Ooops.
I had no idea how long it had been since I last posted. A couple of people have asked me whether or not I would be continuing it and I was always like - "yeah yeah, when I have time". Truth is I have had lots of time. And I have had lots to write about - important stuff and not so important stuff. But I haven't pulled my finger out my arse and done anything about it. And as such I haven't posted since the end of May - since I last went home to be exact - and in a few weeks I will be going home again - it's been a lonnnnng time.
So the main things that have happened - I embraced another year of being alive. I passed my wine exam (with a merit). I learned a few things about myself. I went to Champagne Bollinger. I survived a very minor fire (which I will obviously elaborate in very great and graphic detail to anyone who asks). I decided where I wanted to go when I come home next year. And I missed all of London 2012.
All in all - it has been pretty fun.
A pretty fun six and a half months (that is how long I have been in France.) It's flown by. And I have had some of the best times here...
So sorry (to those who care) that I haven't updated in a while.
I promise I will try harder from now on.
Monday, 10 September 2012
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Four days in the homeland...
To me, Chorley isn't the be all and end all of life. It isn't where I want to settle and grow old and just 'be'. But, to me, Chorley is home. It is my past and it holds memories and it (in the most horrifically cheesy way) it made me who I am. And although i don't want to grow out my days there, going home for 4 days is always fucking awesome. I have three of the best friends based there and more in the surrounding areas, and no matter how much time i spend away from there, it always welcomes me back. Maybe it's because I am not there all the time, but when I go back, no night out is ever the same, and there are always new or different people to meet or I end up meeting up with people that I haven't seen in years. It makes a girl feel good.
One thing that is for certain, being back in the UK in general was amazing for being able to be in touch with people!! The ability to tweet when I wanted, to text people all day or to call people all night. I am enjoying not depending upon the internet in France, and not sitting at my computer watching Facebook update every second, not stalking people it is always nice to be able to chat away to people easily (and without it costing the world). However, being back at home, and being connected to the internet did mean that I have completely updated my Spotify without judgement (everytime i go to Bureau with my computer you can see the staff collectively sigh as I highjack their internet to download loads of music). I was meant to update my Kindle as well, but as the majority of my weekend was spent with a hangover (don't drink kids) I completely forgot and so I am left without stuff to read, which is OK seeing as I have my WSET exam next week, but is lame cause I am missing reading books (which by the way...Katie you need to download 'The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides' you will love it - also we need to arrange a Skype, I'll email you over my days off next week).
So yeah, after four days at home of drinking or recovering from drinking I have done absolutely no WSET work and I have an exam in a week, and instead of revising for at the moment like I should be, I am blogging...seriously (somewhat hypocrytical - I know, don't judge...) I am contemplating wacking on 'The Circus' DVD and then 'Progress', but it just wouldn't be the same pretending to work without my Jew. So instead I am listening to Minaj (major girl crush) really loud, dancing round the flat in my jimjams, drinking copius amoints of caffine and trying to keep my concentration long enough to right some coherent sentences to add to this blog. It's hard. I'm not gunna lie.
And whilst you guys are experienceing a heat wave...it's raining in Calais.
Today I am mainly drinking Christmas Tea - I know it's not Christmas...andwhat?
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Hanging...
OK, so I landed in the UK yesterday, drove straight to the hairdressers and had my mop chopped (a bit too much was taken off but considering I used to have my head shaved I can definitely work with it) then scooted on over to Majestic Preston for some wine that you can't get in France which my lovely mother will bring over on her next visit out to see me and then headed home, had a quick Facebook sesh and then headed on over to Emma's for pizza and cider.
Oh to say it was a struggle to decide to go out. We were in Emma's conservatory. It was raining out. It was grim. I was tired from travelling all day and Emma was tired from a Thursday night sesh but we made a pact and we went out...for one. We both knew that we would go for one and it would either kill us or it would makes us want to stay out and play. It was the latter.
Sarah and Kelly joined us later in the evening and we drank, and we danced and then we drank some more. More and more people started to come out, people that I hadn't seen in ages and people that when we bumped into I forgot how much I liked/missed them. When, after 22 hours of being awake and travelling etc I decided to call it a night I hugged the gang goodbye and then went to get a cab. Only, I had a missed call from Boardy (whom I haven't spoken to in a while) and we chatted and I inadvertently walked half way home in the rain before getting a cab. I got home at fourish and just remember sitting on my bed (which is fucking amazing) for ages just chatting....to myself. I was a mess.
But it was a good night, and it made me realise just how much I love my home kids, and how much I miss them.
I have spent the rest of Saturday moving from my bed to the sofa watching DVD's and the TV and just generally having a nice time. I am just starting to be able to feel and function like a human being again and I am about to get ready to go out for dinner avec la mummy which is always exciting. And then I have to arrange a couple of hot skype dates for tomorrow before heading over to see the grandparents.
I'm a busy little Frenchie, what can I say.
I am excited to go back to France as well. Being at home has made me focus a little more on what I want to get out of being over there so it's time to go and put this plan into action.
I travel back to au Francais on Monday so if anyone wants to come and keep me company at the station on Monday morning it would be amazing.
Love and stuff
P.S. Tonight I am going to try La Grille Vouvray to wake me out of this hangover depression.
Oh to say it was a struggle to decide to go out. We were in Emma's conservatory. It was raining out. It was grim. I was tired from travelling all day and Emma was tired from a Thursday night sesh but we made a pact and we went out...for one. We both knew that we would go for one and it would either kill us or it would makes us want to stay out and play. It was the latter.
Sarah and Kelly joined us later in the evening and we drank, and we danced and then we drank some more. More and more people started to come out, people that I hadn't seen in ages and people that when we bumped into I forgot how much I liked/missed them. When, after 22 hours of being awake and travelling etc I decided to call it a night I hugged the gang goodbye and then went to get a cab. Only, I had a missed call from Boardy (whom I haven't spoken to in a while) and we chatted and I inadvertently walked half way home in the rain before getting a cab. I got home at fourish and just remember sitting on my bed (which is fucking amazing) for ages just chatting....to myself. I was a mess.
But it was a good night, and it made me realise just how much I love my home kids, and how much I miss them.
I have spent the rest of Saturday moving from my bed to the sofa watching DVD's and the TV and just generally having a nice time. I am just starting to be able to feel and function like a human being again and I am about to get ready to go out for dinner avec la mummy which is always exciting. And then I have to arrange a couple of hot skype dates for tomorrow before heading over to see the grandparents.
I'm a busy little Frenchie, what can I say.
I am excited to go back to France as well. Being at home has made me focus a little more on what I want to get out of being over there so it's time to go and put this plan into action.
I travel back to au Francais on Monday so if anyone wants to come and keep me company at the station on Monday morning it would be amazing.
Love and stuff
P.S. Tonight I am going to try La Grille Vouvray to wake me out of this hangover depression.
Apologies...
OK, so I want to start this with a big apology...I seem to have fallen off the radar somewhat for which I am ever so sorry. With the introduction of a new English member to the Majestic in France team I have got carried away being ever so French and ended up neglecting 'An English Girl in France' (which I always thought was a witty title, however after watching a Sex and the City marathon I realised I had subliminy plagerised from Series 6 - it's a good job that this doesn't have to be run through a plagerism machine!!!!) Shit.
I find myself, three months into my secondment, facing really big, scary, adult questions that I never wanted to ask and yet I have somehow found myself having to in order to continue in life (somewhat dramatic I am aware, but my life wouldn't be my life without some drama). Being in Calais feels slightly secluding at times, I am missing out on a lot at home both locally and nationally, small scale and big time and it is hard. I spend a lot of time after work hours are done perusing BBC news to find out whats going on on that littles island we call home, but it is the personal things, the things that I used to just know that I am missing the most. I am trying to stay in touch with as many people as possible, I am skype when I can get to the internet cafe, I text, I email and I try to facebook but this while lack of internet is really sucky sometimes (other times I love it, I can't stalk and worry and obsess). It's also hard when people don't seem to want to get back in touch avec me. I am aware that it is expensive to text me like normal (I haven't had a phone bill under £100 since being here, I must be O2s best customer...or biggest mug) but there are other ways, and yeah I might not get bck in touch for a couple of days if you have facebooked or emailed but I always get back to you. It seems somewhat one sided soemtimes which is shit but ah well.
Anyway, so I am back in the UK for four days on the 18th May, Chorley Girls night on the 18th, open to anyone but there are three little ladies who I am going out with and I won't be taken away from them on that Friday. In honesty, it is a flying visit. I wouldn't be coming home if I didn't have to take Tallolah back cause her French insurance runs out on the 21st. I will only be out and sociable on the 18th, I am off to see family on the Saturday and Sunday and I am travling back to au Francais on the Monday so if you want to pop out and say hello I will be in Chorley town looking fantastic.
And no.
I am not bringing any wine back for people.
Not because I am tight... Actually yeah because I am tight. You want cheap wine. YOU GOT TO SEE ME!!!
Hope and safe. xxx
Maybe i'll stay French for just a little bit more...
So it has been a while since I have blogged, several things have happened that I should have blogged about but didn't really have the time to so it got left to the wayside. But I am back now, bigger and better. And this English girl is considering staying in France for longer than she first thought.
I am having such a good time here in France, and I am not sure what I have to go back to. My friends and family are planning visits out here, and it really isn't that far away. The guys at work (and shockingly, in the pub) are teaching me French - and once I have my WSET down and out I will be all up in the face of learning French. Maybe it is time to start again in France. Not necessarily Calais, I am up for moving around France, finding somewhere to settle. I am off to Champagne Bollinger in June so maybe I could make friends and influence people down there. That would be so much more than amazing, but hey, you know how it is. A girl has to dream big.
I have been watchiing Sex and the City again - it is opening my eyes to a world of possibilities. At the end of the day I am 22, I am young and I am pretty much open to anything. Maybe it is time to make something of myself? Does it really matter where I try and make it? I don't know. So many people are doing such amazing things now they have graduated, Katie's doing what she always wanted to do, Lauren (Lang) is taking the world by storm. Surely I can be in that list. Is it too self-conceated a thought to want to be seen to be doing something different with my life? And do I really care?
I am not planning on staying in Majestic forever, but this company is giving me a great start up for the wine world, to which I am going to take by storm (obvs). But the wine world is global, and it would be rude of me not to explore it further. Life really is too short to settle.
As Julien at work would say - I am going to break bollocks in this world.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
What's the French for Retard?
Dora came out again today, although planned this time it is still very exciting for someone as analy retentive as I have been known to be. Today I headed out to Dunkirk. It's only about half an hour from Calais, and I thought at the very least Talloolah could do with going for a longish drive reaching speads of over 30mph. So I headed out on to the A16 which is the main motorway in the North of France and zoomed on over to Dunkirk. Excitingly, in sunny weather the speed limit on the motorways in France is 130kph which is like 80mph, which although many drive the UK motorways at IS NOT LEGAL KIDS!!! So I let Talloolah zoom over to Dunkirk, found myself a nice little car park - that was FREE and headed in to Dunkirk town centre.
My first find was a lovely little wool shop, not as nice as Bah Ram Ewe which has my heart (until the dream is established Kate - obvs) so I purchased some lovely wool. I have a wicker chair in the flat which is perfect for knitting in although when it and knitting I facially age about fifty years. I really need to find a youthful hobby...
With one purchase (quite literally) in the bag I headed over to the Toursit Infomation Centre - a personal necessity when scoping out a new place - got myself a map, found what I was looking for (the War Museum - god help me) and headed off in the complete wrong direction. Only reasing this when I had convinced myself that I had found the War Museum, double checked the map and realised I was stood outside the Boat Museum - great start. Finally found the right direction, walked in that direction for fifteen miinutes, took a wrong turn and ended up outside the Tourist Information Centre again. If it wasn't so funny I would have cried but I must have looked a right tool and that image of hilarity kept me going.
After a good forty-five minutes I was in relatively the right place according to the map but in relality I convinced myself I couldn't be where I needed to be as I seemed to be stood in the middle of an industrial estate. Giving up slightly I wondered into a sculpture park and walked round taking loads of photo's, annoying the locals and then after another wrong turn (I am getting dead good at it) ended up...
....outside the War Museum.
I did a little squeel with excitement that I had finally found it, which had to be surpressed when I realised that it was 1pm and of course, everything shuts in France over dinner. Looking at the opening times, I saw that it would be open again at 2pm and the beach was about five minutes away so I headed off to the beach and mooched around for an hour before heading back. It was still closed. I was really bummed by this point and was considering an angry letter to someone in an authoratitve position (I was going to get someone at work to translate it in to French), when I spotted something on the opening times, a seasonal date. 1st April - 30th September. I mean come on, we are only like four days away from April - you would have thought someone would have been there dusting down the war relics or something and the could have just let me in for a browse. Nah such luck. So this means another trip back at some point which is not a problem as Dunkirk is a lovely little town that has a Jeff du Bruges (chocolate shop)
After this adventure (debarcle) I headed back to Calais to do some essentials like get things in for tea, sort out my train ticket for Sunday (I WILL BE IN THE UK FROM 9PM SUNDAY TILL 7PM MONDAY FOR A HEAD OFFICE DAY - BE READY FOR A BOMBARDMENT OF TEXTS). And I popped down to the little cinema near the town hall that shows English/American films with French subtitles to pick up this months timetable - and I thought fuck it, I can't be bothered to go back and do WSET work so I went and watched 'La Taupe' - Tinker Tailor Soilder Spy. It is a tiny little cinema with four screens, with about 18 rows of seats (around 20 seats per row) - teenie tiny and I was the only person there. I have never been to a cinema where there is no one else in and it was epic - I felt like a rich kid who had a cinema in her house it was ace. the only issue were the parts of the film that were in Russian that obviously had English subtitles, cause they were over-ridden by the French ones, but I don't think I missed too much.
All in all today has been a good day. The weather is lovely and I am getting over yesterday's right hand side sunburn (Tracey I think i may have evened out today). I am missing people lots but both Mum and Dad (and fam) have booked to come over and see me which is exciting. Although I do have to go and do my washing at the Laundrette tomorrow which always depresses me. You do not know how hard life is without a washing maching. It's horrific.
Tonight I am drinking Whittards Christmas Tea (spiced imperial) as the mother has secured me 250 bags which will be winging their way to me in a couple of weeks so I can now move from Chai to the few spiced imperial that I have left.
Peace and Love x
My first find was a lovely little wool shop, not as nice as Bah Ram Ewe which has my heart (until the dream is established Kate - obvs) so I purchased some lovely wool. I have a wicker chair in the flat which is perfect for knitting in although when it and knitting I facially age about fifty years. I really need to find a youthful hobby...
With one purchase (quite literally) in the bag I headed over to the Toursit Infomation Centre - a personal necessity when scoping out a new place - got myself a map, found what I was looking for (the War Museum - god help me) and headed off in the complete wrong direction. Only reasing this when I had convinced myself that I had found the War Museum, double checked the map and realised I was stood outside the Boat Museum - great start. Finally found the right direction, walked in that direction for fifteen miinutes, took a wrong turn and ended up outside the Tourist Information Centre again. If it wasn't so funny I would have cried but I must have looked a right tool and that image of hilarity kept me going.
After a good forty-five minutes I was in relatively the right place according to the map but in relality I convinced myself I couldn't be where I needed to be as I seemed to be stood in the middle of an industrial estate. Giving up slightly I wondered into a sculpture park and walked round taking loads of photo's, annoying the locals and then after another wrong turn (I am getting dead good at it) ended up...
....outside the War Museum.
I did a little squeel with excitement that I had finally found it, which had to be surpressed when I realised that it was 1pm and of course, everything shuts in France over dinner. Looking at the opening times, I saw that it would be open again at 2pm and the beach was about five minutes away so I headed off to the beach and mooched around for an hour before heading back. It was still closed. I was really bummed by this point and was considering an angry letter to someone in an authoratitve position (I was going to get someone at work to translate it in to French), when I spotted something on the opening times, a seasonal date. 1st April - 30th September. I mean come on, we are only like four days away from April - you would have thought someone would have been there dusting down the war relics or something and the could have just let me in for a browse. Nah such luck. So this means another trip back at some point which is not a problem as Dunkirk is a lovely little town that has a Jeff du Bruges (chocolate shop)
After this adventure (debarcle) I headed back to Calais to do some essentials like get things in for tea, sort out my train ticket for Sunday (I WILL BE IN THE UK FROM 9PM SUNDAY TILL 7PM MONDAY FOR A HEAD OFFICE DAY - BE READY FOR A BOMBARDMENT OF TEXTS). And I popped down to the little cinema near the town hall that shows English/American films with French subtitles to pick up this months timetable - and I thought fuck it, I can't be bothered to go back and do WSET work so I went and watched 'La Taupe' - Tinker Tailor Soilder Spy. It is a tiny little cinema with four screens, with about 18 rows of seats (around 20 seats per row) - teenie tiny and I was the only person there. I have never been to a cinema where there is no one else in and it was epic - I felt like a rich kid who had a cinema in her house it was ace. the only issue were the parts of the film that were in Russian that obviously had English subtitles, cause they were over-ridden by the French ones, but I don't think I missed too much.
All in all today has been a good day. The weather is lovely and I am getting over yesterday's right hand side sunburn (Tracey I think i may have evened out today). I am missing people lots but both Mum and Dad (and fam) have booked to come over and see me which is exciting. Although I do have to go and do my washing at the Laundrette tomorrow which always depresses me. You do not know how hard life is without a washing maching. It's horrific.
Tonight I am drinking Whittards Christmas Tea (spiced imperial) as the mother has secured me 250 bags which will be winging their way to me in a couple of weeks so I can now move from Chai to the few spiced imperial that I have left.
Peace and Love x
Monday, 26 March 2012
Today I wee'd in the sand...
So, today is the first day of my six day holiday and France has held out for me, it is GORGEOUS! The sun was out and shining this morning and gloriously hot so I did what any true English girl did:
Put on a strappy tee (That Fav Night top Kate), a Henry Holland Jumper, my thick wool short cardy, my long wool cardy and my Kate Spade bow ear warmers. The sun might be out and shining but Calais wind is unreal!
I packed my beach bag - including my old school towel and all my WSET stuff and I headed on down to the beach. Although it was beautiful the wind was chilling cold and after half an hour I was ready to call it quits. But, for some reason, I thought I might try sitting in the dunes, they weren't massively deep so the sun still hit the whole place but it was just deep enough to sit it and be out of the wind, which I did, for about five hours.
Now, anyone that knows me know's how much water I drink. And five hours and a few liters of water later I was fit to burst, so I did what any good Northern Lass did - I went into the next dune, dug myself a little trench (considering my location this is an apt description) and I did a wee. Now I can't say it was my finest moment, but I didn't want to miss any of the sun and the flat was a good twenty minute walk away. It was either that or wee myself. And lets be honest, I didn't do it in the dune I was in - and coincidentally, I know exactly which is (affectionately termed) 'My Dune', so I won't go and sit in my wee one.
So at around 4 I wandered back to the flat (it was starting to fill up with school kids - not a pleasant experience in any country) and had a quick power nap - it was a stressful time - and then headed off out to Bureau to (yet again) steal their internet to download more songs so I can have some more music - my iPod is driving me nuts.
Anyway, this is all. I am off to have another WSET day on the beach tomorrow and then off to Dunkirk on Wednesday - which I will no doubtedly bore you to death with.
Tonight I am drinking €11 Cotes du Rhone Villages (Bureau) - Fuckin'Bangin!
Put on a strappy tee (That Fav Night top Kate), a Henry Holland Jumper, my thick wool short cardy, my long wool cardy and my Kate Spade bow ear warmers. The sun might be out and shining but Calais wind is unreal!
I packed my beach bag - including my old school towel and all my WSET stuff and I headed on down to the beach. Although it was beautiful the wind was chilling cold and after half an hour I was ready to call it quits. But, for some reason, I thought I might try sitting in the dunes, they weren't massively deep so the sun still hit the whole place but it was just deep enough to sit it and be out of the wind, which I did, for about five hours.
Now, anyone that knows me know's how much water I drink. And five hours and a few liters of water later I was fit to burst, so I did what any good Northern Lass did - I went into the next dune, dug myself a little trench (considering my location this is an apt description) and I did a wee. Now I can't say it was my finest moment, but I didn't want to miss any of the sun and the flat was a good twenty minute walk away. It was either that or wee myself. And lets be honest, I didn't do it in the dune I was in - and coincidentally, I know exactly which is (affectionately termed) 'My Dune', so I won't go and sit in my wee one.
So at around 4 I wandered back to the flat (it was starting to fill up with school kids - not a pleasant experience in any country) and had a quick power nap - it was a stressful time - and then headed off out to Bureau to (yet again) steal their internet to download more songs so I can have some more music - my iPod is driving me nuts.
Anyway, this is all. I am off to have another WSET day on the beach tomorrow and then off to Dunkirk on Wednesday - which I will no doubtedly bore you to death with.
Tonight I am drinking €11 Cotes du Rhone Villages (Bureau) - Fuckin'Bangin!
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
WSET can suck my balls...
I can only claim now that I am a veteran Calaisonian (this is, apparantly an actual term that the people of Calais use about themselves). By this, I mean, I am a regular user of the laundrette (soul destroying), I can pidgeon French my way through a meal in a restaurant and topping up my internet dongle, I have been out for coffee and a beer on my own, I walk everywhere, I sit on the beach and I watch the ferries go in and out of port. The only things stopping me from becoming a proper Frenchie is that I don't drive like a maniac and I don't feel the need to take a gun to people on the grounds of the religious beliefs (thanks for the update dad) - NOTE this is happening in the South of France, the only thing that Northern France cares about is baguettes - there is always a queue in the boulangerie. I am safe - fear not.
So now I feel proper at home here in Calais I have no excuse to not sit and do some work for my WSET (wine exam) and yet, like the three years I spent at uni, the two years of college and the eleven years of school before that - I am finding every excuse not to work. I have re-arranged my flat to something lightly more homely, I have cleaned it top to bottom, I have read all seven Harry Potters and I have started to work my way through Fifteen Minute French. What is it with me and work - it's a good job I didn't dtay in education. I could not be bothered with it. My WSET can suck my balls (and as I don't have any, the term 'my' clearly means Joe's as what is his is, technically, mine). Ironically, I have just finished (and now hate with a passion) the French section of my WSET and have decided that I would rather eat my own face than have to worrk about the AC's of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhone, Loire and Southern France. All of which are apparantly ever so important. Fuck Off. As long as it is drinkable I don't care (you can take the girl out of Chorley...)
Being in France has helped me direct my thoughts in regard to life in general. I know now where I want to be when I come back to the UK, what I want to do with my life and where I want to take it and who I want to stay as a part of my life and who I don't need any more and who don't need me. I am thoroughly enjoying being in the wine trade and it is taking me to places I would never have been able to go to in other jobs so I am happy staying within it, I am just more focused now in my role within the wine trade - something that I never thought I would say. Considering this time last year I was applyin for these graduate jobs with the only thought being that I needed a job, to actually have a lifel plan, I believe is a goal - allbeit a very personal one that may seem minor to others.
What a vague paragraph.
So I had a bit of a wobble the other day (which I am sure some will be pleased about). It was mothers day and it just hit me how much I miss home. That and a skype call to Katie on Monday was enough to have me in tears for most of Monday night sniviling like a child. I managed to gget myself tangled up in that self-pitying circle (which I am most definitely out of now) of reminiscing. High Mead and all the Liverpool kids, Tash, that Fav night, and Jacques. Black and white is your friend/everything looks better in black and white, The Chapel, Jones, Uni and Leeds in general. Pooopia, naked Emma at Kendal and girls lunch dates. It's hard being out here, away from all that. But on the other hand, fuck it - I am in France.
Got a few days off next week, holiday days, which if it is sunny I shall spend driving the coast, I think a trip to Dunkirk and possibly Belgium is on the cards - no doubt I will regail with you of tails of war sites that I have visited and chocolate houses. I wonder if there will be a Willy Wonker-esque factory awaiting my arrival - maybe I won't come back to Calais...mwahaha. Basically, what I am planning is going to go and scope out some really cool places, and learn loads about it so that when you come over and visit I can impress (bore) you with my knowledge on the local area and history.
I am such a tool.
Tonight I am drinking water - by the bucket load.
So now I feel proper at home here in Calais I have no excuse to not sit and do some work for my WSET (wine exam) and yet, like the three years I spent at uni, the two years of college and the eleven years of school before that - I am finding every excuse not to work. I have re-arranged my flat to something lightly more homely, I have cleaned it top to bottom, I have read all seven Harry Potters and I have started to work my way through Fifteen Minute French. What is it with me and work - it's a good job I didn't dtay in education. I could not be bothered with it. My WSET can suck my balls (and as I don't have any, the term 'my' clearly means Joe's as what is his is, technically, mine). Ironically, I have just finished (and now hate with a passion) the French section of my WSET and have decided that I would rather eat my own face than have to worrk about the AC's of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhone, Loire and Southern France. All of which are apparantly ever so important. Fuck Off. As long as it is drinkable I don't care (you can take the girl out of Chorley...)
Being in France has helped me direct my thoughts in regard to life in general. I know now where I want to be when I come back to the UK, what I want to do with my life and where I want to take it and who I want to stay as a part of my life and who I don't need any more and who don't need me. I am thoroughly enjoying being in the wine trade and it is taking me to places I would never have been able to go to in other jobs so I am happy staying within it, I am just more focused now in my role within the wine trade - something that I never thought I would say. Considering this time last year I was applyin for these graduate jobs with the only thought being that I needed a job, to actually have a lifel plan, I believe is a goal - allbeit a very personal one that may seem minor to others.
What a vague paragraph.
So I had a bit of a wobble the other day (which I am sure some will be pleased about). It was mothers day and it just hit me how much I miss home. That and a skype call to Katie on Monday was enough to have me in tears for most of Monday night sniviling like a child. I managed to gget myself tangled up in that self-pitying circle (which I am most definitely out of now) of reminiscing. High Mead and all the Liverpool kids, Tash, that Fav night, and Jacques. Black and white is your friend/everything looks better in black and white, The Chapel, Jones, Uni and Leeds in general. Pooopia, naked Emma at Kendal and girls lunch dates. It's hard being out here, away from all that. But on the other hand, fuck it - I am in France.
Got a few days off next week, holiday days, which if it is sunny I shall spend driving the coast, I think a trip to Dunkirk and possibly Belgium is on the cards - no doubt I will regail with you of tails of war sites that I have visited and chocolate houses. I wonder if there will be a Willy Wonker-esque factory awaiting my arrival - maybe I won't come back to Calais...mwahaha. Basically, what I am planning is going to go and scope out some really cool places, and learn loads about it so that when you come over and visit I can impress (bore) you with my knowledge on the local area and history.
I am such a tool.
Tonight I am drinking water - by the bucket load.
Dora the Explorer Strikes Again...
I went through a period in my life, as many will know, where I was obsessed with Dora the Explorer. I thought she was amazing. An actual wicked-cool role model for little girl that broke the stereotypical female toy consensus.
She lived in me again today.
Calais was glorious today. It was beautiful weather...warm with a slight breeze perfect for exploring. So that's what I did. After waking Katie up this morning for an eventful Skype sesh in which my dongle gave up, I decided to go out and do something with my life. And I knew exactly what it was that I was going to do.
There is an old WW2 fort near the Coquelles store, so I jumped into the car and headed over there. Unfortunately, like the rest of France, the fort was shut on a Sunday (the only way I could console myself for my massive error was that it looks like it has been closed over winter - hopefully it will open soon cause I think it might be nice to look round). So instead, and stubbonly refusing to give up I walked round the fort, which took me a grand total of twenty minutes.
After this, I got back in the car and was about to head home but on the basis of not wanting to miss out on a beautiful day and avoiding working for my WSET at all costs instead of turning right to come home, i turned left, put my foot down (within the speed limits, obvs Alex) and drove. I had no idea what came over me, and I did do the occasional manical laugh as I drove thing what the fuck am I doing...
I drove for a good fifteen minutes (daring) before the sensible me started screaming WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!! YOU ARE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, YOU CAN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, WHAT IF YOU GET STUCK, OR BREAK DOWN, OR RUN OUT OF PETROL!!!! At this point, I started looking for somewhere to turn around and drive back when I stumbled across this...
The Dover Crossing monument.
I wish I could upload pictures - stupid dongle.
It is one half of a monument to remember those that lost their life crossing th Channel during the war. It was absolutely beautiful and I would be keen to see the other half of the monument which is in Dover. But it was surrounded by beautiful scenary, and it was that clear that you could see the White Cliffs. I remember coming on my interview for the job and Al, the managing director of Majestic in France, was like "on a clear day you can see Dover" and I remember thinking, "yeah right, that's just your spiel..." I take it all back Al. You could see the cliffs and I got a bit teary thinking "thats home". Yes i am aware iit is not really home, I don't live in or near the White Cliffs of Dover but you know what I mean!
So after standing and staring for what must have been a good couple of hours I decided to head back and made a concious note that while I am here I need to get more into history - I need to actually understand what happened in WWII and get to grips with it because there is so much history all around where I am living it would be stupid not to - a trip to Dunkirk is also in order.
My god.
France is turning me into a dweeb.
Help!
She lived in me again today.
Calais was glorious today. It was beautiful weather...warm with a slight breeze perfect for exploring. So that's what I did. After waking Katie up this morning for an eventful Skype sesh in which my dongle gave up, I decided to go out and do something with my life. And I knew exactly what it was that I was going to do.
There is an old WW2 fort near the Coquelles store, so I jumped into the car and headed over there. Unfortunately, like the rest of France, the fort was shut on a Sunday (the only way I could console myself for my massive error was that it looks like it has been closed over winter - hopefully it will open soon cause I think it might be nice to look round). So instead, and stubbonly refusing to give up I walked round the fort, which took me a grand total of twenty minutes.
After this, I got back in the car and was about to head home but on the basis of not wanting to miss out on a beautiful day and avoiding working for my WSET at all costs instead of turning right to come home, i turned left, put my foot down (within the speed limits, obvs Alex) and drove. I had no idea what came over me, and I did do the occasional manical laugh as I drove thing what the fuck am I doing...
I drove for a good fifteen minutes (daring) before the sensible me started screaming WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!! YOU ARE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, YOU CAN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, WHAT IF YOU GET STUCK, OR BREAK DOWN, OR RUN OUT OF PETROL!!!! At this point, I started looking for somewhere to turn around and drive back when I stumbled across this...
The Dover Crossing monument.
I wish I could upload pictures - stupid dongle.
It is one half of a monument to remember those that lost their life crossing th Channel during the war. It was absolutely beautiful and I would be keen to see the other half of the monument which is in Dover. But it was surrounded by beautiful scenary, and it was that clear that you could see the White Cliffs. I remember coming on my interview for the job and Al, the managing director of Majestic in France, was like "on a clear day you can see Dover" and I remember thinking, "yeah right, that's just your spiel..." I take it all back Al. You could see the cliffs and I got a bit teary thinking "thats home". Yes i am aware iit is not really home, I don't live in or near the White Cliffs of Dover but you know what I mean!
So after standing and staring for what must have been a good couple of hours I decided to head back and made a concious note that while I am here I need to get more into history - I need to actually understand what happened in WWII and get to grips with it because there is so much history all around where I am living it would be stupid not to - a trip to Dunkirk is also in order.
My god.
France is turning me into a dweeb.
Help!
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Settling in??
So I have been in Calais for a week and a half now and I have to say I am settling in quite nicely. My hours at work are much shorter than they are in the UK and as I am mainly on the phone I am having lots of contact with people, probably more than I was at work in the UK which is good.
My French, you will be happy to hear is improving. Although it is still very basic. I am hoping that I can improve it dramatically whilst I am out here - could you imagine being in a different country but not learning even the basics of their language? And the French staff are ever so enthuastic to help develop your French - and they are happy when you do at least try. I was speaking to Katie the other day and was saying how I feel like I am becoming a bit twatty out here. I think the lack of internet and the lack of contact with the home land is getting to me a little. I need a realisation kick I think. I give you all my permission to bring me back to earth cause at the moment I am still up in the air with this whole move.
I think I am impressing my bosses as well which is always nice. Delphine loves my creativity (and that is basic) and is enjoying the little things I have been doing for he store. And Herve - well he is just a French lion. He scared me somewhat at the start but I think I am cracking him and I have got the occasional smile out of him - which apparantly is rare.
The nights are lonely, but Al has got on the case for getting the internet put in the flat so it means you can all start skyping me - please. I miss you all so much, I do hope that some of you do at least come to visit me. It is such an amazing opportunity for us all, I mean come on how often does one of us leave to go and live in another country for a year. At the moment I am storming my way through the Harry Potter series - I am half way through the fourth book and I started reading them from the begining when I got here. Living without the internet really is good for reading - although arguably my books of choice are some what questionable. And to say I am bored of my iPod - I thought I was bored of it back in the UK but even my vast amounts of music are starting to become limited.
I am now becoming very settled - my eating habits are getting back to normal which is always when I know I am becoming comfortable in an environment. So I think I am going to start exploring a little further afield. I wouldn't say I am getting used to drivng in France but I am more comfortable than I was when I first came. And I have done getting lost in Calais on numerous occasions now, and I always seem to find my way out so I think it is time to start going on little day trips down the coast and around the local area. I am going to go and explore the war walls near the Coquelles store on Sunday (I have a Sunday off - this almost never happens in France as the French don't tend to work them) so I feel I need to actually go out and do things. I will take photo's and upload them so you can see what it's like.
That's as long as the weather holds out. It was horrific yesterday - I was all for coming home yesterday - it was horrible. The wind and the rain and the cold - it was like nothing I have experienced before. I literally thought I was going to get blown away. It was slightly scary. I thought that a tree might actually fall on my car at one point. I was not comfortable at all yesterday. But hopefully it will start to look up from now on.
I am also going to go and explore and try and find the laundrette on Friday (my other day off). As I don't have washing facilities in thhe flat for clothes I am going to go and try and use the laundrette - although I am not sure I feel happy about walking my dirty knickers through Calais centre - YES I am aware I am not going to be flaunting them around but still - if it is windy a gust of wind might blow my bag out of my hands and Calais Ville will be strewn with my dirty kecks - oh God please don't be windy. HAHA.
Right, this is me signing off - a very medeochre post - I am aware of this and I apologise, but I am tired and I have to get up early tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to find some wifi tomorrow after work and I can start uploading these. You are going to have a huge amount to read when these all go up. Eeeep. Soz.
Tonight I am mainly drinking - Robinson's Orange Fruit and Barley - I am trying not to drink on school nights
.
Bon Soiree x
My French, you will be happy to hear is improving. Although it is still very basic. I am hoping that I can improve it dramatically whilst I am out here - could you imagine being in a different country but not learning even the basics of their language? And the French staff are ever so enthuastic to help develop your French - and they are happy when you do at least try. I was speaking to Katie the other day and was saying how I feel like I am becoming a bit twatty out here. I think the lack of internet and the lack of contact with the home land is getting to me a little. I need a realisation kick I think. I give you all my permission to bring me back to earth cause at the moment I am still up in the air with this whole move.
I think I am impressing my bosses as well which is always nice. Delphine loves my creativity (and that is basic) and is enjoying the little things I have been doing for he store. And Herve - well he is just a French lion. He scared me somewhat at the start but I think I am cracking him and I have got the occasional smile out of him - which apparantly is rare.
The nights are lonely, but Al has got on the case for getting the internet put in the flat so it means you can all start skyping me - please. I miss you all so much, I do hope that some of you do at least come to visit me. It is such an amazing opportunity for us all, I mean come on how often does one of us leave to go and live in another country for a year. At the moment I am storming my way through the Harry Potter series - I am half way through the fourth book and I started reading them from the begining when I got here. Living without the internet really is good for reading - although arguably my books of choice are some what questionable. And to say I am bored of my iPod - I thought I was bored of it back in the UK but even my vast amounts of music are starting to become limited.
I am now becoming very settled - my eating habits are getting back to normal which is always when I know I am becoming comfortable in an environment. So I think I am going to start exploring a little further afield. I wouldn't say I am getting used to drivng in France but I am more comfortable than I was when I first came. And I have done getting lost in Calais on numerous occasions now, and I always seem to find my way out so I think it is time to start going on little day trips down the coast and around the local area. I am going to go and explore the war walls near the Coquelles store on Sunday (I have a Sunday off - this almost never happens in France as the French don't tend to work them) so I feel I need to actually go out and do things. I will take photo's and upload them so you can see what it's like.
That's as long as the weather holds out. It was horrific yesterday - I was all for coming home yesterday - it was horrible. The wind and the rain and the cold - it was like nothing I have experienced before. I literally thought I was going to get blown away. It was slightly scary. I thought that a tree might actually fall on my car at one point. I was not comfortable at all yesterday. But hopefully it will start to look up from now on.
I am also going to go and explore and try and find the laundrette on Friday (my other day off). As I don't have washing facilities in thhe flat for clothes I am going to go and try and use the laundrette - although I am not sure I feel happy about walking my dirty knickers through Calais centre - YES I am aware I am not going to be flaunting them around but still - if it is windy a gust of wind might blow my bag out of my hands and Calais Ville will be strewn with my dirty kecks - oh God please don't be windy. HAHA.
Right, this is me signing off - a very medeochre post - I am aware of this and I apologise, but I am tired and I have to get up early tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to find some wifi tomorrow after work and I can start uploading these. You are going to have a huge amount to read when these all go up. Eeeep. Soz.
Tonight I am mainly drinking - Robinson's Orange Fruit and Barley - I am trying not to drink on school nights
.
Bon Soiree x
Apparantly,the French don't do internet for the British...
Oh my days...this is how the majority of my posts seem to start, jokes. So today, I went and found the internet cafe. Wowza. I found it (well Hannah showed me last night) - and so I went in and got my ticket and skyped Joe, which was lovely, although I was so emotional and I did do a little cry in the booth. But the French have different keyboards, it's very strange. Like where our numbers are they have the numbers (which you have to use capslock to access) and then two different sets of symbols, one which appears when you press the button and the others you have to press alt gr and the key...it was very strange, and it made typing to Kate very strange, I am so used to an English keyboard and having to concentrate on what I was typing for once was very strange. AND I couldn't connect my computer to their internet, I had to use theirs, so I couldn't even upload my posts :(
And all this cost me a very pleasurable two euros which I thought was very cheap, but I did decide I was going to venture out to see if I could get the internet for the flat as I feel it would just make me that bit happier. Having access to you guys, and to skype, its just what I need to ake me feel completely settled. Apparantly though, the French don't do internet for the British...my two options to get the internet was to get a phone contract or to prove that I was living in France with a house contract. The first option is a no go cause French contracts are all on a two year basis and I aint going to be here that long, and the second option would be a struggle as it is not me that rents the flat it is Majestic.
As I pottered back to the flat I passed Cafe de Paris which offered free wifi so I popped in (I had my netbook in my bag) and ordered myself a coffee IN FRENCH!!!! And asked for the internet code (in English...). By this point I was so excited. I was going to be able to put some more music on Spotify, upload my blog posts, reply to peeps on Twitter and FaceyB. I tapped the code in and then boom...'Cafe de Paris internet security certificate has expired and is no longer safe, do not proceed'. WHAT THE FRIG... Am I ever going to be able to get on to the internet. I am a child of the internet revolution...I need this in my life!!!! So it has become apparant that tomorrow I am off to see if I can get it put in the flat via work. Fingers crossed I will soon be online from home and I can keep in touch with you guys.
Other than that I have just monged all day (not mulched mum) and it has been just what I needed. Cruising through the second H-Poz, started to decorate my flat to make it more Sophie-esque, cooked a hearty meal (which as soon as I started to eat it decided I wasn't actually hungry), had a pamper. It has been oh so lovely, just what I needed.
I also did a full shop for the week and it only came to eleven euro's, it was boss. Granted it was just food there was no cosmetics in there (@ONEFORTHEGIRLS Tampons in France...SO expensive...like five euros a pack - really????) but still, what a bargain. And I have a lovely little week planned, off out with Hannah for some tea on Thursday, and she is showing me the key things that I need to know before she goes on Friday :( mega sad, she is such a love and has been really lovely to have around.
Tonight I am still finishing off the La Posta Malbec (UK Majestic) it's not great now it has been open five days but I am determined to finish it.
Hope and safe guys x
And all this cost me a very pleasurable two euros which I thought was very cheap, but I did decide I was going to venture out to see if I could get the internet for the flat as I feel it would just make me that bit happier. Having access to you guys, and to skype, its just what I need to ake me feel completely settled. Apparantly though, the French don't do internet for the British...my two options to get the internet was to get a phone contract or to prove that I was living in France with a house contract. The first option is a no go cause French contracts are all on a two year basis and I aint going to be here that long, and the second option would be a struggle as it is not me that rents the flat it is Majestic.
As I pottered back to the flat I passed Cafe de Paris which offered free wifi so I popped in (I had my netbook in my bag) and ordered myself a coffee IN FRENCH!!!! And asked for the internet code (in English...). By this point I was so excited. I was going to be able to put some more music on Spotify, upload my blog posts, reply to peeps on Twitter and FaceyB. I tapped the code in and then boom...'Cafe de Paris internet security certificate has expired and is no longer safe, do not proceed'. WHAT THE FRIG... Am I ever going to be able to get on to the internet. I am a child of the internet revolution...I need this in my life!!!! So it has become apparant that tomorrow I am off to see if I can get it put in the flat via work. Fingers crossed I will soon be online from home and I can keep in touch with you guys.
Other than that I have just monged all day (not mulched mum) and it has been just what I needed. Cruising through the second H-Poz, started to decorate my flat to make it more Sophie-esque, cooked a hearty meal (which as soon as I started to eat it decided I wasn't actually hungry), had a pamper. It has been oh so lovely, just what I needed.
I also did a full shop for the week and it only came to eleven euro's, it was boss. Granted it was just food there was no cosmetics in there (@ONEFORTHEGIRLS Tampons in France...SO expensive...like five euros a pack - really????) but still, what a bargain. And I have a lovely little week planned, off out with Hannah for some tea on Thursday, and she is showing me the key things that I need to know before she goes on Friday :( mega sad, she is such a love and has been really lovely to have around.
Tonight I am still finishing off the La Posta Malbec (UK Majestic) it's not great now it has been open five days but I am determined to finish it.
Hope and safe guys x
Majestic Au Francais
Oh my, what a first day. Getting up was easy (which I was worried about). Alas, my day was not meant to continue in such a mannor. After breaking my toilet seat, I continued getting ready and set off promptly at 9.15am to arrive in work at 10am French time (9am UK time). Hannah had assured me earlier that day that the drive was fifteen minutes tops, but I left myself with that amount of time just in case. Well, just in bloody case was not enough, I only went and got myself massively lost...and only managed to find my way to work via pure fluke. I arrived in the Majestic in France carpark at five to ten to which I ran in, busting for a wee due to the 2 litres of water I had consumed earlier that morning.
After that fantastic start, I met the majority of the team, and shadowed Anne-Sophie for the day, which she must have got annoyed at. The French team (whom I had pictured to be some epic gang who wouldn't want to know an English member of staff) were absolutely lovely. I found the best way to intigrate myself was to talk to them on their own and build up a conversation with them and then when they were in a group it was a little easier (NOTE TO SELF NEED TO LEARN BASIC FRENCH)...although I did find reading the French edition of Grazia in the staff room was very beneficial. Maybe this is what I shall attempt to do - teach myself to read French and by listening in to the conversations that the staff have I may be able to pick up some French. Guys you won't even recognise me when I come home.
Ahhh - Home. Today was hard, today was the first day I really missed home. I spoke to Joe on the phhone over dinner and could not stop crying. It made me realise just how much I love him. Even though we are so many miles away I think about him so much, I think he is where I want my home to be. And Katie, ah man, how much do I miss our stupid calls to one another (and I am gutted that I couldn't get Kanye and Jay-Z tickets). But it is ok guys, you are both pride of place on my hall desk (yeah I have a hall)
I got a card off my mum today as well. And this may sound stupid, but I suddenly realised that I am not going home, that France isn't uni, I won't be going back and living with my mum like I used to (well maybe for a few months) but this really is the start if my adult life - and I have never had such a scary and sickening thought. WHAT ABOUT MY AMAZING BED!!!!!
Ah well, tonight consists of burger, potato salad and a side salad, the last of the La Posta Malbec (Majestic UK) and Harry Potter (which is how I am spending my nights as of late - this needs to be replaced with revision for my WSET and yet it hasn't been yet...ahh well)
Bon Nuit x
After that fantastic start, I met the majority of the team, and shadowed Anne-Sophie for the day, which she must have got annoyed at. The French team (whom I had pictured to be some epic gang who wouldn't want to know an English member of staff) were absolutely lovely. I found the best way to intigrate myself was to talk to them on their own and build up a conversation with them and then when they were in a group it was a little easier (NOTE TO SELF NEED TO LEARN BASIC FRENCH)...although I did find reading the French edition of Grazia in the staff room was very beneficial. Maybe this is what I shall attempt to do - teach myself to read French and by listening in to the conversations that the staff have I may be able to pick up some French. Guys you won't even recognise me when I come home.
Ahhh - Home. Today was hard, today was the first day I really missed home. I spoke to Joe on the phhone over dinner and could not stop crying. It made me realise just how much I love him. Even though we are so many miles away I think about him so much, I think he is where I want my home to be. And Katie, ah man, how much do I miss our stupid calls to one another (and I am gutted that I couldn't get Kanye and Jay-Z tickets). But it is ok guys, you are both pride of place on my hall desk (yeah I have a hall)
I got a card off my mum today as well. And this may sound stupid, but I suddenly realised that I am not going home, that France isn't uni, I won't be going back and living with my mum like I used to (well maybe for a few months) but this really is the start if my adult life - and I have never had such a scary and sickening thought. WHAT ABOUT MY AMAZING BED!!!!!
Ah well, tonight consists of burger, potato salad and a side salad, the last of the La Posta Malbec (Majestic UK) and Harry Potter (which is how I am spending my nights as of late - this needs to be replaced with revision for my WSET and yet it hasn't been yet...ahh well)
Bon Nuit x
Calais - Day One - The very low lows, and the very high highs.
I don't have the internet as of yet but I still want to keep people posted with what is happening in my French life so I am pre-writing my blogs which I will upload when I get to an internet cafe or wifi zone. Although conveniant for me it may mean you get hit with a load of posts to read at once (if you choose that is) - Soz - I blame the French :)
Oh my! What a day I have had. It has been proper mental like...and after checking my rota (which the lovely Hannah brought over for me) It is about to get a whole load more mental one would think.
So, I figured I would just sleep in this morning, get up when I get up, it was an absolute manic day yesterday, I have never driven so far and although the drive (both in the UK and France went well - I didn't get lost) it really took it out of me. Then the move, carrying all my stuff upstairs and unpacking, it was hard. My flat - wow - teenie tiny.
PICTURES WILL FOLLOW
I was speaking to Joe about it and he was saying I had to look on the positive - I have my own flat - completly my own space. I can do what I want with it and what not but still...when you lie in bed you stare at the kitchen (that doesn't have a cooker). Anyway, other people have made done with it, so can I.
So, I was all ready for getting a nice lie in, which obviously meant that I woke up at like 8am French time (7am England time). Joy. But after a lovely morning of mooching around and lazying about I decided it was time to finish unpacking, which I did - with slight storage issues, who would have thought that I would have SO much stuff. But everything got put away, and the flat is starting to look more homely and once I have gone through my photo's and stuff it will be banging (cue High Mead photo wall).
Everthing was going swimmingly, until I went for a shower and flooded my bathroom...need to practice showering in confined spaces! But that disaster was averted and I decided to venture out, for the first time, on my own. Well, after taking a massive detour (which brought me out at my flat) I finally made it into town. EVERYTHING SHUTS IN FRANCE FOR DINNER!!!! Between the hours of 12 and 4 most shops are shut! Well I knew about this but didn't believe it. Bloody Hell. I found myself a little supermarket and got the basics of living (which thankfully was open over the dinner period). Then I pottered around Calais trying to get my barings. And all of a sudden, like a vision, I saw the road signs for the tourist information centre. Well, I was off in a shot, I needed to find this place as I figured this would be the best place for me to start. If I could get a map of Calais then the town was my oyster. But alas, nothing is that simple. I completely missed the information centre, walked on for a good while more and got myself lost. It was at this precise moment that Joe called, and we chatted for a while as I wandered further off route. And it was only as he put Nat on to talk to me that I realised that I was lost, and I must apologise to Nat as I did rather rudely cut her off in an urgent need to speak to Joe as I got more and more flustered. In the end, as I stood in the street, silent tears dribbling down my cheeks, a homeless man approached babbling in French... I stood there, in a very English mannor, pointed at myself and loudly stated 'ANGLAIS'. The man looked at me, and like a saviour, said in broken English 'You ok madame'. I full on cried. I told the man my prediciment and he showed me to the information centre. The French are lovely.
Or are they?
The man in the information centre certainly wasn't, which I was astounded at as that was clearly his vocation in life? He gave me a map of Calais, which looked like it had been drawn by a two year old, to which he then squiggled all over...I mean come on, how am I meant to navigate my way around using that...Calais was starting to look more like a sea slug than an oyster. It was at this point that I decided to head back to the appartment, it was looking like France was going to be my friend so I was going to hide from her. And to aid this disapearing act, I was going to buy cheese and meat and bread and get fat doing so. Which I did.
As I wandered back to the flat with goodies in toe, I found a news agent, which for the grand total of three euros seventy I could purchase a map of Calais. As I stood there shaking my fist at the image i believed to be France, I purchased this map and started to realise that when you are in a foreign country and things go wrong they really go wrong and you feel so very low, but when things go right, you feel like you have achieved something so great, no matter how small a task.
I promptly sauntered home, had my cheese and meat (as a metaphorical two fingers at France) and planned my way to work tomorrow. That will be my next task. An extra bit of time will be required to get there I would think, just in case I get massively lost...which could happen.
Now it is an Italian tea of pasta, pesto and cheese followed by a couple of drinks in Town with Hannah.
Tonight I am mainly drinking La Posta Malbec - Majestic UK.
Hope and Safe x
Oh my! What a day I have had. It has been proper mental like...and after checking my rota (which the lovely Hannah brought over for me) It is about to get a whole load more mental one would think.
So, I figured I would just sleep in this morning, get up when I get up, it was an absolute manic day yesterday, I have never driven so far and although the drive (both in the UK and France went well - I didn't get lost) it really took it out of me. Then the move, carrying all my stuff upstairs and unpacking, it was hard. My flat - wow - teenie tiny.
PICTURES WILL FOLLOW
I was speaking to Joe about it and he was saying I had to look on the positive - I have my own flat - completly my own space. I can do what I want with it and what not but still...when you lie in bed you stare at the kitchen (that doesn't have a cooker). Anyway, other people have made done with it, so can I.
So, I was all ready for getting a nice lie in, which obviously meant that I woke up at like 8am French time (7am England time). Joy. But after a lovely morning of mooching around and lazying about I decided it was time to finish unpacking, which I did - with slight storage issues, who would have thought that I would have SO much stuff. But everything got put away, and the flat is starting to look more homely and once I have gone through my photo's and stuff it will be banging (cue High Mead photo wall).
Everthing was going swimmingly, until I went for a shower and flooded my bathroom...need to practice showering in confined spaces! But that disaster was averted and I decided to venture out, for the first time, on my own. Well, after taking a massive detour (which brought me out at my flat) I finally made it into town. EVERYTHING SHUTS IN FRANCE FOR DINNER!!!! Between the hours of 12 and 4 most shops are shut! Well I knew about this but didn't believe it. Bloody Hell. I found myself a little supermarket and got the basics of living (which thankfully was open over the dinner period). Then I pottered around Calais trying to get my barings. And all of a sudden, like a vision, I saw the road signs for the tourist information centre. Well, I was off in a shot, I needed to find this place as I figured this would be the best place for me to start. If I could get a map of Calais then the town was my oyster. But alas, nothing is that simple. I completely missed the information centre, walked on for a good while more and got myself lost. It was at this precise moment that Joe called, and we chatted for a while as I wandered further off route. And it was only as he put Nat on to talk to me that I realised that I was lost, and I must apologise to Nat as I did rather rudely cut her off in an urgent need to speak to Joe as I got more and more flustered. In the end, as I stood in the street, silent tears dribbling down my cheeks, a homeless man approached babbling in French... I stood there, in a very English mannor, pointed at myself and loudly stated 'ANGLAIS'. The man looked at me, and like a saviour, said in broken English 'You ok madame'. I full on cried. I told the man my prediciment and he showed me to the information centre. The French are lovely.
Or are they?
The man in the information centre certainly wasn't, which I was astounded at as that was clearly his vocation in life? He gave me a map of Calais, which looked like it had been drawn by a two year old, to which he then squiggled all over...I mean come on, how am I meant to navigate my way around using that...Calais was starting to look more like a sea slug than an oyster. It was at this point that I decided to head back to the appartment, it was looking like France was going to be my friend so I was going to hide from her. And to aid this disapearing act, I was going to buy cheese and meat and bread and get fat doing so. Which I did.
As I wandered back to the flat with goodies in toe, I found a news agent, which for the grand total of three euros seventy I could purchase a map of Calais. As I stood there shaking my fist at the image i believed to be France, I purchased this map and started to realise that when you are in a foreign country and things go wrong they really go wrong and you feel so very low, but when things go right, you feel like you have achieved something so great, no matter how small a task.
I promptly sauntered home, had my cheese and meat (as a metaphorical two fingers at France) and planned my way to work tomorrow. That will be my next task. An extra bit of time will be required to get there I would think, just in case I get massively lost...which could happen.
Now it is an Italian tea of pasta, pesto and cheese followed by a couple of drinks in Town with Hannah.
Tonight I am mainly drinking La Posta Malbec - Majestic UK.
Hope and Safe x
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Roller Coaster of Emotions
FUCK!!!!!
Tomorrow I drive to France. I don't even know where I am going or anything. I haven't even finished packing (although that is getting nearer) but still... I am currently uploading Fifteen Minute French onto my external harddrive...please work on my mini laptop.
Oh my god. I am having massive second thoughts. After everything that has happened this week - seeing the girls, regular catch up with Katie, socialising with work, seeing Alex, and my grandparents and chatting regularly with Joe...
Like I am aware that this as all happened because I am going but it doesn't make it any less amazing to have done all these things (although it does make me skint). I am going to miss everybody so flipping much.
There have been so many tears over the last couple of days, which there shouldn't be cause this is an amazing experience but it is such a massive thing. What if I hate it? What if they hate me? Can you drink French water? What if I forget to drive on the right side of the road?
My brain is in overdrive.
Blurgh.
But anyway, this is the last post for a while as I drive down tomorrow and won't have any internet in the flat, as soon as I do though I will let you all know with another post.
If you want my French address then please message me and I will send it, although there is one rule to you coming to visit me, and that is that you have to come over with some of this tea:
http://www.whittard.co.uk/tea/flavoured_black_tea/spiced_imperial
Apparantly, Whittards went into liquidation at the start of the year so the only way that you can get their tea's now is via their website, and as I dont want to have to pay the fifteen quid fee to get it sent abroad the best thing is to bring it is a gift on your visits - YOU WILL BE REIMBURSED!!!
Tonight I was mainly drinking Brancott Sauvignon Gris - Majestic Parcel wine...LUSH!!!!
Hope and Safe guys x
Tomorrow I drive to France. I don't even know where I am going or anything. I haven't even finished packing (although that is getting nearer) but still... I am currently uploading Fifteen Minute French onto my external harddrive...please work on my mini laptop.
Oh my god. I am having massive second thoughts. After everything that has happened this week - seeing the girls, regular catch up with Katie, socialising with work, seeing Alex, and my grandparents and chatting regularly with Joe...
Like I am aware that this as all happened because I am going but it doesn't make it any less amazing to have done all these things (although it does make me skint). I am going to miss everybody so flipping much.
There have been so many tears over the last couple of days, which there shouldn't be cause this is an amazing experience but it is such a massive thing. What if I hate it? What if they hate me? Can you drink French water? What if I forget to drive on the right side of the road?
My brain is in overdrive.
Blurgh.
But anyway, this is the last post for a while as I drive down tomorrow and won't have any internet in the flat, as soon as I do though I will let you all know with another post.
If you want my French address then please message me and I will send it, although there is one rule to you coming to visit me, and that is that you have to come over with some of this tea:
http://www.whittard.co.uk/tea/flavoured_black_tea/spiced_imperial
Apparantly, Whittards went into liquidation at the start of the year so the only way that you can get their tea's now is via their website, and as I dont want to have to pay the fifteen quid fee to get it sent abroad the best thing is to bring it is a gift on your visits - YOU WILL BE REIMBURSED!!!
Tonight I was mainly drinking Brancott Sauvignon Gris - Majestic Parcel wine...LUSH!!!!
Hope and Safe guys x
Friday, 17 February 2012
My Port in Stormy Seas.
Less than a week to go until France.
I have seen the photo's of where I am going to be living...dum dum dummmmm. I had already been told that it was basic, but I wasn't quite aware of how basic. The thought of going back to a single (yes, a single) bed chills me to my core. But it is time to fill my life with beautiful (cheap) things. I didn't have a clue as to just HOW expensive relocating actually was.
Aside from this, I am so super excited. I am moving to France. Fifteen minute French is still none-existent. Need to get that wacked on the old iPod so I can take it over there with me, and learn it. I cannot believe that this time next week I will be posting to you guys in Calais (if I have the internet that is).
So, I got a message from Joe the other day saying I never mention him in my posts (which up until now was true, oops). SO HI JOE!!!!
Oh dear, it is worrying just how much I am missing him now. And what is even more worrying is how much I am going to miss those that are close to me. Come next week I will be a whole ball of missing emotions. These guys are on the top of the list:
I love you all so much. I need to stay in touch with you all and you know that you are all more than welcome to come and visit me and stay with me and we can drink wine and eat cheese on the beach. But to all of you I want to say thank you for being there for me. For letting me cry on your shoulder. For laughing with me. For getting drink with me. For being there for me. You guys are the best friends a girl can have and I hope you all know what you mean to me.
And to everyone else, the Jones Massive, the Majestic Mandem, the Leeds Crew and the rest of the Chorley lot. I'll see you soon. Holla at me if you want me to bring any cheap wine back :)
Tonight I will be drinking Bollinger Grand Annee (Majestic)
I have seen the photo's of where I am going to be living...dum dum dummmmm. I had already been told that it was basic, but I wasn't quite aware of how basic. The thought of going back to a single (yes, a single) bed chills me to my core. But it is time to fill my life with beautiful (cheap) things. I didn't have a clue as to just HOW expensive relocating actually was.
Aside from this, I am so super excited. I am moving to France. Fifteen minute French is still none-existent. Need to get that wacked on the old iPod so I can take it over there with me, and learn it. I cannot believe that this time next week I will be posting to you guys in Calais (if I have the internet that is).
So, I got a message from Joe the other day saying I never mention him in my posts (which up until now was true, oops). SO HI JOE!!!!
Oh dear, it is worrying just how much I am missing him now. And what is even more worrying is how much I am going to miss those that are close to me. Come next week I will be a whole ball of missing emotions. These guys are on the top of the list:
I love you all so much. I need to stay in touch with you all and you know that you are all more than welcome to come and visit me and stay with me and we can drink wine and eat cheese on the beach. But to all of you I want to say thank you for being there for me. For letting me cry on your shoulder. For laughing with me. For getting drink with me. For being there for me. You guys are the best friends a girl can have and I hope you all know what you mean to me.
And to everyone else, the Jones Massive, the Majestic Mandem, the Leeds Crew and the rest of the Chorley lot. I'll see you soon. Holla at me if you want me to bring any cheap wine back :)
Tonight I will be drinking Bollinger Grand Annee (Majestic)
Monday, 13 February 2012
Hellos and Goodbyes.
So starts the horrific task of saying goodbye to people. Although in the grand scheme of things ten months of things isn't all that long, saying goodbye to people that you love and care about is horrible, as I am starting to find. I am trying to concentrate on the positive things and how amazing Calais is going to be, but I have so much to do before I go (I am starting to become really anal about what I have to do) and so little time.
Had a bonkers weekend, went to visit the Father and his family. I met my new half-brother Jack (below) and said goodbye to him and the rest of the family all in one big hit.
That was weird, I don't see my dad all that much but to know that I am off to Calais and I am not going to see them until next year...its slightly unsettling. Jack is a cutie, and it's always lovely to see Eve, although she doesn't quite understand the idea of her brother and the fact that her sister is going away for a while. Ah well, this is what Skype is for - message me if you want my Skype name.
It's funny, I am really starting to enjoy things that I am not going to have when I am in Calais, like I loved tootling around in the van today, and have even volunteered to do another day in it (and if it means I don't have to do crappy deliveries - like Blackburn Debenhams, which is a shocker of a place to get to then all the better). And I am really enjoying work as well, not that I don't normally, but I am super enjoying it. I feel like I am really getting to grips with the whole wine tasting thing, and although I need to bump on my product knowledge it is all going well.
Calais is really starting to freak me out, I am so excited - strolls on the beach and meeting new people is all so exciting but I am sad to leave my Mum and I am worried and so many things. I booked my EuroTunnel ticket - completely got my timings wrong for getting from Chog to Folkestone but hopefully that will give me more time to get down there (and wee stops and such). I do enjoy the EuroTunnel, but so starts the endless questions of what I can take over there with me on the train thing. Can I take my knitting needles is the big question I have. There is NO WAY I can live ten months without my knitting, trivial to most, vital to me.
Sorry if this is a little boring, hopefully when I get over there things might get slightly more interesting in terms of what you will read.
This evenings plans consist of Portuguese wine - Tesco's (OhMyGod - Traitor), dead people on the television and pretend packing...n'night.
Had a bonkers weekend, went to visit the Father and his family. I met my new half-brother Jack (below) and said goodbye to him and the rest of the family all in one big hit.
It's funny, I am really starting to enjoy things that I am not going to have when I am in Calais, like I loved tootling around in the van today, and have even volunteered to do another day in it (and if it means I don't have to do crappy deliveries - like Blackburn Debenhams, which is a shocker of a place to get to then all the better). And I am really enjoying work as well, not that I don't normally, but I am super enjoying it. I feel like I am really getting to grips with the whole wine tasting thing, and although I need to bump on my product knowledge it is all going well.
Calais is really starting to freak me out, I am so excited - strolls on the beach and meeting new people is all so exciting but I am sad to leave my Mum and I am worried and so many things. I booked my EuroTunnel ticket - completely got my timings wrong for getting from Chog to Folkestone but hopefully that will give me more time to get down there (and wee stops and such). I do enjoy the EuroTunnel, but so starts the endless questions of what I can take over there with me on the train thing. Can I take my knitting needles is the big question I have. There is NO WAY I can live ten months without my knitting, trivial to most, vital to me.
Sorry if this is a little boring, hopefully when I get over there things might get slightly more interesting in terms of what you will read.
This evenings plans consist of Portuguese wine - Tesco's (OhMyGod - Traitor), dead people on the television and pretend packing...n'night.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Bank Accounts and Netbooks.
So, after finding out that I have been given a place in the Calais superstore with work, I have a million and ten things that I need to sort out before I go.
This weekend, my days off were meant to involve a girlie boozy day with Mummy, instead we had a day tackling all the things that I needed to do before I go away (in mere days...) Trying to sort out an English bank account where I would not get charged for using my debit card abroad was a no go. It became obvious as to why bankers became rhyming slang...
After giving up on the bank, we went shopping for fun things...like my new NETBOOK (which I am currently typing this on...) Take a peek...
It was so lovely though cause I bumped into an old college friend which was lovely. He helped me pick my netbook and accessories, and it was lovely to speak to a computer sales person that wasn't just trying to sell me things, but that was actually being honest.
So today I got a fun new toy to play on, which will help me stay in touch with those that I love and those that I love to bore while I am away as well spending some lovely time with my mum. So now it is time to settle down with a glass of wine (Potel Chardonnay @ Majestic wine - Jokes) in my classy onesie and make plans for Calais.
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