Achievements

I am a sucker for lists. I make lists for everything. I’m forever making lists. I have a list of things I want to do. On my list is to complete a half marathon.

 

At the end of the race

So I signed up to do the Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon in the world, back in April. After many months of training, and some bouts of injury I did it and completed a half marathon. It was incredibly nerve wracking leading up to the race. I had all these thoughts running through my head; would I cope?, would I be able to complete it?, what if I did all the training and then failed? I wanted to run it under 1:55:00. In the end I managed to run and complete the race in 1:54:19. Yay!

 

I managed to come 10,626th place. Ha ha!!!

Now that I completed one task, I have jumped straight into ticking another item; owning a bike and actually riding it in London. So I went out and bought myself a bike. I didn’t realise how much was required when buying a bike. You have to buy lights, locks, mudguards. I also bought insurance, helmet, high viz gear. I’m sure I will need to buy something else. Anyway, I have ridden it to work a few times. Although I am not the most confident rider, I have managed to actually ride IN London! (although I did have a close call with a bus today...eek!!) Never the less tick. Hurrah!!

More on my list, but they will take time to achieve. 

Crying with happiness

I heard from someone today, after many years, who I never thought I would hear from again. I actually cried with happiness to hear from him and to hear that his life is going so well after all this time. I didn't even know I was capable of crying. 

Copenhagen - November 2011

Friday 18, 2011

Early start, but all like clockwork. It's surprising how many people are around at 5am.

Arrive at airport and breeze through the departure lounge, but am a little concerned that I wasn't cheacked for my passport. When I say breeze through, I mean it.

Arrive to the airport and catch the train to Copenhagen. It is really easy and simple.  

I am staying at Grand Hotel which is literally next to the train station, but true to Little Yap Yap's stupidity, I end up walking the long way to the hotel 1/2 hour later (what should have been a 2 min walk). I check into my 4* hotel which I must say smells pretty musty and smokey. The location however is fantastic and located right next to Trivoli Gardens, which are known for its amusement parks (but you need to pay to enter and I can't be bothered.

I spend my time walking and shopping in the city centre. I just can't believe how expensive the city is! For example, I end up eating a simple schwarma, chips and coke and it costs almost £10 and this is a kebab shop. Crazy!!

Spend the evening eating Churro's, which I can only describe as doughnuts shaped into chips and covered with ice cream and covered in chocolate sauce and drinking Carlsberg and Tuborg beer (Danish beers). It is bloomin' freezing to be wandering the streets.

Copenhagen Train Station

Grand Hotel by night

Trivoli Gardens

Trivoli Gardens by night

Drinking Carlsberg - Possibly the best beer in the world?

Churros

Saturday 19, 2011

An easy start to the day. Decide to go on the hop on hop off bus to see the city. It costs 150DKK which is almost £20. I have to say that....there isn't that much to see in the city. It's quite small. 

The highlight is the mermaid statue, which is heaving with tourists. I can't tell you the story behind this statue, but I believe the cartoon 'The Little Mermaid' stems from the legend behind 'this' statue. It's kind of mind boggling how such a little statue receives so much attention. 

I spend my time shopping...yet again. 

In the evening I just walk around the Christmas Markets. One thing that I notice is how much fur there is. They sell it everywhere. 

Spend the night drinking Carlsberg tinnies and watching Top Gear - Go figure! 

The Mermaid statue 

Pretty scenery

Very cold

Fur ahoy

The Great North Run

I have just signed up to do the Great North Run in September, my very first half marathon!
I have always wanted to do this race so I am very excited. I reckon some people may think I'm bonkers using the word 'excited'. Perhaps I am. 

Vivian Westwood

My friend Po and I went to try on Vivian Westwood Red Label dresses. The dress I am wearing has some sort of corset built into it and and Po literally had her knee on my back as I sucked in so she could get it zipped up. Think I need to lay off the crisps from now on!

I'm a little tea pot short and stout

My first proper knitting project with a crochet flower on top. Check me! 

Sacrebleu in Paris

Saturday 27, 2011

Wake up before the crack of Dawn. It's still dark. Check the tfl website. Tube not running but if I catch the bus from bus stand N then the bus will get me to the station in 15 mins. 

Right.. So where is bus stand N??? Wander through the streets as the sun starts to rise. Where the heck is stand N? Seriously where is it? Check almost every bus stand possible, find a stand N but clearly it's wrong cos no stinking bus goes to the train station!!! Quick quick wheres a taxi?? 

Get to the station and the queues are ridiculous! I am getting real stressed out now. Train leaves really soon. Keep calm. So with all the rudeness I can possibly muster pushing and sneaking I get thru customs and onto the train with 3 mins to spare.

So by now I am gasping for a coffee so I head over to the buffet car and they only accept euros. I don't have any and so desperately want a coffee.



Finally arrive after a 2 hr &15 min train journey. Ah Paris , I am here :-)



After queuing for ages behind the stupid tourists who all seem to be faffing around at the ticket machine I buy my tickets (not without being hounded by scammers trying to sell me dud tickets) and make my way to my mates place in Mairie de Saint-Ouen (north of Paris) where I finally get my much sought after coffee!

I am staying with my friends Marie & Noel along with their parrot and 2 1/2 month old baby.



Marie and I go to Montmartre basilique du Sacre-coeur a big cathedral with loads of tourists around. We then meander round the streets if Montmartre which is heaving with cheap tourist tat stalls and people offering to draw characatures of you. When all of a sudden the heavens open and we try to run for cover but the first place we try is shut so we run to another place to be told it's full so we try to huddle under a tree but to be honest we are soaked by now so just walk in the rain to a local cafe. We are dripping wet so decide to drink wine and eat tapas whilst we dry off. How very Parisian. 

Montmartre basilique du Sacre-coeur
Eiffel Tower
Montmartre basilique du Sacre-coeur






After two quarts of red wine we tipsily make our way over to jardin des plantes where we walk around. Then the heavens open up again so we run to La Mosquee de Paris restaurant which is designed on some famous mosque in Morrocco where we drink sweet mint tea and eat equally sweet pastries.



In the evening I suggest we eat typically french food. I order frog legs. And yes it does taste like chicken and the meat (and yes there is meat albeit not a whole lot) is just like chicken. I know people say its just like chicken and it really is. Who who have thought those scrawny legs



After a long and exhausting day we go home and straight to bed. Thankfully I brought ear plugs considering there is a baby down the corridor!!! 
I just liked this photo
Plate full of frog legs- how touristy! 




 Sunday 28, 2011                     



After sleeping in I go off to buy myself sausicon and vin rouge at the local butcher and supermarche. I love how everyone seems to walk around carrying baguettes. If only they wore garlands of garlic around their necks, then it would be utterly perfect.



Marie and I go off to see a parade worshipping Ganesh. It is for some Hindu festival though I'm not sure what the significance is (yes I know it's something to do with Ganesh, smart arse) but then again Hindu's are always celebrating some god or another. It's quite fun watching people parade around and bang their drums. What can I say I have a soft sort for anything Indian. 












After we go and take an hour long boat cruise on the Seine taking in the different sights. It's just so beautiful watching couples holding hands, cuddling along the banks of the Seine. It really is a city to be in love in... Once you get past the constant smell of pee and dog shite.



One thing you notice here is how many people seem to jump the barrier at the metro stations or they follow real close behind the person in front of them to get through the barrier before it closes. On our way back to Marie's house we had the wrong ticket so she got through the barrier with another girl. I got stuck and had to squeeze through the gap. I still can't believe I managed to squeeze through - I honestly had images of me getting stuck in between!



In the evening we sit on the balcony drinking beer and wine whilst eating duck and potatoes rounding off a wonderful weekend! 

Discover Paris your way ! - I love how there is a condom machine next to the poster

Squeezing through the barriers. Can't believe I didn't get lodged inbetween

Marie and Timothe

Abertawe Swansea

June 3 - 5, 2011

My friend texts me and asks if I want to go to Wales. 'Uh, yeah, lets go'!!

Beautiful Rhossili Bay

Smile

One month on at the NHS: 'Jenny, I'm giving you your one month notice'

Me: 'What'!!

So I've just been a job for less than a month and now I've been 'fired'! This has got to be a record right?! 'Jenny, your one month notice is being served'!

stop the clock ...again

After viewing a number of flats ( too many to count) I decided to go it alone and find a place on my own. It's only small and uber expensive but I'm happy. I've been living here for nearly 2 weeks even though I've hardly been home. I've been so busy visiting friends and working that I've hardly even been home.

Things are going well though and I hope I can keep the momentum up. I know I can.

and stop the clock

36 days later and not one but two contracts offered. I am now a Project Manager for the NHS. These are interesting times.

Now time to find a flat, and start the clock...tick tock....

Saturday Night

.. and I'm sat watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'Casualty". Welcome to my crazy world!

A day in the life of the unemployed

Sitting in Blackheath on a lovely sunny day, stuffing my gob with cupcake.

Waiting for what?

Awake to the most beautiful sunny day. Set myself up to do some job hunting, applying for any job that I am qualified and not so qualified for. And then wait. Wait for what?

Job hunting sucks

It's been exactly 3 weeks since I started on this job hunting journey and things are not progressing as quickly as I would have hoped.

I'm finding motivation to be incredibly difficult. Last week I didn't leave the house or my PJ's for 4 days straight. I wake up in the mornings and think to myself, 'what's the point'?

I've been frequenting many job forums and reading about other people's experiences and it is really tough to find a job out there.

It doesn't help when I read articles and watch programmes on unemployment. My mind starts to race and I think will I be in the same position as I am now in another months time, another years time?

Living the unemployed dream

So it has now been 4 full days since I came back to the UK after my jaunt around Asia. It is bloomin' freezing and I can't feel my face.
I'm currently staying at my friend RB's house along with her brother, cousin and mum. Her mum is a child minder so lots of screaming kids around.
My day is pretty bog standard. I wake up, shower, get coffee, go to the 'office' aka the computer room and apply for a few jobs (which takes no longer than 20 mins), eat and eat.
I've been visiting a few museums since they are free. Now in normal circumstances I can't stand going to museums but I've found them to be pretty good time fillers. I went to the V&A museum yesterday and I thought it was awesome! Today I walked in the pouring rain with RB's mum and a 3 year old to Horniman's Musuem, a little local museum that had a nice little collection and also an aquarium. It was also full of screaming kids and nearly drove me insane.

Actually I think I will go insane if I don't get a job and home soon!

Little Yap Yap goes on holiday link

Little Yap Yap goes on holiday. Follow her as she embarks on her early mid life crisis.

See how she fairs as she gives up her job and comforts to live out of a rucksac, not knowing where she will be from one day to the next, praying that the budget accommodation is cheap in general rather than for a reason, living the unemployed dream!

Ooh la la - Paris 28 - 31 May 2010

With great Parisian friends

Le Eiffel Tower


I finally made it up the Eiffel Tower on my third trip to Paris! Hurrah!