My life is good, yes it is!

And I am about to tell you why!

Work has been funny. It’s actually really stressful again cuz we’re understaffed and overworked, and it’s not unlike last summer where we were all on the brink of a breakdown. Unlike last summer we’re not allowed overtime (it appears there’s a recession going on, and that it affects the financial sector particularly, and that this is exactly where we work, and we’re lucky to still have our job to start with. I’m not actually being sarcastic when I say this. We are – AmEx has got rid of a ton of people. But mainly people who earn loads more money than we do *lol*).

On Friday we went to the pub and it ended up as sort of a big group hug and mutual declaration of love / friendship (yes, alcohol was involved, but still). Long story short, I like where I am, mainly because of the people I work with. AmEx as an employer isn’t perfect (tho objectively it’s heaps better than many others, there is no doubt about that), but working with people you like is worth so fucking much. Even tho it can become a problem because work issues affect friendships (sorta like how you should never move in with a friend, hehe). But so so much better than generally hating the people you work with.

June/July plans – apparently I’ve got stuff planned for the next 4-6 weekends or something. This is both exciting and scary. Let me elaborate:

19-21 June – Alisdair is coming down and we will have a BBQ on the beach (unless it rains 😐 ) plus I am hoping to finally see the slore‘s flat. (!)

26-28 June – this is most exciting! Billy (the bike, you ignorami!) and I are travelling up to London (provided Southern Railways let us) to do the following:
– finally see Alisdair’s & Molkoboy’s new Clapham flat (I chickened out of the flatwarming, shoot me)
– go to the Maureen Johnson Gathering with the very amazing Axxx who’s doing her PhD on Saturn (yes the planet!) and is happy to answer any & all questions I might have.
– it’s London Open House weekend!!!! I have signed up for the Victoria Partnership Walking Tour (sorry, no direct link but very cool), and I will also go to see Crossness Pumping Station which is honestly the most awesome Victorian “thing” I have ever come across. I am seriously peeing my pants in anticipation of this!!
– speaking of Victorian however, I am hoping to fit in Cane Hill as well (disused mental asylum in Croydon, very popular urban exploration destination).
– And perhaps I will manage to catch my Lord Mel and see her and Ellie’s flat too? 😀

3rd-5th July – yes this is the big thing. If all goes to plan I will have two (out of three) perfect boys. Toma’s coming Thursday (2nd) then on Friday we’re driving to Gatwick to pick up Alisdair & Molkoboy (aka “other Tom”), then onwards to Folkestone, then Arras (France). And then Placebo (well, festival incl. Placebo, but who cares about the rest). OMFG? Yes, quite.

Placebo – let’s keep talking about them because they are another reason my life is good. THERE ARE NO BETTER YEARS THAN PLACEBO TOUR YEARS!!! I have mentioned previously that I would go see them in Stockholm. Have bought ticket (it was all in Swedish! I am proud! I suspect there may have been a link to “English” but I didn’t use it! I booked in Swedish!) I will probably be staying with the delightful Vega and apparently I will get to meet my Pet© Mina, which is both scary and exciting!

Placebo have also announced French dates, and Paris is on a Saturday (24th Oct), so there is no way I cannot go. So I will. Which suits me well, cuz I need to do Paris in autumn, and there won’t be our traditional Sept. Paris trip, cuz we’re going to NYC, yes we are!!!

Yeah so New York – I know I know, this is a contentious issue. Yes I am going with my mum, yes I know last time was a disaster. I am aware this time may be a disaster too, but I am hopeful in that
1. we have talked about it at length and sorta understand each other’s POV
2. we are both in agreement that we will spend time apart as needed
3. Charlie drama strongly reduced due to the fact that Charlie and I speak again etc.
We’re going for nine days (incl the flights of course), which is like the longest I’ve ever been to NYC, and tho of course it’s nothing like the six weeks to three months I wanted to (and am still hoping to) spend there / in the US, it’s still very exciting.

Oh aye, and there’s MJ! – almost forgot about that. Whether there is a Mon or not, it’s still gonna be Michael Jackson. 13th July. Less than a month to go (woah! it’s been fucking years! Eight to be precise. Last time was in, you know, NYC. See above). And also in general the MJ thing is exciting cuz there will be many fans in London and I am hoping to see some of them. Suha is coming to stay with me I believe, and I am definitely meeting up with Michelle also.

I think I have come to the end of the list of reasons why my life is good. 😛 But it was quite a long list! 😀 Now I’ll go and grab Billy, fit him with lights, computer and bike pump. and go out into the sun. So there’s another reason!!!! 😀

PS Come to think of it, new iPhone is another reason!