Wordless Wednesday: Happiness in a Box

Bliss. It takes very little to make me happy!

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Challenging and Channelling Awesome

Just a bit of light reading

Though it may seem lately that I am Miss Fun in the Sun and Miss Sex and the City, in reality, I am still a Master's student. That has not changed. I am still unsalaried and unable to even buy my favourite mascara (£10, Boots! Really?) and more importantly, bound to academia. While I may not have classes, which gives me significantly more free time than I had in the first two terms, allowing me to have a life, I am still often sitting behind the laptop, reading PR journals and stalking PR groups and people. It's just that writing about that is not always fun or interesting - not as interesting as salsa dancing. lol. I have been doing a lot of the PR stalking  recently as I try to overcome the most niggling hurdle yet - my Master's dissertation.

It is one thing to have to do research, and quite a hair pulling experience when one has to depend on others to complete said research. With my research method being qualitative research by way of in-depth interviews, I am handicapped by the good will or in my case, lack thereof, of my respondents. I have been grinding my teeth over the past month trying to grab 30 minutes of people's time to complete my data collection so I can get started on analysis and presentation. I am NOT a last minute kind of person and I foresee this major speedbump taking me down uncharted waters for me - the last minute hustle.

What is even more maddening is I got my transcripts yesterday for my degree thus far - minus said nightmare of dissertation. There is not a B on that sheet of paper. I should be ecstatic about this, and I am, cause if you have been reading this blog from the start of this adventure, you know through health, illness, thick and thin, I have been very committed as I am to most things in my life. Instead, I am more anxious than happy. I have been trying to forget my stress by going out more and not "sweating the small stuff" but this is not small stuff. This is a headache.

But I am keeping the faith. I just need 5 more interviews - which may sound like easy pickings but right now, from where I am sitting, and after countless attempts, it seems like an insurmountable mountain.

Still, I am awesome...in case I needed to remind any of you. AWE-SOME!

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Come Dine with Me - The Trini Episode

Famida - Come Dine with Me Photo credit: Channel 4

Come Dine With Me is one of my fave shows here in the UK. The show follows 4-5 strangers who must host a dinner party for each other - with each dinner guest secretly scoring each other's dinner party. I sat tonight watching this old episode which amused for the usual reasons but it was especially amusing because one of the dinner guests was Trini. Usually the Caribbean train wrecks...umm...guests...are Jamaican but now I can "proudly" say, Trinidad and Tobago were represented on my favourite show.

Disclaimer: This woman does not represent all Trinidadian women. However, she sure makes for great entertainment. If you have 48 minutes to spare and want a laugh, this episode has to be one of the best ever. I highly advise you check out the snake poo scene (which starts around 11.24) and the orange halter scene (starts around 28.35).

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO. You will not regret it...or maybe you will.

The best!

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Trini Salsa...or not

Salsa! Baila!

So last night, I went salsa dancing. Having never danced salsa in my life, I was excited and a bit anxious - because while Trinis are great at gyrating and wining, I was not that confident in my Latin dancing ability. The hip movements, I had down but I looked at the intermediate dancers and thought to myself - they expect me to be able to do all that?

In any event, I did not feel like I got a real chance to show my skills. The classes were enormous and totally oversubscribed, leaving very little room for movement. I kept bumping into people and getting my own toes stepped on. Not fun. Additionally, it seemed like some of the patrons' 24 hr deodorant protection only lasted 10 hours, and my eyes were soon glistening with tears as a result of the acrid smell of sweaty underarms. The room itself was very warm, so this did not add to my enjoyment. Needless to say, I was not a very attentive, committed pupil and the eyes of weird, tusty looking men on my form also did not help my comfort levels (although there was one stunner who kept staring at me - high five!). After 10 minutes of bruised toes, burning nostrils and the searing virtual pain from the eyes boring into my ass as I 1-2-3'ed, I stepped to the side and called it quits. It was a sad day for the men of London but a great day for my feet.

The date itself was also a bit bleh. Nice dude, but waaaaaaay too eager for my liking. I foresee a lifetime of clinginess with this one, who already wants to come to my house. Today. Ummm....no.

But as always - it's a great story for my grandkids one day. If I ever get to the point of populating my uterus.

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Great Expectations - The Reasons for Dating

Dating - what is it really?

In Trinidad, I don’t think we really use the word  date. I grew up on American television and got used to hearing about kids dating but no one ever asked me out on a date. We went out on date like things – to dinner, to the movies, etc, but I never dated anyone. It was very much hanging out, liming, going out – not dating. 

In London, people date. It’s the same thing really (or is it?) but it takes some getting used to – dating. In any event, I don’t blog much about the dating activities here, or as I prefer the going-out activities. But it’s pretty fun – not always so much for the relationship building side but more for the entertainment value. I have been introduced to new people, new places, new things. It is a great way to discover the city and meet new people for sure. Maybe not so good for love-hunting, which typically is what dates are all about, isn’t it?

It’s pretty hard to meet people here, as I have indicated before (eyes glued to the smartphone syndrome is very real here) so when you do get thrown a bone, and after determining whether the bone is suitable enough to sniff and nibble on, you make the most of it.

Tonight, I am going salsa dancing with a cute and funny guy. Maybe he will not be Mr Trininista, but we will have a laugh, for sure, especially as neither of us has ever danced salsa in our lives. As I said, in this city, I have set my expectations for love-hunting pretty low, as people generally are so detached and dare I say, some are emotionally retarded, but when it comes to entertainment – my expectations are off the charts!!!

This may not bode well for the husband hungry relatives but it’s just dandy for me at the moment.I think that's why it's so fun for me, because I have stopped having great expectations

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