I am back

"To keep posting on my Past, Present, Future blog at least once per week"... I wrote this on the 1st day of January 2010 as part of my New Year's Resolutions. It clearly has not happened and I have not kept my promise. I have not written anything for over six weeks! I do not even know why... Was I too busy? Not really... Maybe I just did not feel like writing anything... Or maybe I simply did not have anything to write about...

I am back, however, and ready to blog!

Here is a short update of couple of things that took place over the past 2 months:

I went to Spain to visit Pati in the mid January. I have had a chance to meet her new boyfriend. Ricardo seems like a decent bloke. He is not Josep, though... I really, I mean really, liked Josep. It is a shame they are not together any more. But that is life. People get together, something goes wrong, they break up... You just have to move on and look for happiness and for your other half somewhere else.
And Ricardo... It is hard for me to have an opinion or to judge someone I have met once in my life. But he seems like a nice guy. I hope Pati is happy with him. And when she is happy, I am happy.

I have started taking Angie to agility classes. We have attended four sessions and I am not really sure whether we are going to attend any more. The trainer is the main reason. He is nice, he has got knowledge, he is qualified to run training classes (at least that is what he has told us... I have not really checked his credentials with the Kennel Club yet...) The only problem with the guy is that he is so unorganised! He talks too much, dog owners do not know what they are supposed to do most of the times and everything seems a bit out of control. I know he has just become a dog trainer not that long ago. So maybe he just needs more time to deal with issues and more time to learn how to organise training sessions. However, if I spend money, I want to make sure that it is spent properly. I do not want to feel like I am wasting it or like I am wasting my time. And, unfortunately, that is how I have felt while attending his classes.

I am back at university. Want to finish my MA. Although I find this semester's modules quiet difficult, there is also an element of greater stimulation of the senses, better motivation, encouragement and willingness to find out new things and issues.

I have decided to start swimming. I have not really excercised lately and thought it would be a good idea to get back in shape. I consider swimming a great way of doing it. I have started slowly, two times per week, a couple of pool lengths at a time. I want to increase the length with time, I do not want to rush anything because the results could be disastrous.

Slawek and I have also started taking Angie to a vet in order to sort out all the vaccinations, blood tests and documents necessary if we want to get her a pet passport. We want to take Angie abroad with us this summer and have got to start the procedure at least six months before we come back from holidays. Obtaining a pet passport is not a big issue here, it is just the law allowing us to come back with her that is a real pain in the neck.

After months of virtually not taking any photos, I have finally bought a new camera! Nikon D90 is my newest toy for the upcoming months.

And last but not least, I got peed on by a dog... twice... What is up with the universe??? An event like that is supposed to bring me happiness and good fortune... I am not really convinced, I must say...

Check It Out

Hey, check out this link, people...

http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/

I find it absolutely hilarious :)))

My Guilty Pleasures

Everybody has a guilty pleasure. Some people have just one. Others have several. Some people talk about them openly, others prefer to keep certain information to themselves. The truth is, most of us crave for something naughty and most of us feel guilty for enjoying it. So do I.

When thinking about my guilty pleasures, I thought I would have difficulties coming up with one. Surprise, surprise... The list got a big long but I will stick to just a few guilty pleasures of mine...

1. Watching Big Brother is certainly one of my biggest guilty pleasures. I don't know what is so interesting about this show, I find people taking part in it highly miserable and annoying and it is completely boring most of the time. Yes, I know I'm wasting my time watching it. And yet, I watch it. Thank God I am sometimes hit with moments of clarity that are followed by a good, loud blow of guilt to my head.

2. Drinking Drambuie, Southern Comfort or Disaronno. What can I say? I like having a drink while taking a bath or watching a movie. Is that really something I should feel guilty about...?

3. Chinese food... I know it is full of fat and contains lots of calories. But I just can't help it...

4. This one is quite obvious - chocolate. I cannot live without it. As a matter of fact I think I am addicted to it. But guess what? I don't care! Forbidden fruits taste the best and so does chocolate. To be honest, I don't even feel guilty for eating it several times per every day...

5. Shoes... "Do you really need another pair?", the guilty conscience on my right shoulder asks. "Of course you do, dummy!!! Buy them!!!", the Devil on my left whispers. I always listen to the latter...

Bring It On 2010!

1st January 2010... I cannot believe how quickly the time passes...

How could I describe the past year? Interesting... Full of surprises... Emotional... Trying...

Lots of things happened during the last 365 days. Some of them put a smile on my face, some were encouraging, others emotionally distressing. Below is the short summary of a few events that took place in 2009:

1. I had to postpone finishing my Master's Degree and take a gap year due to financial difficulties.

2. I saw Depeche Mode performing live at the o2 Arena in London.
3. I taught Angie how to close every single drawer and lower cupboards in my kitchen.

4. After weeks of training and hard work, Angie completed the Advanced Stage of Obedience Course and won a gold medal in a small slalom competition.

5. I established new friendships and rebuilt relationships with old friends.

6. I realised some people considered themselves my friends only when it was convenient for them or when they wanted or needed something from me. I also learned that being honest with some of them would take me a long way and after months of not being sure whether I should have done it or not, I finally got of my chest what really bothered me. It helped me clear the air with few people. It also resulted in some of my friendships being flushed down the toilet.

7. I fed an elderly, homeless man.

8. I got invited on a tour of the Olympic Park in London.
9. I took part in the Mayor of London's Skyride along with over 65 thousands cyclists.
10. I became a member of PETA and Dog Trust.

11. I cooked the deer stew for the first time in my life.

12. I watched every single episode of Friends for the 100s time and watched all 4 seasons of my favourite TV drama, Prison Break.

At the beginning of every New Year people make lists of New Year's resolutions. From promises of staying healthy to declarations of getting better jobs and saving money, the lists are endless. The truth is that most people do not keep their resolutions for more than a week and, according to some research, only about 12% actually achieve their goals.

I realise, however, that I am no different than others and I also am tempted to promise "the impossible". So here is the list of my New Year's Resolutions for 2010:

1. To finish my Master's Degree in Media Studies with a very good grade.

2. To keep posting on my Past, Present, Future blog at least once per week.

3. To move out of London.

4. To train Angie to jump through a hoola-hop and start taking her to agility classes.

5. To eat less chocolate. Yeah, right... Let's be honest. I do not want to make any promises I know I will not keep... I, thus, promise to eat more fruits and veggies.

6. To get a job in the media sector.

7. To start learning a new language. Out of so many alternatives, I have opted for either Chinese or Japanese (which one is easier?)

8. To focus less on negative sides of life and smile a lot.

9. To stay away from fake and boring people.

10. To spend more time with friends and show them how much I care.

11. To start kickboxing again.

12. To use my camera more often and take more pictures.

Too many resolutions? Perhaps. Unrealistic? Don't think so. I think moving out of London is going to be the hardest one to achieve but, hey, nothing is impossible, right?

All the best for 2010!

Best Night Of My Life :)

I had one of the best nights of my life yesterday. Having been a fan for about 20 years, I have never had a chance to see them life for some reason. I finally saw them yesterday at the o2 Arena in London.

The Depeche Mode concert was fantastic!!! The show was amazing!!! It started at about 8pm with Soulsavers as the opening act. Then, right after 9pm The Boys came out and the magic started... DM played about 20 songs, from their newest LPs (Wrong, Hole To Feed, In Chains, Miles Away/ The Truth Is) to their brilliant pieces from the 80s (A Question Of Time, Never Let Me Down Again, Stripped, Behind The Wheel) and 90s (Walking In My Shoes, It's No Good, Policy Of Truth, In Your Room, I Feel You, Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus, World In My Eyes) and Martin, of course, gave us his Freelove, Home and One Caress.

The Arena was packed with DM lovers. It was such a mix of people, from over 50s adults to young teenagers and even kids with their parents :) It was great to be amongst the younger audience for a change. Everybody had a great time. The atmosphere was HOT, HOT, HOT!!! The boys still got IT, Dave is charming and sexy as ever and their music is simply inspiring...

They rocked the show pretty damn hard. I danced, sang along and had the time of my life! I don't even care about the fact that I've lost my voice - it was that brilliant!!!

I will definitely be the first person to buy tickets for their future shows!

And for now... Enjoy The Silence...