2013 Where have you been?

I began the year, still living the dream, I got to wear all of those outfits I'd planned for years but never had the occasion to wear and I changed my hair again!


After Christmas when he took me out shopping and as I tried on Louboutins he asked "Will they do as a belated Christmas present?" I replied, "Of course!"

























Then came the weekend in Vienna, the VIP lounge, the boutique hotel. It was fun, whilst it lasted. A few weeks later just before my birthday, his ex girlfriend need his help and that was the end of that.














For my birthday 2013, my Mallorca family, Ray, Jose and Alfie made me lunch complete with (I told you she doesn't eat chocolate) cake. I thoroughly enjoyed the distraction!

In the summer I was invited by my Thai travelling companion to attend a course run by her and an illustrious colleague in Traumatic Incident Reduction. It and the myriad implications of it's utilisation enthralled and enthused me. I threw myself into the project and offered up shiny ideas, something I'm very good at, just don't ask me to follow them through. I was sent home with instructions to complete 50hrs of sessions, and I have tried but something in me couldn't quite deal with my sense of responsibility for those I gave sessions to, like I was a phoney. Despite feeling heaps better, perhaps I need some more time to continue helping myself before I can help others. Sorry Deb!

Writing this now in 2014, I don't really remember much else about 2013. I worked, bouncing to and fro between Palma and Cerezo. Sometimes the company put us in different towns or villages, some nicer than others.
























But I remember I began to feel frustrated, some of my colleagues got on my nerves and at the Cason I was sick of the food and increasingly, sick.














I relished every 2 weeks I had at home, for the summer spending nearly every day at the beach. My Mom came to visit, my sister came to visit. I was happy but I felt I was dancing on a precipice.



























With Jose I attended fashion shows and restaurant openings and discovered the delights of Groupon! And I bought EVERYTHING in the Zara sale and a new iPhone to replace the one I started this blog on.













Despite my growing dislike of it in September I decided to work, a lot. As I was self employed you could never be sure whether you'd have work or not and I thought it might be nice to take December off (again). So rather than my usual 2 weeks work I did 3 plus a weekend course, in September, October and November. I was exhausted, made myself very sick on more than one occasion but I got paid.

Now, many of you know me as the most glamorous broke person you know. Saving money is not one of my many talents, so what was to do with all these Euros? As I was on the internet perusing Louboutins I saw an offer from Iberia for cheap flights to North American cities. Now, I thought, I wonder if I can make it to the Armers in Canada? No, but I could make it to....... New York, New York! But when to go? For my birthday (2014) OF COURSE! So I booked it, and played Odyssey's "Native New Yorker" on repeat.









Meanwhile, my parents went on holiday to Jamaica and when asked on their return how their trip was my mother replied "We bought a house". Thus, I was summoned to London for a huge family Christmas billed as the last Christmas in the UK (hallelujah!). We laughed, we drank, we ate and watched a whole lot of movies which has become something of a family Christmas tradition.








As 2013 drew to a close I could sense that something had to change, so I started looking for a new job. I wasn't sure I could really give up 2 weeks off every month but I really wanted sleep in my own bed at night and eat what I felt like eating, when I felt like eating it. And just like that, I found one, it's still teaching but it's here in Palma, I'm no longer self employed and allegedly I work only 25hrs a week. So far, so good.

I feel great, the sun is always shining, I've stopped messing with my hair, but I've kept the nails. I read, I knit, I'm trying not to buy anything in the Zara sale but I did get myself a shiny iPad Air because, you know, I need it!

I still get sick, I'm currently in bed with a severe case of laryngitis writing my nonsense for anyone or no one to read and.... checking my New York internet dating, ya, I did go there! And why not? I hope to find someone cool to spend my evenings with on my short trip and (eternal optimist that I am!) if we're really lucky we might find something more, wish me luck!


- Posted from my iPad

So, what happened next?! 2012

I arrived in Palma in January 2012, in a fog. It wasn't exactly out of the darkness but it wasn't shiny and bright either. I felt like an astronaut at zero gravity, I was moving but very slowly.



Me and my million kilos of excess baggage were put up by the fabulous Jose and his roommate Alfie, a self assured Scottish terrier.








They not only opened their home to me, Jose guided me through all of the bureaucracy needed to make me an official Palma resident, entitling me to a Citizen card (like a London Oyster card) and discounted travel within Spain. He also put me in touch with someone who sorted out my status as "autonoma" (self employed), quite probably the best 90€ I've ever spent! At home he fed me, told me I was beautiful and when he was out at work, Alfie kept me company.



A week later it was time to fly off to my new job. My original flight had been booked with Spanair and as the company folded, I chose to take it as a good sign, hell, thanks to my new discount status it only cost 20€ and Air Europa saved the day.



In Madrid I was put up by the lovely Maria del Agua (Mary of the Water) who has one of the biggest hearts ever. I attended my training course, a dire waste of time and energy but I smiled and nodded and played along. Maria came and went, split up with her boyfriend and we bitched until he came to collect his stinky cat.








Then it was time to get to work, I shipped off for a weekend of observation at the Cason (big house) in a butt fuck nowhere village of Segovia called Cerezo de Arriba. It was snowing heavily but the house was cheerfully warmed by a roaring fire in the living room.









I observed my job was to teach the students something for hour long 1 to 1 classes punctuated by food every 2 hours and then spend the evening chatting and playing games and drinking. (On a week long course this included an excursion to a neighbouring town or village, like Sepulveda, on a Wednesday afternoon).







Job done! So that's what I did until the beginning of March when I returned to Palma. I felt my feet where on the ground, and the sun was shining.



It was time to find a home of my own and with the help of my good friend Ray, I decided on the area, Cala Mayor, and I perused a few websites. "I can't live in a studio, it would be like living in my wardrobe!" I declared. "Call this one!" I'd seen an ad posted that morning for a 1 bed apartment, minutes from the beach and you could see the sea from the terrace, and the price was right!



Ray made the call and the next day we set out to view the property. We got there on time but had to wait as the owner had forgotten the key.... We used the time to check out the barrio. The ground floor of the building is a supermarket and the bus stop is outside the building. "It's perfect for you" said Ray.



Finally we were inside, I was still in the hallway when I made up my mind. "Do you want it?" Ray asked, "YES!!!" I replied. "Well have a look round then you silly cow!" He said. As l looked around, it got better and better, a proper kitchen with an oven, the renovated bathroom, the view from the terrace and the piece de resitance in the bedroom, a whole wall of fitted wardrobe!!!!!!






"WHERE DO I SIGN?" 3 days later, I was home and nearly blinded by the lights.



I spent the next few months bouncing between Palma and Cerezo and making my home my own (hanging up my clothes). La Xarini was back, I changed my hair, did my nails, I felt like a whole new me!











So I thought I'd give some internet dating a try, if nothing else at least I'd make a few new friends. First was the paparazzi a sweetie who helped me out when I ran out of gas but didn't quite get my self reliance.Then there was the lifeguard from Formentera, we had the kind of date dreams are made of in Ibiza but he had his things to do and I was still getting used to being me again and that was the end of that.












Friends and family came to visit with instructions of what to bring from my extensive collection of stuff preserved at my parents' home and they loved the fact that I live 7 minutes walk to the beach despite the steps of death!








Meanwhile, my parents abandoned Wheelers Lane for a smaller house around the corner. I got a call at work, "Are you at home?" asked my mother, "No, but I'll be back next week". "Good because the truck will arrive with all your shit from the garage on Tuesday."



I couldn't breathe, I think I actually dropped the phone. By keeping all my shit in my parents garage, I had always felt that if the worst came to the worst, like it had before, I could just go home and when I was ready to go again, I could just, leave. I didn't need to pack EVERYTHING!



12 boxes and a leather armchair arrived at the beginning of September. At first I was horrified but rather than become overwhelmed I relished finding a place for everything, putting up pictures, rediscovering my kitchen equipment, hanging clothes and running out of space to put my shoes. I really was home.



By October I thought if I'm to make it through the winter, I need to make some more friends so I decided to try the internet dating one more time. I've often been likened to the character of Carrie Bradshaw and there I found my Mr. Big.



I was living the dream! Being driven around in an Aston Martin by a man who was both attractive and erudite. There where haute cuisine dinners and champagne and wines and gin, the apartment with the rooftop hot tub and the country house with the pool and designer LED lighting.



Meanwhile, my parents moved house and I arrived to spend Christmas with them the same time as the removals truck. Christmas was a little manic that year, but I was happier than I'd been in a long time.



Thanks to everyone who helped make my dreams come true in 2012, you know who you are, no doubt I got drunk and told you!



- Posted from my iPad