Simpson's whoo hoo's could top mine!

Thieves

Just had the rudest girl on the phone to me from Carphone Warehouse Billing section - they want money and when its money, nothing else matters. It makes my blood boil because she couldn't have given a damn about the fact that they have not sent me an itemised bill since I moved houses in late July - I have called and spoken to their moronic agents 6 times in the past 4 months to update my address details and up until the 28th Nov they still didnt have it down correctly. But they still expect me to pay the bill even though I have no bloody clue what I am paying for, its amazing how they justify themselves by saying "I'm sorry but we will not be able to do anything for you until you settle your bill" and I replied in awe "How the heck am I supposed to pay a bill that I have no idea what its for?" - they are the Foxtons of the Mobile Phone industry. Its pathetic.

I have had my limit of "Customer Service Agents" honestly they don't know sh*t from chocolate. I wish, just wish a company would put some educated, intelligent human beings on the other side of the phone - after all we're all paying them our hard earned money that keeps them in business. So what the hell for?

Off to my Spanish lesson - where I will learn to cuss appropriately.

My wonderful Marikkar family

This was taken at my cousin's wedding in Sri Lanka on Friday by my other cousin Minha who lives in Cape Town but flew down - I couldn't make it (i have a total of 44 first cousins on my Dad's side - we are one hell of a loud bunch!). Check out my lovely cousins, and the other picture is of my parents and is growing to one of my most favourite of them! I cannot wait to see you!

Thoughts on the tube

Honestly today was one of the best days to have my iPod on shuffle - I know that sounds weird but it was as if the happiest music was just organised for me and played out - Beatles, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Sinatra, Bob Marley, The Darkness, Erykah Badu to name some of it. And I was in such a great mood this morning anyway, even though its gloomy and raining. Who cares? Life is truly working out to be a happy adventure - even with a lack of sleep, everything is good. Sometimes it takes a tiny bump in the road to make the next day clearer and positive! LB you are awesome...

I met with my sister Tasha last night, and its getting more and more of a wonderful laugh to see her and hang out with her. She is one of the most fashionable and trendy people I know! Go Miss Fox!

It may be raining outside, but my heart is in a warm and sunny place.

Intruders!

Can you believe this? I read a blog entry by Tom Coates who says his very personal blog entry was infiltrated by Cillit Bang (toilet cleaner company) pretending to be a sympathising blogger replying to his message about not speaking to his father for 30 years. It just gets sicker and sicker. After my post below about the KFC monstrosity on the moon, check out 2 comments I received on the same day after I published my post:

richard quick millionaire, said...

Horrifyingly retarded! That's perfect!

Check out franworst to see how KFC has even gone one better!

If you like it, please post a link to it.

I like your site. Keep it up!

6:46 PM

Sorry... forgot to leave the url:

http://www.franworst.com

Thanks!

RQ

6:47 PM

Richard Quick is supposedly this dude who saved KFC's previous disastrous ad campaign (what the hell he did here is beyond me) and did this moon venture, but I believe it was all a hoax and this guy doesn't exist even though has a blog (which skim reading it, I find to be pretty weird). I can't believe that someone/some company would just post a comment on my site. Will be doing some research into this!!

Space adverts and the Sun on Earth

Yes, I too made the face of an orangutan being shown the benefits of wearing underpants when I read these headlines today. But its the truth - KFC advertised the ugly face of Col. Saunders on the bloody moon and separately an international consortium has signed a formal agreement to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor.

It is fascinating (not the KFC stunt, thats just too horrifyingly retarded that I don't want to even comment) but this multi-billion-euro energy project known as Iter - or "the way" in Latin - will aim to produce energy from nuclear reactions like those that fuel the Sun and if it works - we'll be seeing statues of these scientists in every western square. No actually if it is successful, it could provide energy that is both clean and limitless.

I have to admit, we live in some pretty amazing times. Not good, not bad, just amazing.

Sun Fuel
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6165932.stm

KFC
http://www.franworst.com/?p=62

Graffiti is good

Thought I'd add one more link to my very cool list - Banksy. He absolutely rocks with his graffiti art and words, people who don't like him are ignorant, war loving control freaks. How any one can find it difficult to see the great ideas and expression in his work, is beyond me - because the world needs more people who have the courage and who are willing to speak out when injustice and wrong doing are being done to innocents.

Click on his website and see for yourself - respect to the guy who posts the most criticising emails sent to him by the public.

Messing around

Got this super cool software on my mac - check out these pictures.

Go Lanka!

A very innovative Sri Lankan company has made the final twelve of the BBC's World Challenge. Its a global competition, and this company has beaten 800+ other global companies to make the shortlist. It uses bio degradable elephant waste to produce paper etc. and uses the revenue to conserve and protect the elephants in Sri Lanka. The winner will be determined through a vote. Click if you can and help them win!

"Elephant Paper - Sri Lanka"

http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/voteform.php

Excitement

I am getting bouts of it more often than not, now that Lee and my plans are coming together... my parents are in town this week too and its been so wonderful to see them. I have to admit that honestly sometimes I miss being a child who just clings on to her mum's hand and gets taken around wherever she goes, sort of subject to her parents' wants and routines of life. Not realising how much these habits shape our childhood. I'm so proud of my parents. They rock the world.

Besides that bout of massive mush - I was thinking today about a feeling/emotion that people have though I realised that we don't actually have a word for it. Its that feeling when you're discussing a problem or a debate with a friend or companion and then you suddenly completely understand what you want to say and get the whole gist of what its all about. That sort of mind cloud clearing and in front of you is that very momentous point which you comprehend and want to make.

I do believe I am rambling. hurray.

Playing in the Park

Just another beautiful crisp day in Vicky Park, playing with Lee's Mum's dog who is the sweetest rappiest doggy in the world - next to my Jade of course. Here I am discussing with her the importance of compromise on returning the tennis ball back to me.

I love days like these.

hypo-critical

We're living in critical times if the world stands united against North Korea for testing a bomb in their own basement, but not united when 1000's of innocent lives are lost because the United States and United Kingdom invade another sovereign state in the interests Of International democracy and Liberation (O.I.L).

It is absolutely unbelievable that the US, UK, Russia, China and many 'others' are outraged at the North Korea's nuclear test when it is conveniently omitted that these very countries with their large accusing foam hands, have their own nuclear weapons. Where do they test theirs? Why is it any different, why is it that they get to have nuclear weapons and other countries don't? What is this supposed criteria? Do you have to be a country lead by a person who lacks any moral intelligence, who's father was a president so it makes it ok for him to be? This entire primitive, not from the west, not adopting western forms of life, not accepting a few country's keep policies stance - does this make them uneligible for this exclusive group?

I can't believe educated people around the world accept this hypocrisy. Also it just makes me sick to think how irresponsible the media is being. Sick.

I find it almost hilarious that a newspaper (if you can call it that), the Metro, with such low standards of objective reportage says that the world is against this madman Kim Jong-Il, I'd like to know where exactly they got this interesting fact. Also the fact that its almost as if N Korea exploded this bomb in someone else's backyard. We do not even know for sure whether this bomb exploded - it might have just fizzed out unsuccessfully. Though I have to admit it is foreign diplomatic suicide for N Korea to admit that they had tested nuclear weapons. They should have just kept their mouths shut.

Even funnier to read the front page headline of Lite London tabloid - 'The bomb that shook the world'. Obviously Nikki from Big Brother wasn't doing anything exciting like filing her nails for them to put on their front page.

Shall we have another go?

The Govt and LTTE have announced that they're ok to go for another round of peace talks, though we have heard this tune before I believe that this time it will be different. There's alot happening in the midst of all the corruption and loud mouthed extremists (you all know who you are) lets just hope the people who have good intentions get to see them through right to the end.

Rock and roll again tonight with another kick ass gig from Chimovski - my spanish is improving thanks to more lessons and hopefully I'll keep to my commitment of more time each week.

¡Escribiré la semana más próxima! si no más pronto...

We have broadband!

And in other news, just went to Bristol this past weekend where Lee and his band Chimovski played a cool gig... more gigs this week too. Rock and roll.

Looks like the U.S.A is going mad (not a news flash) but am really taken aback by the unbelievable school shootings this past week. Life really is losing its value with some. But there's still hope with others.

The winter is approaching but here are some pictures of a fantastic summer gone by...

Pictures at Last

This is from Lee's 30th birthday - we went down to Llangennith, Hill End Campsite to camp and go surfing for 4 days in the sunshine. It was absolutely beautiful and about 30 of his friends and family came down and camped too. So bbq's, tents, a refreshingly cold ocean, friends, family, great company, ultimate frisbee at 3am on the beach, wine, beer and whisky were all part of fantastic weekend celebration. it is always sunny in Wales!

Even bigger lapse!

I've been so bad at updating my blog but i blame a certain broadband provider as they have still not hooked our flat up to it so i never get a chance to upload the great photos of all the cool stuff I've been up to. So check out Lee's blog (over to the right) for pics.
Also some cool things I've discovered lately:

http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/61/gastatement19.shtml
for all the transcripts of all state leader's speeches to the UN General Assembly, I highly recommend Venezuela, Iran, US (for amusing reading) and Kofi Annan.

www.beyondthevalley.com
for wunderville - cool design exhibit free to all at Carnaby street square till end of next week.

I've been running around like a lunatic with work, my parents visiting here and just general life living and socialising!
More to come soon (i hope).

The Lapse

I can't believe how long I have gone without making an entry in my blog - though I do think about doing it everyday. A new thought, an idea, a passionate rant etc. I will update soon with pictures of the last month and the many adventures I have had -been to Sweden and experienced both wonderful hospitality and ridiculous passport control!

Festivals, parties, travel, moving house and quiet times - updating soon - but for now check Lee's blog as he's been much more efficient with updates and has taken some fantastic photos too.

Peace.

Its our turn

I have been posting comments on the BBC's Have Your Say page for the past week and not a single one of mine have been published. Instead Farooq from London gets his one, asking 'why are Lebanese die, US not right?'. And then I thought hang on I've got my own blog, what the *$5^ was I thinking?

I honestly am frightened by the world we are currently living in - the fact that we have no choice over what these bastard politicians do in Sri Lanka and Israel and US - I mean when is enough going to be enough? I eerily keep imagining a massive nuclear bomb going off because only that might warrant a reaction... with every day that we do not react, the harsher the terrorists believe the revenge should be. Not even 40 children being killed in Qana in one bombing alone is enough to spur action. Not the massacre of innocent families in the NE of Jaffna is getting people to their feet and their fists in the air. We are SO desensitised. We do not care enough - and this is what frightens me.

I think its time that our generation takes a stand, that we have the ability to change because after all we are going to inherit this world soon enough and I refuse to be party to the sick, greedy and selfish domination that our sorry politicians and governments have put us through.

fast cars

I was walking along this morning on my way to work and this fancy Mercedes zoomed by me with a young flashy looking Asian guy behind the wheel wearing what is no doubt designer sunglasses.
So he swung his head round 'Zoolander' style and gave me what appeared to be the 'blue steel' look. Revving his engine he then sped off into the horizon (actually he had to screech to a halt as he came to a red traffic light) but i suddenly wondered...
do guys like these buy these sort of cars and think that they will definitely 'bag some chicks'? i mean when you give them the look i did, which was a sort of 'uh yes, very nice' do you think they go 'vat woman, can't you see this hot car that i spent £30K on - isn't it utterly fabulous? don't you just want to do me'?

i don't know... any men out there who can answer the question - it would be much appreciated.

blazing london!

it is unbelievably hot here in London - 37 degrees! but i am trying hard to maintain my cool tropical island girl exterior, that is - i can handle it.
But what i almost couldn't handle was the fantastic, mind boggling and calf-muscle shattering Red Hot Chili Peppers concert that Lee and I went to, with two other mates. It was awesome and moreover so uplifting, Kiedis was electric, and nothing like watching two great guitarists such as Flea and John F having an impromptu jam session right there on stage making our little ears bleed.

Unfortunately I am not built with legs the length of Mariah Carey (or the model who did her cover shoot) so it was a strain on the lankan legs standing on tip toe all evening but Lee sweetly put me on his shoulders which made my night.

Lee and I at the Lankan wedding

after I just caught the bouquet! We sold it to a runaway bride right afterwards for a whiskey and some rubber slippers.

Chimvoski rock the Ginglik

click on the link on this sidebar to sample their tunes. I won't say anything more.

it be a dolphin

we saw this awesome wild dophin right after that!

The foreigners and two wetsuits

Will, Emily, myself with Bobby and Netta hanging in the back.

Ah Wales...

one of the most beautiful places on earth. After Sri Lanka of course.

Road trip!

On the way down to Wales in Rhonda the wonder van!

King Coconut

my wonderful Lee having his first thambili.

First time being bridesmaid

my buddy Lara's wedding, and it was all downhill from here!

my land or yours?

I couldn't believe the news on Radio 4 this morning when they announced that Israel had attacked Lebanon (Beirut city) over the Hezbollah capture of two of their soldiers, last night. Israel attacked another country! Yes, its fair that Israel be extremely concerned about this act, however - being backed, funded and armed by the West who are strong founders of Democracy, where is its' lover Diplomacy?
So comparatively, where's the outrage? If the Palestinians attacked this would be a different picture - where's the anger and shock from the west? It is so minimal, it's almost as if they just merely walked onto someone else's property and asked for a cup of sugar.

I think this double standard malarky is going to push the world into witnessing a 21st century Middle Eastern War and those of you reading this might think this is just NOT YOUR problem. But believe me, it is, and we can't just stand back and do nothing.

You ask, what? Maybe one place to start is caring about it and learning more about the war and its participants.

oh brother...

shocking isn't it. that we would find ourselves really and truly on the set of the Truman Show but the difference is: its years into the future and we are watching people sleep, eat, drink, shower, play, bitch and moan and worse still, act for the camera in ways even Z-list actors are better at. I cannot believe that we are in the age of the pathetic attempts at entertainment like reality tv. we are witnessing the dumbing down of a nation and its partially happening with a big thanks to Big Brother.

Its giving people motivation to come in and be more whiney, more extreme and more determined to make a fool of themselves so that they can get their beam up to stardom, and celebrity status. And the fact that we so willingly hand them this status (that so many people in the 50's and 60's had to tirelessly earn) is such a crying shame.

Doesn't anyone wonder whether all the happenings in the big brother house are orchestrated and subtley coerced? that so and so is told to get with one girl and then when she leaves, to get with another just so they can cause a little "rocking of the boat". Mark these words, the producers and conceptualisers are going to run out of things to make this show interesting and one day - some dude is going to sneak a gun in and shoot someone in the leg, and thats entertainment for you. you gasp now, but let's see what you say when you're voting the trigger happy dude out, to jail.