This Paint-by-Numbers life at the Hotel California

Moving on...

2005-01-26T20:49:00.000+01:00

Well, I've had to relocate my blog. Bummer eh...apparently blogger.com is blocked by Chinese authorities or something, so I've had to move to Xanga.com:

Here's the link to my new blog:

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=dearbarbie

Yeah, have fun and all that :( Please read it there instead! God, the URL is massive!

I'm going to look for somewhere better to host it...

After I've been shopping...

Kim x

Not long to go

2005-01-26T13:30:00.000+01:00

...?

2 weeks and 5 days, baby!!

How totally cool is Salvador Dali? I really love Le Tigre, it's one of my favourite paintings. Ooh, I really must haul my ass to The Louvre before the end of the year - I guess I need to go back to Paris to see Vannak, Christelle, Martine and Phil anyway! It's been over a year!!

Woooo, I tried to leave work early yesterday. I am scheduled to leave next Saturday, then to take a week and a half's holiday. I just was so wound up yesterday, I offered to hand in my notice and leave in a few days (bringing my holiday period forward). But I guess doing that means I'll get paid a week's less wages - not that it would account for much. I had a bit of a rant, okay it was quite a significant rant, about being underpaid at work. Didn't go down too well...

I've been in touch with a guy from the CAUC, where I'm going to teach in China! He's been there a few months I think, told me about my apartment (western toilet, woo!), and apparently I have broadband and a really trashy computer in there, and it looks like I'm going to have an apartment to myself!

Socially, this week is panning out to be a bit, erm, rubbish. Monday was meant to be spent with Ben at Monday Night Oak Quiz, Tuesday was Rowan, tonight was meant to be at a gig with Dale, Thurs and Fri are open, and Saturday I'm having my random rendezvous (a few mates just coming over to consumer copious amounts of alcomahol)...but Monday, Ben was working late, so I got my ass kicked at pool by Ro. Last night he came over for a film and then I kept falling asleep - nothing like giving a man confidence, eh!! Tonight, well, the band Dale and I were going to see have cancelled, and Dan's not available either. :@ :( Ahhhh well. I may even go to the gym later.

Nah, it's not gonna happen.

Muchas apologised for my unecessarily depressing last entry - I think it was the comedown from the weekend meets reality of leaving the country again. On that note, got a really random apology from David for being a bit of a git, and that's cool. He's a decent enough bloke so looks like I may have made a new beer and pool partner, but that's it.

I have stolen this from omletteman's China blog.

You scored as Mindfuck. Congratulations, you scored Mindfuck. You've probably seen a lot of movies, and have grown to hate mainstream shit. You're looking for the movie that will leave you breathless, and with 21 questions to think about. Check out: Donnie Darko, Being John Malkovich, Pulp Fiction, Memento.

Artistic

75%

Sadistic Humour

75%

Mindfuck

75%

Drama/Suspense

60%

Romantic Comedy

45%

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

25%

Mindless Action Flick

15%

Movie Recommendation.
created with QuizFarm.com

Ooh and this too:

Last Cigarette: no no no no no
Last Alcoholic Drink: Hmmmm, beer on Monday night
Last Car Ride: The mummobile taking me to Leeds on Monday night
Last Kiss: Last night ;)
Last Good Cry: when I found out Ally was engaged, months ago...aannyway.
Last Library Book checked out: some Uni textbook months ago
Last Movie Seen in Theatres: The Incredibles
Last Book Read: The one I'm reading now is 'A Hundred and One Days' by Asne Seierstad.
Last Movie Rented: God knows. Saw Finding Nemo last night that didn't specifically belong to me?
Last Cuss Word Uttered: It could have been anything!! Nothing yet today tho.
Last Beverage Drank: Orange juice
Last Food Consumed: Gluten-free pasta and a totally badass sauce thing!
Last Crush: I couldn't possibly divulge such classified information :p
Last Phone Call: Kamran last night, do missed calls count?
Last TV Show Watched: This really cool Sahara thing where a caravan of camels goes through the desert!
Last Time Showered: Last night, and in about 30 mins
Last Shoes Worn: Black Work Shoes #3
Last CD Played: Travis - 12 Memories
Last Item Bought: Yesterday's lunch
Last Download: Erm, God knows, Howie Day I think....
Last Annoyance: Dan not being free tonight...
Last Disappointment: Not calling in sick at work yesterday
Last Soda Drank: I don't drink that crap!
Last Thing Written: This, and an e-mail to Rowan
Last Key Used: House key
Last Word Spoken: 'Alright, see you whenever then...' probably, it's all I ever say!
Last Sleep: About 2 hours ago...
Last IM: It was from David apologising.
Last Weird Encounter: I'm always having them, they seem normal lol!
Last Ice Cream Eaten: An eclectix mélange of mint choc chip and raspberry pavalova! May have it again for breakfast!
Last Time Amused: Walking home from the Doctor just now realising that my Chinese adventure is imminent!
Last Time Wanting To Die: I haven't wanted to do that for a very long time. It's just silly.
Last Time In Love: 9 months ago. The jury's still out on whether it will happen again before I'm 40.
Last Time Hugged: Last night by Rowan, after lots of hugs at work
Last Time Scolded: Weeks ago, probably after voicing my opinion at work.
Last Time Resentful: Am I not always resentful about something?!
Last Chair Sat In: Leather sofa. Not comfortable.
Last Lipstick Used: I wear lipgloss!
Last Underwear Worn: The ones I'm in now!
Last Bra Worn: Funky turquoise one!
Last Shirt Worn: Green shirt for Grad Last
Webpage Visited: TheBoarder.co.uk

Okay, so that wasted about 5 mins off my day off! Thanks Omletteman!!

Kim x

Not yet, but...why now?

2005-01-25T01:48:00.000+01:00

I have just shed tears for the first time since I discovered I was leaving for China.

It's all starting to feel very weird. I had my injections today and now it's all falling into place.

These man situations are no good for me, I need to stop them now, I'm going to end up regretting getting involved.

I try my hardest to mentally thank the person for the time I had with them. To be grateful that they were part of my life for even 5 minutes, like a customer at work, or someone smiling in the street. Tonight, I told Rowan that for all I know, I could never see him again, and I'd be okay with it but thankful for it.

But I don't necessarily deem that to be true. I'm really starting to like him, a lot. I feel comfortable in his company and he says he feels comfortable in mine.

But in 3 weeks I go to China for 6 months.

Man, I'm really pessimistic today. Feeling a bit rubbish from eating some wheat stuff. And pondering too much.

Dan even seems to be playing with my head - one of my best mates!

I spoke to David online when I got home from a few beers with Ro', he was trying to get my to strip on my webcam and when I refused and scarpered to bed, he sent me a message saying 'I do like you, don't just want that.'

Yeah I like you too and I'm going away in 3 weeks so why don't we just have some fun?!

Whatever, I can't do that. He's fit, he knows it, and wants to make the most of it. Am I too cynical? I think not.

Kim x

Starsigns...

2005-01-24T01:00:00.000+01:00

...interesting...

I'm an Ariean. For those who know me, and the qualities that an individual born under such a starsign should hold, this is probably obvious. For those who aren't, it could explain a few things!:

fiery
passionate
independent
ruler
source
activity
change
movement
identity
self-conscious
self-aware
assertive
freedom
impulsive
innocent
quick
aggressive
egocentric
indecisive
energy
will
accomplishment
bold
strong
leader
extrovert
courageous
determined
competitive
domineering
intolerant
initiative
romantic
offbeat
charming
spontaneous
enterprising
confident
friendly
enthusiastic
generous
frank
candid
inspired
imaginative

These are a few words I found on the internet that aim to explain the Ariean character. A lot of people don't believe in astrology, however, I'm torn, and am interested. I seem to display all of these qualities, randomly, and I love this quotation I just found...

"You may appear to dislike men due to your extreme independence. However, nothing could be further from the truth."

It's so me. Are elements of your personality depicted in your starsign?

Night!x

Graduate

2005-01-22T21:02:00.000+01:00

...and going into hiding!

Today I got asked if I've ever been told that I look like Jennifer Aniston. The answer to this statement is that, yes, I have been told this on numerous occasions, with increasing correlation as I get older. Wonder if I'd get told more if I returned to blonder hair...?

This photo I chose for this entry's a little bit random, and was taken last night.

I'm having a really surreal year so far. Everything has turned on its heels ever since New Year. I'm going to China after been offered a job I didn't get, I've been going out with normal men, and I was wearing a mortarboard earlier today. This week has been exceptionally weird. The graduation, seeing Rowan, meeting David, seeing Adrian for the first time in ages...counting down the days until I leave.

Let me tell you about my weekend.

I met Adrian in Derby yesterday afternoon, and we went for a mooch about Derby, then to our B&B to get ready...went for a drink in Susumi (ace Japanese style bar) then onto a Cantina seen as they don't do food anymore :( Then onto Revolution for shots, then to the SU for a jazz/Frank Sinatra stylee evening. In typical Kim and Adrian style, we took photos of each round so we could check how much we'd consumed in the morning!

Can remember dancing to Loveshack twice, doing the twist with lots of random lecturers and parents...and walking down the University driveway freezing cold!!

This morning we headed over to Campus after being picked up by my folks. Got all gowned up...

...had my photos taken...

...thanked my Course Leader, David...

...then met up with unexpected people - my course, International Business, only had 3 Engish people on it - there were 17 Spanish (I think), a Serbian, and 7 French - so I only expected to see 2 other people...but most of the other students had come over for their Graduations too, even though they only studied at Derby for one year, so it was of course great to see them!

Then we mingled a bit more, then got a coach to Derby Assembly Rooms, where the ceremony was held:

And that bit's a little bit obvious really...I have a lovely blurred pic of me getting my certificate, but it's a bit pants to post :P

Here's me and Pablo, and Sarah too...

Then I mingled a bit more with my folks and Adrian:

I was going to get all philosphical with this entry. I'm supposed to be in bed but can't sleep. Check me out, I'm all grown-up!

Well, sort of.

Sent a few drunken texts to Rowan last night :o Haven't heard from him hahahaha! David wants to meet up tomorrow night tho. God, rereading that sounds like I'm playing them off each other. I'm not at all. They're probably also meeting up with other ladies. Although, surely not as random as me!

Kim xx

P.S. These pics and the rest will be uploaded to my photo website tomorrow. Sign my guestmap :) xx

What do...

2005-01-21T02:04:00.000+01:00

...people in New York do?

You know, when they're dating like a million people and then they start to be more attracted to a particular one? Okay, so I'm in Leeds - it's not exactly NYC, but I've been drawing the odd parallel.

And a lesson learnt from this entry: I should stop analysing everything so much!

Rowan came over last night for dinner, I made him some Korean food then we just sat on my bed talking for hours, kissing, cuddling, just chilling. He's such a calming influence; such a relaxing entity to be around. He left about 1am, but if I hadn't have been falling asleep on him I could have spent the entire night in his company. He also came to see me at work today - to answer a question I sent him by text, but I guess the thought was there. We've only known each other a week, but I've seen hm 5 times in that week. Crazy. When I met him I got the general impression he was after one thing, he seems a bit more worldly-wise than me, I dunno. Maybe I just don't trust people so much as I should. But anyway...

Tonight I went out with David. Nice guy, quite innocent-looking, 28, works in finance...you get the picture. A little bit quiet, but we head over to Elbow Rooms for some pool (so he can whoop my ass!) then to Norman, then back to his apartment. This guy comes across all innocent but pretty much as soon as we got in, he was trying it on...

Maybe it's just the vibes I give out. Maybe it's a case of my age doing me zero favours again.
I mean, we all know it was a bad idea of me to meet people just before I fly to China but what can I do. However, to the gent friends who warned me that advantage could be taken, I thank you :) Not saying that either of these 2 blokes I mention are doing that, it's just a general comment!

I did get a text on my way home from David saying that we should go out again.

And you know what? Because I've seen Rowan so much this past week, I felt a bit guilty about being with David. Oh lordy.

I'm off to Derby tomorrow after my injections, I graduate this weekend and am finally seeing Adrian again :D:D

Kimmeh x

I Want You To Notice When I'm Not Around...

2005-01-18T21:00:00.000+01:00

...

Damian Rice's voice is amazing; I'm listening to his version of Radiohead's 'Creep' at the moment, it's a bit more tasteful, although the Radiohead rendition will always be superior.

Yes, you are not mistaken, that's another photo of Tianjin. Hope I get some mental pics like that when I go over. The last decent photograph that I took of any architecture is this, of Angel of the North, near Newcastle:

I have been reinspired with photography. Creativity is missing from my life, and I haven't really picked up my camera since my break-up with Ally in June. So the trusty SLR and digital cameras are coming to China with me, and I'm maybe going to go around Leeds on Sunday with my camera to collect some learning materials for my classes - to take photos of buildings in the city. I've had a bit of exposure to more artistic people in the past few weeks and I really should sort it out!

Today had been pretty surreal. I got up about 4.30. I left the house at about 5.40am. I got the train to Derby about 6.10am. I got to Derby about 7.20am. I got to my final destination at 8.10am.

I went to Rolls-Royce in Derby today for my teacher training, to get my Visa sorted, etc., and to meet the rest of the teachers who I'll be flying out to China with, to work in the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

I think there's 10 of us in total, some going to Shanghai, a couple going to Beijing, some going to Guanzhou, and then another place I can't think of. There's two other chicks coming to teach at the CAUC (Civil Aviation University of China) with me: Alexandra and Lorraine, both from Derby area, have both travelled in America. In fact, most people had travelled, but nobody in the group has been to a non-Anglophone country, therefore I'm the only one with an extra language. Well, Lorraine speaks a bit of Mandarin, which could prove useful. Everyone seems really nice, we had a bit of a laugh, so it was really useful to meet the rest of the group - now I have others for moral support!Apparently my accomodation will be quite good too - in my apartment I'll have stuff like a TV (with English channels!), Internet (or at least a computer), microwave, washing machine, the usual furnishings, my own cleaner...although, of course it will be nothing like over here!

I fly at 5.30pm on Tues 15th Feb, from Heathrow, so now I've got an official date and time and everything - it feels a bit more real now...! And I only have 11 days left at Dixons too - well, I finish 2 weeks on Saturday.

I also found out that chocolate should be available in Tianjin - there's a few Expat stores :D

Dan's been a bit strange again. He's doing his whole 'I don't have time for you anymore' thing again. I think I must just attract weird blokes. When I walked into Rolls-Royce today, Liz (interview and trainer type person, really nice) asked if I came with my boyfriend. That would have meant Nick. I said no, and that we had broken up since I last spoke to her. I told her it wouldn't have worked (although at the time I wanted to give it a go while I was over there before I discovered what a prick he is). She told me about a girl who went to China prior to me, whose boyfriend was less than impressed about her going and wanted to call it off, but ended up staying together and visiting her out there. Like that was ever gonna happen with me and him!

It's a really weird thought when I think I will remain single for the next seven months. I mean, I really believe in fate, I could meet my soulmate in the next four weeks, but who'd be interested in staying in touch with me while I'm halfway across the world? It's a rather bizzare feeling.

I mean, since when do people plan their relationships like that, allotting time slots to singledom? I have no interest in Oriental men - that's not meaning to sound bad, I just have never found one attractive, I prefer Caucasians.

Oh, I've also been asked to model for someone :p He won't be saying that after we've been out on Thursday night though :p

Heheh...

Kim x

Sunday Bloody Sunday

2005-01-17T01:29:00.000+01:00

...not like that, mind...

Just got in from Rowan's house, where the evening was spent watching Tarantino films (hence the title) and cuddling on the sofa, before getting a little jiggy. I kinda freaked a bit - nothing major, I just want to watch my back in case I'm being taken a bit for granted before I go away. How 19th century of me, you may say, but I have a habit of stuff like this at the wrong time of my life, i.e. while they're seeing girls in America, while they're having major issues, while they're cheating on me...I don't know what I do to people but I just don't need any hassle of someone wanted a casual thing before I go away - I have enough on my mind! I hope I didn't offend him, we arranged for him to come over on Weds, I'm going to cook Korean food. I'm probably overreacting - I mean, I really like this guy even tho we've only met 4 times. Dale told me the other day to get a grip, and I probably should do! He's a really nice guy.

I mean, it is 4 weeks til I go so I should really shut up gibbering!

I deleted Nick's number last night. I was honest and genuine and all I got back was ignorance and abuse. He wouln't leave stuff so I childishly resorted to telling I was out with Rowan when he kept calling. Seems he's got the hint.

Funny thing is tho, I got a text from him this morning 'allegedy' written by a female, saying 'love, you need to get your priorities right, I spent the entire evening with Nick and he's the nicest man I've ever met, you clearly are a slag x'.

GOOD! Please, you're welcome to him and his non-existent personal hygiene habits! So, yeah, why is that funny, you're thinking. Well, when Nick called me to bug me last night, he told me he was out with his Uncle in a Working Men's Club where women aren't generally allowed. The last time I went mental at him (the time he got drunk and accused me of getting of with his mates), he sent me a text from his phone, allegedly written by someone called Mark saying how nice he thought I was and it was a shame it didn't work out.

Whatver!! Haven't heard from him since, thank God, and hopefully I won't ever again. What started out as being friends has finished up as being bitter and childish. There's been no need for his actions. Oh yeah, and after he calmed down last night, after telling me he never wanted to see me again and I could think again about stayin at his on Mon night...he sent me another message about 30 minutes later saying, 'you can still stay if you want'. Someone's schitzophrenic.

On Tuesday, I have teacher training at Rolls-Royce, where Nick works incidentally. I'm going to get a train at about 6am. Hopefully I won't bump into him at the reception, as he has some training too on that day.

I'm too tired to write about the interesting bits of my life!

Night xx

Kim xx

A Brief History Lesson (in more ways than one)...

2005-01-15T22:37:00.000+01:00

...

I'm reading about the events in Tiananmen Square, in 1989, which is why you may recognise the picture - 10 points to anyone who knew what it was before I told you :P I knew bits about it, but felt compelled to learn more about it and some of the facts, especially as I'm going to be living about an hour away from where it all happened. It's shocking reading really, that such events could happen in such recent times, in such a culture. My trip is really going to be an eyeopener.

Nick is such a tosser as well. His mum, who lives in Spain, is over for the weekend. Nick lives in Nottingham, and has come up to Leeds for the weekend to spend time with her. He calls me tonight, I'm like, 'why are you wanting to speak to me?' and he thinks I'm trying to argue. I tell him that he should be spending time with his family - I mean, he hasn't seen his mum in months and didn't even get to spend Christmas with her. He then goes mental. I tell him that he could at least have commented on my thoughtfulness. But, he instead informs me that he doesn't think what I say is thoughtful in the slightest. So, I reply with 'how can you be so ungrateful?!' and hang up.

How can one person simply be so pigheaded!?

There really is no need for such an attitude problem.

Now he has the audacity to text me and tell me that he doesn't want anything to do with me?! Has he only just noticed that this is how I feel? He's the one who's always calling me. I replied, apologising profusely for being one of the more kind and genuine souls inhabiting this planet, stating that my gesture was simple, and I don't want anything to do with him.

That complete imbecile has put a downer on my evening. I have a good mind to call him and give him a piece of my mind, and thank him for finally deciding to leave me alone (9 missed calls during a film isn't my idea of fun)...

See, this is why I never normally go for men my age!

I went out with Rowan last night. Whom I also spent Weds night with, and Thursday night, and also will be with tomorrow night, as he's cooking me a meal :) This guy's ace, such a gentleman. Such a lot to talk about. Nice eyes too :p In a 'I only met you a few days ago but keep thinking about you' kind of way.

I finish work in 2 weeks and 6 days! Back of the net!

Kim x

Butterflies In My Stomach

2005-01-14T07:52:00.000+01:00

...

God, this picture is of the Leeds skyline; it looks so much cleaner that the cities of our Chinese counterparts, doesn't it? Well, I guess I'll know for sure in 4 weeks and 4 days :P

Got myself a Chinese dictionary and CD thing (thanks Dad) that I'm gonna have a peek at tonight, after a meal for my Mum's 50th birthday...

Got a few missed calls from Nick last night, and then an 'are you ignoring me again?' message? I sense a bit of 'don't know what you've got 'til it's gone'... I don't understand him at all. I'm staying at his on Monday night as I'm doing teacher training on Tuesday in Derby (he lives near there and actually works in the building next door to where I'm going to be based! I was going to have a chat to him about stuff, but it's going to fall on deaf ears anyway.

Last night I saw The Incredibles, which was totally ace! It was comic boook-tastic and I totally recommend that you see it. I wanted to see if before I hauled ass to China, giving me 5 weeks, but I arranged it on Wednesday night, with a guy I met that night. Which was totally random, who is totally cool, and that's all I'm going to say about that!

Bless, my colleagues at work (some who've known me 7 months and some who have known me about 4 years) are organising a leaving party for me, the weekend before I fly (I think). There's a surprise too, am dreading that one, but awwwww, how nice!!

And finally, I live in one of the UK's biggest cities. Why is it totally impossible to buy a bright colourful (not black) diary and address book!?!?!?

Kim xx

She's Got A Ticket To Ride...

2005-01-12T15:58:00.000+01:00

Soon, anyway...

I don't know why I'm posting every day at the moment. I guess there's just so much in my head that needs to get out.

I'm finding out more and more about Tianjin all the time, and I only found out I got the job 2 days ago! Today I found out they have sandstorms, they have a Carrefour and a Subway (I mean the sandwich shop - they have McMinging and KFC too but I'm not bothered about those)! Apparently my money will go for miles, especially when even compared to places like Poland? It's also apparently hard to be a foreign woman in China.

The Nick situation's a bit rubbish too. Not worth going into that one tho, with me going away and all. Okay, I may do later, if you're lucky!

Kim x

Well, this is Tianjin...

2005-01-11T18:29:00.000+01:00

At least it has a Metro...

Woo, I managed to fleece my parents into paying for my Visa and travel insurance for my birthday present. Bit of a rubbish present, I know, but I've been totally underpaid for the past few months, and I have 5 weeks to get myself all sorted out. I won't be with my family for my birthday anyway, and they will be functional and essential gifts - and one less thing for me to worry about, seen as I also have to fork out for a new businessy wardrobe and my graduation in a week and a half. My folks will also be sorting out my transport to an airport in London, so I guess I've done pretty well in theory.

Got a pretty cheap quote for insurance at a bargain of £122 - my first quote was £300 so I reckon we've done pretty well there.

Check me out. Insurance is sorted, my Visa will be sorted on Tuesday (Rolls-Royce are doing it for me, I just have to leave my passport with them for a fortnight), I have booked my injections for next Friday, and I have already bought a shirt and 2 new pairs of trousers! I've bought a dictionary, language CD, some other book, and a customs book! I don't think that's bad going for just less than 24 hours' work!

I still don't know how I'm going to sort out my baggage - 20kg - can you believe?!
When I went to Paris for 5 months I bought the biggest suitcase I could - I could actually get inside it! I remember having me and my boyfriend sit on it to close it, and at the airport it weighed about double of the baggage limit - so me and my parents were there bagging my essentials up, and my boyfriend had to bring some more stuff over the week after!! That's not exactly possible, but I guess my work clothes will be light, and I can wear all my heavy stuff on the plane. Plus, I'll have money to buy new clothes when there (God, what do they wear over there?!), unlike France, where I was a skint student!!

The reality of my situation is sinking in now. It doesn't feel real; I don't think it will until I have been there 5 months and have come home. I've located some British expat websites that I found when in Paris. However, in Paris we still could get hold of Cadbury's chocolate (although £1) for a Crunchie or something, and Galeries Lafayette did sell Tetley's tea and Jaffa Cakes!

I have a funny feeling that eBay and I are going to be on very good terms, as well as the Chinese postal service when the time comes for me to get all my stuff home!

I read on www.lonelyplanet.com (man, I could read that thing all day, in fact I saw some amazing Lonely Planet books in Waterstone's today. Hint, hint.) that the average income for a Chinese person is about $3,600 per annum. Okay, I'm getting a free return flight, a free apartment and free bills, to a limit (I think), and about £260 a month. I could live on that in the UK - okay, so it's not much, but when I was a student sometimes I lived on that, including paying rent!! So, I reckon I'm going to be considerably loaded in Chinese terms.

Today I also discovered that my teaching contract is only for 5 months - I finish work on 20 July 2005. My Visa has a 6 month duration, so this enables me to travel for a month if I wish to, after my contract ends...!!

This means I could be a possible shopaholic for 6 months - any money I do save won't be worth much in British terms, but in Chinese terms the money will go so much further! Cashback!

Tianjin is also probably the closest part of China to South Korea, is only 1.5 hours from Beijing, and costs about £1.90 to get to (that's RMB30, which is incidentally the average cost of a 3 course meal, or a bottle of beer?! How random!?). Looks like I won't be cooking for 6 months! I find it interesting that a McDonalds meal is about RMB20. I'm not going to be eating that rubbish mind...it's bloody expensive tho!

Kim x

Oh. My. F*cking. God.

2005-01-11T10:36:00.000+01:00

...

I. Am. Scared.

I got a phone call at work yesterday. James came over and told me it was my mum and it was urgent. So I answer the call, expecting Dad to have gone back into hospital, and the tone in my Mum's voice seemed to confirm it...until she said the magic words: "How would you like to go to China?"

Yeah.

I don't know if I went through the details of why I never got that teaching job for Rolls-Royce. Well, basically there were 7 jobs and 7 applicants, but then the University that I was to be sent to decided they only had 4 places instead for some reason, so me, having a badass I-Had-Fun-At-Uni 2:2 degree, got put at the bottom of the pile of 2:1 students - as the Chinese decided who to employ. I've probably got that all wrong but it's not so relevant now...So yeah, the fact I got a 2:2 got me all bitter again, the people at Rolls-Royce and my old Uni said how they wanted to recruit me but it was the Chinese who got the final say. The University said that they were quite happy to defer me until the August contingent of teachers were being recruited, and that I'd be on 'standby' in case one of the employed teachers dropped out.

Then I kinda put it to the back of my mind - I've been looking for new jobs, graduate places, and getting ready to apply to go back to University to follow a Masters course.

Until this phone call.

It all turns out that the Civil Aviation University of China, based in Tianjin, have an extra place for a teacher, and I have accepted it.

Wooo!

So at work I was a bit of a nervous wreck - I mean, I fly out in about 5 weeks (15th of Feb, so it's pretty close!), and last night I couldn't eat my dinner for shock and nerves - shame really, as my parents took me out for a meal to celebrate!

So now there's so much to organise...travel insurance, injections (yuck), how the hell I'm going to get all my belongings into 20kg (will have to post myself some things I think, or buy some lighter businessy clothes), what do Nick and I do, who can I convince to save up their hard-earned cash to visit me, my visa, how I will cope with the culture shock, and whether my application for a Career Break at work will get accepted...I have applied to take 6 months holiday, unpaid, from work - so at least when I return I will have at least a job to return to - and I can quit at any time if I want to. At the same time, I'm organising a leaving party at the end of January (read: me and my mates will be gatecrashing my mum's supposedly quiet 50th birthday gathering)...

Me and Ad were supposed to be going to see Razorlight and Kylie in the next few months, I feel a lil' bit bad for leaving him in the lurch with a load of tickets he's bought and hope he can get someone else to take - although, how sweet is this, he's thinking about selling his Razorlight tickets (gig is on 12th Feb in London, and I fly on 15th, so it's too close a call, really), and coming here to spend my last weekend with me - and then coming to the airport on his way home (lives in Kent) to see me off! Do I not have one of the best friends ever?!

I've been reading up at Tianjin on the internet. I feel so lucky. I had such a bad year last year, with depression, stress, breaking up with my long-term man, graduating, endless bad luck, people walking all over me, work, allsorts...and now we're not even a fortnight into the New Year, and I get this news! I also have earnt a £1,000 Christmas bonus at work, and I get paid about 2 weeks before I go to China!

Oh, by the way, that picture at the start of this entry is of the main shopping street in Tianjin.

I think 2005 may be my year.

Right, I'm going to wallow in how lucky I am!

Kim x

Ghost towns and Iggy Pop

2005-01-09T22:53:00.000+01:00

Bienvenue...

I've revisited a website I haven't seen in ages. It's here: http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm and is a really good read. It's all about the remains of the Tchernobyl nuclear disaster, and the author visits the abandoned town of Pripyat, which was evacuated after the nuclear reactor went haywire. I reckon you should educate yourself and take a look. You never know when it will come in handy at the pub quiz!

My family, being Ukrainian and Belorussian, are from the region, so it kind of hits home, the photos are really eerie too, it's really interesting. I have never been to the Ukraine but would love to go, maybe I'll go on my birthday, which is quite luckily spread over Easter (b'day is on Easter Monday - get in!) I'm probably not going to have any kind of man to whisk me off my feet and take me away anywhere, so I should probably harass my best mates into coming alone and investigating Eastern European beer! Well, it's more like vodka in that region I guess.

I wonder if I would feel at home in the Ukraine. I feel at home in Scotland, and that's where mum's family are from.

I have totally worked all weekend. Instead of Customer Services at work, I've been put back into the Sales Team again...but I'm hunting for a new job, and looking at Uni so long as I get sufficient Postgraduate funding...

Still not sure what's going on with Nick, keep speaking to each other on the phone, said he was missing me on Friday night, so yeah, every night, well, except tonight. Haven't really spoken to him this weekend, but his ex-girlfriend is visiting I think, so that probably explains things!! He wants me to go and visit this week on my days off, so that means tomorrow night, but he's leaving it very short notice so don't think I'll be going to Notts this week. Ah well, it's not like he's the King of Interested In Kim anyway, and even if he was, he's got a funny way of showing it!!

Went out with Dan last night. I haven't seen him in ages, he's been ill with flu and possible pneumonia. He's not been answering some of my calls and messages, but last night he reassured me that his stalker is still doing his box in majorly and his phone has been in silent mode. I thought this was a blatent excuse but went out last night anyway, and gave him my b'day pressent, and he gave me a cool book! We went to Headingley and had a good laugh - Dan always cracks me up and puts me back into a good mood again. Thing is, the way I know he was telling the truth was that in the car after he dropped me off at my house, well, we always have a massive hug, and he kissed my hair. Then we talked a bit, then had another hug, and then he kissed my neck or some other part of my head.

We have had a really weird relationship over the past 7 months since we became friends. Dan would make a really good guy to settle down with. He's just one of those blokes. Weird.

Kim x

Not harsh...

2005-01-04T17:29:00.000+01:00

But totally true...

I'm feeling quite girly at the moment and therefore have decided to celebrate this fact by permitting the airy tones of Britney Spears to emanate from my speakers. Yeah, you gotta admit, Britney does make a girl feel better. I'm also feeling a bit philosophical, so if you don't want to get more confused or inside my head, I suggest you get back to checking your e-mail now!

I've had a pretty random few days. Well not random in anyway that you'd think is random, and I don't feel messed up in my head, but thinking about it sounds random. Er, yeah. So, I get home from work on Sunday and feel pretty rubbish like I've developed some crazy assed flu thing.
I get home, I sit in my ace penguin pyjamas and mong about. I decide to call Nick and see if he feels like company in Derby. About an hour and a half later, I'm on the train to Nottingham to see my ex-boyfriend.

A hug at the station, then we go back to his via his mate's house in a taxi. Let me just remind this guy is my ex, with his hand resting on my leg, acting completely normal. Adrian asked me several times this week if Nick was aware that we'd broken up, and I reassured him that he was totally aware. But now I'm not so sure. Monday was spent chilling out and being pretty coupley actually. In fact, I started to feel bad about the MJ thing - yeah, this is the first time I've admitted any remorse about it. The way I see if, if a guy isn't going to give me attention, I'll get it somewhere else. Brutal, yeah. I'm over that stuff now tho. Spending Monday with Nick was really weird, in a good way. He was showing me random places in Nottingham and I actually felt like he was interested in me.

Something kinda strange also - Nick never said anything about us. I get the impression he's quite closed and never talks about his feelings or relationships. Which sucks; I'd much rather be open. If I'm feeling something, I'll usually say it.

I was supposed to come home last night, but was feeling pretty rubbish still, and kept falling asleep on Nick, so he said I could stay again if I wanted, so I did.

This morning however was pretty rubbish. He set about eighty alarms (well, there were 3 of which I heard...), and you know when you hit snooze for 10 minutes because you can't be bothered getting up. Well, Nick did this for all 3 alarms, but about 6 times, for about 45 mins. One alarm is bad enough, but eighteen?!?!? I was less than impressed!! Instead of the customary goodbye hug, I got a pat on the back as if I was his son before a baseball match, and a 'see you soon' kinda mumble as he walked out the door. And he didn't even get a shower before work! Ugh!

I've been doing a lot of thinking today actually, I'm feeling quite spiritual. I guess I didn't have much choice after having to walk to Nottingham, then get 2 trains, sitting in Derby station for a while too, on the way back home from Nick's.

I was thinking about how I really want to help people in the Tsunami disaster thingy. Like, I just want to fly out there and help people. Pretty unlikely I know. I should probably focus my thoughts on helping people more local to me. I think I'm going to call up the hospital I used to help at tonight, to see if they need any extra volunteers on the radio station.

I've also been thinking about Uni - I want to go back and do a Postgraduate degree so much. However, the funding for the courses I'd do is pretty sparse and probably aimed at higher calibre students than my 2:2 branded ass, so I need to find £6,000 before September. Either that, or I could study part-time. I have been looking at Scottish Universities tho, as they tend to be cheaper on the fees, up to about 50% - and then I could get a Career Development Loan to help me out, and I'd still have enough left from the £8,000 I'd get, to be able to live. It's a bit pants tho. I have friends who are doing funded Postgrads tho, so I should probably ask them where they got them from. Arrrgggghhh.

On the train in a mag I saw this absolutely gorgeous photo of Rachel Stevens. She didn't look too hot in it actually, her eyes looked kinda funny, but it was all moody and funny. I quite like Rachel. There was a quote on it too, something like "I like to think I'm a high-maintenance girlfriend. Why not?". I kinda realised something. I can be quite high-maintenance. I won't normally admit it. But yeah, I like to be taken nice places. I like to be treated like a lady. I really hate it when a guy doesn't act like a gentlemen. I like guys to look the part. I hate it when a man feels he doesn't have to make effor to impress me. I hate it when I hate people embarassing me. I like to be bought nice things. But then again, what woman doesn't?

By the way, if you're actually someone who's not me and reading this, I'd love to see a comment or two from you. As far as I know, Becky, Dale and Mikey have been following my randomness, so you know it would be rude not to say hi :P

Kimmeh x

I've pinched this lil thing...

2005-01-02T19:45:00.000+01:00

Oh, I got this in my Xmas cracker by the way!

Instructions:
"1. copy and paste this list into your journal
2. bold the things that apply to you
3. anything that doesn't apply to you, delete it and replace it with something that does"

1. When I was younger I made some bad decisions
2. I like people when it excludes most of my customers at work!
3. I dream a lot
4. I love sleeping
5. I read a lot
6. I can be lazy
7. I fucking hate the hype around the Libertines
8. I get bored easily (how do I double-bold something?!)
9. I love expensive make up!
10. I seem to have a thing about boys a year younger than me and it's unhealthy.
11. I have weird taste in boys
12. I wish I was taller
13. I dye my hair.
14. I write waaaaay too much
15. I like orange juice- but prefer Cranberry with vanilla vodka!
16. I have gained my independence this year
17. I am single
18. I have a lot to learn
19. I love my phone
20. I love Grant Nicholas!
21. I'm prone to mood swings
22. My favourite colour is, well, a rainbow! I simply can't decide.
23. I'm incredibly gullible
24. I feel like i'm still 17
25. I have a younger brother
26. I'm obsessed with music
27. I love oriental food
28. I am more cautious than i used to be
29. I am a night owl
30. I wear glasses occassionally
31. I don't have a partner
32. I love Miffy
33. I wish I could move country tomorrow
34. I get drunk very quickly on beer!
35. I have a thing about Scots
36. I would like to work at for radio!
37. I can talk for hours
38. I want to see the world
39. I like custard
40. I like Pepsi max
41. I am knackered
42. I like new underwear
43. I wish I owned more perfume
44. I love snowboarding
45. I like flowers
46. I like rain
47. I plan on getting a car soon!
48. I spend too much time on the computer
49. I love Morrissey and the Smiths.
50. I like reading about the paranormal.
51. I do volunteer work
52. I was a swot at school. You wouldn't have fancied me!
53. I'm brutally honest
54. I allow people to take advantage, even when I shouldn't
55. I openly admit to loving Britney!
56. I wonder what happens when you die
57. I don't know if i believe in God
58. I am good at doing things on the computer.
59. I LOVE A BAND THAT DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE
60. I like boys that are very, very bad for me
61. I secretly like pop music
62. I like looking at photos of my friends.
63. I like hats.
64. Who is Pharrell Williams?
65. I hate dish washing
66. I am excited about finally graduating.
67. I like languages.
68. I like eBay
69. I want my own flat
70. I dance around the house when I'm on my own
71. I hate feet.
72. I try to always be happy
73. Strangers at the bus stop scare me.
74. I love Weezer
75. I want to go on an adventure!
76. I like drinking vodka.
77. I love old films
78. I wish I'd kept all my old photographs
79. I like badges.
80. I used to wish I was a boy.
81. I used to fancy Brian Molko
82. My favourite Disney film is The Lion King
83. I like cuddling someone under the duvet.
84. I miss having someone on my side.
85. I like teddies!
86. I wear make up most of the time
87. I like to skip!
88. I think my friends are pretty.
89. *I text too much*
90. I read cult books
91. I can't wiggle my nose
92. I used to wish I was good at sport
93. My favourite season is Winter.
94. I don't hate myself most of the time. I think I'm an idiot occassionally
95. I like cooking
96. I'm weird
97. I think my hair is annoying
98. I'm very open
99. I like Daria
100. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE

How random am I!?

Kimmeh x

Every cloud

2005-01-01T14:09:00.000+01:00

...has a silver lining!!

It always ends up going alright in the end...I don't know what I was stressing about. I really must thank Quinney for being a weirdo and cancelling on me, I managed to get some party funds together and go out in Headingley with Pam and Vic, and it was ace. Came home quite early and didn't get past tipsy either - I behaved just like a good schoolgirl should (as that was the evening's theme!) So yeah, we headed to the Skyrack and drank not too much, was totally well behaved, and check this: I didn't even pull either! There were plenty of men about and I got a few feels (haha!) but yeah, I kept it strictly legal!! I do have willpower!! Check out my single bad self! Actually, I seem to be totally man-repellent this week, so it's probably that instead...

I'm hearing more from Nick now than when I was with him? I don't understand men, I really don't!

So New Year's resolutions are as follows:
1) Get my Christmas pudding arse back to the gym
2) Behave myself and keep off the gluten
3) Get a new job that I actually enjoy
4) Move out
5) Learn to drive, or at least buy a car - okay, so long as I drive (even if it's a driving lesson), I have achieved this, hmmkay?

There should be others but those 5 are pretty ambitious...I think if there was to be a 6), it would have something to do with stop going out with weird men. Because that really does have to stop. Like, now.

Happy New Year everyone!

Kimmeh xx

Yeah, ok, so it's rubbish.

2004-12-31T13:45:00.000+01:00

People are really getting on my wires.

Interpol totally rock.

I'm not in a cynical mood today. Honest. I'm not.

Okay, so maybe a little. It's New Year's Eve today, and I'm moderately to adequately pissed off.

My plans have totally morphed over the past month. First, I was going around Leeds with Pam and Vicki, dressed up as schoolgirls. Then I was spending the night in with Nick. Then I was going to a house party in Manchester with Kamram. Then I was gonna go out with Pam and Vicki again. Then I ran out of money and saw Quinney on Monday night. So Quinney and I decided to stay in at my house, drink copious amounts, and listen to CDs. Then I decided to tell Quinney I still like him on Monday at the pub (story to follow), then he decided to get invited to a party in Loughborough. So, he decides to drop this bombshell last night at the pub, and cancel on me, leaving me to spend tonight alone. He followed me out of the pub apologising and I said I was okay with it. I'm not, obviously, but what else was I supposed to say!?

To be honest he was being a bit of a nob anyway, making little digs about me being bitter about something (I was in a bad mood after work but he was meaning me being turned down by him, idiot.) You would have at least thought he would have had the decency to at least invite me too. Well, it's always at this time of year that you find out who your friends are!

Oh yeah, that story, we basically had liked each other for a year so finally decided to do something about it, went out and had a great night, then he randomly changed his mind (some crazy woman issues from the past kinda thing) and now only wants to be friends. Like, whatever.

Even Nick's invited me to Nottingham! Oh yeah, I broke up with him on Monday and he keeps calling and texting...

Now, I had prospectively arranged for Dan to come over anyway, but I just called him and he sounded like he was about to die, so he's calling back later when he's woken up.

So I can go out, if I can get some money to go out with. I just feel like I have no friends when I obviously do, I just can't see them! This is totally rubbish.

Think I'll borrow money from mum and go with Pam and Vic, but I'll have to get picked up about 11.30 (taxis are expensive to my house, expecially when you have no money), but I'll miss midnight which is rubbish!!!

PANTS!!!

Oh, you totally have to go to Steph's blog...it's at: http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=itty_kitty

2004-12-27T19:49:00.000+01:00

Fun fun fun!

After Nick's performance last night, I most certainly consider myself single!! I'm not gonna reply to Nick's calls or texts, not that he's sent me any. What happened last night, you ask?

Nick and I went out with Pam and Lugsy, 2 of my mates from school - we only ever meet up over Xmas fortnight and sometimes summer, so it's a pretty rare occasion and it needs to be embraced - they both have moved to other parts of the country. I didn't have to invite Nick as I was going anyway, but I said I wanted him to meet my long time friends. If it was me in his position, I'd have been kinda honoured and desperate to make a good impression. Like I did when we went out a few weeks ago and he went all jealous. So, all was good, and after getting lost in Leeds trying to find Lugsy, we went to Fruit Cupboard for my mate's club night...

Pam was driving so not drinking, I have a few voddies and orange but not much and stay sober. However, Nick and Lugsy keep buying rounds. I gave Nick a warning not to piss anyone off - now, I'm not being racist in the slightest but this club has a bit of an atmosphere, we were like the only white people in there, and if you don't go there often, you can be started at like a stranger! So yeah, I was worried about Nick because he can argue sometimes and I thought he'd get started on by someone. I've been started on by a guy in there before! It's just a club full of attitude, although it's a good place to hang.

Anyway, so Nick goes to the bar (again) and this guy next to him spills a little bit of champagne on his sleeve, so he starts kicking off. The guy was sorry, you know, and Nick was like 'whatever' so I had to pinch him and prod him to get his attention to drag him away. We bumped into some of my mates, then we were gonna go as Pam and I were tired. So lugsy goes to the loo, then takes so long so we send Nick to find him. They take about 15 mins. Me and Pam get bored, go find them...

....at the bar!

...doing shots! I'd already told Nick he'd had enough and asked him not to have anymore, nicely - I hate drunken people. I would've thought he was trying to make a good impression with my buddies but no. He was wasted.

Anyway, Pam and I bite our tongues and dance and talk for a bit, while those two are doing more shots. Nick starts being a twat prodding me in the side all the time. I ask him to stop saying im not some zoo specimen and he's drunk so giggles like a girl and carries on, driving me to almost hit him in frustration, then he tries to walk, but without the bar to hold him up, falls over.

Then he wonders why I went off to dance and refused to talk to him. Eventually we go and Nick starts asking whats wrong in the car. I tell him to shut up till we get home, and telling him again he's pissed and I dont like it. We get to my house, get inside, he starts acting like I'm in the wrong (Pam was thinking he was really weird) I tell him whats up, and how he's shown me up in front of my mates, and shouldn't he be trying to make a good impression, and he goes 'so what if I want to get drunk on boxing day? He goest to sleep on the floor and I tell him to get a grip and get into bed, so he does. Then we're ok.

We woke up alright, but when I was getting ready for work, I asked him if he was going to apologise for last night and he said 'no'.

What an idiot, I was so embarassed. And in the words of Adrian:

Adrian says:
twat!

I know I can do better, it can't be hard, and it's the second time he's being weird when drunk. If he wanted to get pissed he could've gone out with his mates. He totally ruined my night, I was like babysitting, it was awful, and all he could do was take the piss out of me, you know how wasted people get.

Again, Adrian's mortal wisdom:
Adrian says:
ok, so u have a boyf who smells like a hobo!
Adrian says:
u really can pick them!

So yeah. We now have a man that is surplus to requirements here at dearbarbie.blogspot.com.

OMG! So much else to go on about but I can't! This post is way long already and I'm going out with the lovely Quinney tonight! As friends you understand, but I've wanted more for 18 months :(

I went out with MJ again last Monday. I dressed down more than I should have done, but we went to Norman for Thai Curry, then onto the cinema, to see Bridget Jones 2 (I should've been wary about a man choosing to see this from the start to be honest). A few kisses and cuddles in the cinema, but after, he gets the bus and I call mum for a lift (how childish!!). We get outside the cinema, and we're going to opposite ends of town. He says he's not getting butterflies about me and him, that he's not really into me, and gave me the 'you're a great girl' line. Yeah thanks. I've never had that said to me before.
Then he left me to walk across the city alone at 11.30pm.

Kimmeh x

2004-12-25T12:02:00.000+01:00

So this is Christmas...

Still nothing about the job...

2004-12-17T21:49:00.000+01:00

Which File Extension are You?

I'm not obsessing with quizzes. I'm not.

OMG, interesting evening yesterday!!

And I still haven't heard about my job. The University/Rolls-Royce have to contact Chinese contact before they can recruit so I guess it will be the middle of next week at the earliest, that I would hear anything.

So, my Thursday night. OMG.
I met Matt in Life Café for what I assumed to be a quiet drink (of mineral water) after work, after already having a drink with the lads from work. I crawled in wasted at some stupid hour of the morning, and turned up for work a lil' tipsy, with a hangover kicking in during the late afternoon! Matt is pretty hot. Good, job, 25 - I like men a few years older than me - has travelled a bit and lived in other countries, reads, likes music, he's generally a nice guy. Okay, he's ace :D:D

After Life, we moved onto North, then Norman, then hit Japanic for some oriental munchies, before heading to the Fab Café xmas party and stuff. Wow, he wants to go out again next week. Maaan, he's ace....!

Nick's being rubbish. He called me yesterday night for about 5 mins and then I called later for about 15. He just doesn't seem arsed, and I was ultimately taken aback when he showed up at my work today - well, it was only to bring something that I left at his place earlier in the week. It's a shame because I had a good few days at his. Ah well.

To add to the confusion, I'm going to now talk about another Nick. There's a guy I work with who's from New Zealand and has been here for about a year. He told me yesterday that he's gonna be spending Xmas alone as his mates are all going home. Think that I'm gonna invite him to my house for Xmas dinner - he can't spend the day alone! I mean, I don't really know him, have worked with him on a part-time basis for a few months and he never comes out with us but I still think it's a nice festive gesture.

Kim x

She's soo hiiiigggghhhh....

2004-12-15T20:24:00.000+01:00

I am a Death Chase Rider.

I enjoy taking risks, and I get kicks from speed, danger, and death-defying stunts. I drink and drive, I bungee jump, I snowboard, with no regard for my own life, or the lives of those who stand in my way. Trees? I laugh at trees! What Video Game Character Are You?

Hahaha, ah well, I thought it was funny and sounds relatively like me!
Well, I've just had 2 days off work, went to Nottingham on Monday night straight from work, to stay at Nick's for the night - yesterday was spent seeing friends from when I lived in Derby, I met Nick after he finished work, and we ended going back to Nottingham to see his mates, so I stayed again, and just got home earlier. I meant to be productive and look for another job today, but I guess going away for a few days was kinda needed, as I've not got another day off work until Christmas Day, then I have New Year's Eve and New Year's Day off work too...

I'm feeling pretty good about Nick and I at the moment...I was seriously on about breaking it off before I saw him on Monday night, but he had cooked for me, and we just chilled out and watched a film, and I saw him again yesterday night, and we were a bit coupley in front of his friends (don't know how to explain how that's important!) and just chilled again last night. Stuff about him was just bothering me, but after seeing him 'in his own environment' I'm pretty chuffed. I'm glad to be back home as I appreciate my own space, but I dunno, it's good :D:D Man, he also looks really hot in a suit and is well photogenic :D Arm candy-tastic!! :p

The last interview for the China job is tomorrow, so I could find out about my job anytime. They asked for a reference at my work so that's gotta count for something, right?!

Wish me luck!

Kim xx

Well, I had the interview!

2004-12-08T15:57:00.000+01:00

Woooo! This is Rob, Mat, and I, last night...

My God! I had the interview to go and teach in China yesterday, at my old University, in Derby. Was completely nervewracking - I had to do a lesson plan for it, in front of a panel of three peopl. I think I did alright if I'm honest, although I probably came across as too confident. Thing is, though, they weren't all that interested in my past experience from a teaching point-of-view; it was more to do with how I have handled cultural change in the past (living in France, transition to English life), how I would cope in numerous scenarios, and that sorta thing. I was in there 45 mins, asked a lot of questions, and went in overprepared probably - I typed up all the questions I wanted to ask! And, how sucky (I can't believe I actually did this...), I took a packet of sweets for the interviewers! As part of my lesson plan, I had to take appropriate examples of materials to interview, and I decided that as part of my lesson I would give English sweets to the students.

Ah well, at least they'll remember me, right?!

Then, last night was a work Xmas party - went to a Malaysian colonian-style restaurant that was uber-nice, then we went to Hogshead to gatecrashe Marks & Spencer's Xmas party as well as whooping them at jenga, then Revolution, then Baja Beach Club. It was totally random, I got so many compliments from all the guys I work with about how I looked - even offering to take my jacket and pull out my chair for me - and Rob wouldn't shut up about how 'stunning' haha, in fact, he joked he was speechless and pretended not to be able to speak!!

And, OMG, Nina, this girl who used to work with us who left, randomly turned up at the restaurant. She's a nice lass and all but I think she's got a few issues. Anyway, we're grooving away in Baja and she's all over Paul, our manager, really grinding at him and he's just so taken aback, then they're dancing then they're kissing!! He has a wife and kids and I bet he'll regret that tomorrow morning!

I also injured myself last night and now have a sprained wrist, rendering me half-useless at work tomorrow!

I find out about the job at the end of next week! So nervous!

Kimmeh xx

It's closer than I thought...

2004-12-02T18:25:00.000+01:00

And I'm already getting nervous...

Well, when I called my manager yesterday to ask for time off for my interview, he reminded me that my interview is on Tuesday, not a week on Tuesday, as I originally thought, giving me less than a week - 5 days to be exact - to prepare for the next door opening in the hall that is my life. I have to plan a lesson for my interview in front of a panel, discuss what materials I will use, lesson objectives, assessment, and timescale...so I've been working on ideas for that in order to mentally prepare myself for the interview. I hate interviews...however, the last one I had got me a job that I turned down...that was about 2 months ago :S

Nick came over last night, to see me before he went to Nottingham. Man, the way he's been talking about it, you'd think he was moving to Mars! He came over an hour late, after getting lost. We went to the pub, came back here for a bit, ended up kissing and cuddling, but nothing was discussed about 'us'. I mean, the way we were both talking, we had both assumed we had broken up. He asked if he could stay and I told him no...then he went home because I was tired at about 1.30am. He was on his bike and I woke up about 2.30am to the sound of something being thrown at my window...I looked at my phone to have 6 missed calls from him and put 2 and 2 together to work out he'd got lost on his way home and was gonna give me some excuse to stay over...
In my half-asleep/half-awake state I let him throw more gravel at my window and eventually heard his motorbike roar off into the night.

I later found out he got home at 3.45am after getting stopped by the police!! Oh dear! I texted him earlier after thinking about him for most of the day, asking if we could give stuff a go, and he said he'd call. He did, for a bit, saying that he'd like to try maybe, even though we'd see each other once a week (v. optimistic of him!?) and I'm waiting for him to call me back again which I doubt will happen.

However, I just spoke to the lovely Jason again. We can't remember what each other looks like as we were inebriated when we met on Saturday night, so have e-mailed each other photos, and he wished me good luck for my interview, and said we'd have to go out for a drink soon. :D:D:D Flattery was getting him everywhere.

So nervous about Tuesday! At least there's my work Xmas party to look forward to afterwards!!

Kimmeh xx

P.S. I think I may be addicted to chocolate. I even had it for breakfast today, and have lots of hot chocolate at work. Methinks I will need to haul ass to they gym tomorrow as I've really been slacking recently, and now I'm possibly single again I will need to seriously get sorting it out.

Don't go back to Dalston...

2004-11-30T22:49:00.000+01:00

Wow...remember I was telling you about China...?

Well, I got home from a totally bad day at work, and an interestingly rubbish weekend, to find an interview invitation in the form of a lovely letter from The University of Derby! So that's in 2 weeks. I have to seriously plan for it - lesson plans and everything, and I now have 2 days off work so I can use them wisely!

Me and Nick are over, it seems. On Saturday night we went out with his mates for one of their birthdays...just Nick and I went to Firefly for a few which was nice and coupley, I was thinking how much I liked him and he was paying for everything...
We met up with his mates and went to Heaven and Hell - a totally awful club I haven't been in since I was about 17/18 but it wasn't my night so I didn't say anything. Free drinks all night tho, and it wasn't that busy either. I got on with Nick's lad mates really well once ice was broken, which was good, as I didn't want to look a fool. However, he introduced me as 'this is my good friend Kim', which I thought as odd. So yeah, then he goes to the bar and I bump into my ex, Jason, who I was with for about a few weeks, when I was 18. We chat and swap numbers.

Later, I'm dancing with Nick's mates, and Nick comes over - I let him go talk to his buddies, and thought he'd be glad that I wasn't hanging on his arm all evening - and gets all stressy and jealous, and goes off on one in a strop, with his mate in tow worried about him. I thought he was gonna hit one of the other guys....turns out he didn't like me dancing with another guy. And I wasn't even doing anything - we were taking the piss to the music! And this guy has a girlf!
So that was that. He ended up staying over and was fine on the Sunday. I was supposed to go to his on Sunday night - he was gonna cook for me, but I ran out of money and couldn't get there so cancelled. I didn't hear from him much on Sun so I called and we chatted, and rearranged for Weds night.

Anyway, yesterday I didn't hear from him at all. Sometimes I just wonder, I always seem to make the effort, so I didn't call, but gave in and texted him to cancel Weds, cos it didn't feel right. Saying I liked him and he was going away and it was a problem. After a few texts back and fro he stopped replying and I haven't heard from him today, until now on MSN, so it's over between us in my head! He just asked if he can come over to say goodbye before he moves! Whatever!

On a different note, I was feeling totally rubbish as a result last night and Dan picked me up and took me for beer, bless him. Dan totally rocks. Just before he arrived, Jason called. He's a quantity surveyor - almost - in his final year of Uni, and splits his week between Newcastle and Leeds. We spoke for a while and he asked if I'd call back in a few days and we should arrange to do something?!

I need space! I don't understand men and the more I try, the less I want to! Rant over!

Kim xx

Back...

2004-11-26T22:38:00.000+01:00

Je suis revenue d'Ecosse...

Aye right, that's me back. Went up to Stirling on the train straight from work on Tuesday night, then got picked up and driven all the way to wee Kinlochard. Was sooo tired as a result. It was a pretty daft journey to make, considering that I would only be there for all of Weds and part of Thursday, but ah well, I would've been bored at home and spent a lot of money.

On Wednesday I met up with my ex Ryan, whom I was with about 4 years ago and it seems insignificant now - by that, I simply mean that I can't remember anything much of it apart from the fact that he wasn't particularly loving. It was more of a case of not having a clue to be honest. I met up with him and his mate Paul in Gap and we went for coffee. The last time I saw him was in May when I ended up kissing him - yesterday confirmed that he has officially become 'fit' since I was with him. I mean, he was nice them, but now he's got a bit of class and good taste and looks really good and so much more grown up than when we were 18!

It was totally weird seeing him but also good too, although it was totally planned at the last minute as he could only spare about an hour (I only gave him about half an hour's notice!). The rest of Weds was spent bumming about Stirling town with my folks, and then in the hotel bar adjacent to our apartment complexy thing, drinking Tennents and doing a pub quiz, as well as talking to Shaun the local (and undeniably famous) storyteller. After a few beers I decided to come clean about Nick to mum - something I had been avoiding for several reasons: a) not sure if he was gonna be a quick fling?, and b) just broken up with Pete. Anyway, she wasn't particularly impressed (when she'd seen us together she said there was no bond although I was trying to conceal any evidence of us being together) and suggested I get together with Dan! No way! Oh man! I also got into a bit of a state when she went on about Ally, and ended up having a good cry, and eventually crying myself to sleep that night! I have no idea why however, but I have been feeling excellent ever since.

Thursday was spent in Edinburgh - a less homely Glasgow in my opinion, but still amazing. I got the train back about 4 and waited for Nick in Leeds Station as he was coming back from Nottingham about the same time.

Ha, Nick. This is where this entry nears interesting. Well, it's about as exciting as it gets I'm afraid...Nick's new job; he starts a week on Monday, so moves out next weekend which is a total bummer. I told myself I wasn't gonna get involved with another long-distance relationship but some friends have been telling me to go for it - if I don't, I could regret not having tried. I like this guy a lot more than I thought and he wanted to give it a go when he moves but today I told him I didn't, then he agreed it wasn't a good idea, but we're gonna have a chat about it on Sunday. I'm regretting making that decision. I guess I will have to see what the week brings, but I guess the fact he's invited me out for his mate's birthday tomorrow night has gotta mean something...!

Typical, just as I find someone I am really starting to like, he gets taken away!

Kim xx

Scotland tomorrow!!

2004-11-22T23:02:00.000+01:00

Loch Ard...

Woo I'm going to Scotland tomorrow! This picture is taken from the balcony of my parents' apartment - pretty cool, hey?! Woo, I'll be there in 26 hours or something!

Oh, what I was on about in my last post...as far as I recall...yeah, I'm going to where my most serious recent ex (June) is from...I never got any closure from that relationship apart from him telling me he'd been cheating on me over MSN, so me going to Scotland is the nearest I will get. When I come home on Thurs I will really be able to get on with stuff...I guess, I don't really know how to write it down - what I mean - it will probs sound like I'm not over him. Well, that's how it reads to me. Another weird thing is that my friend Ryan now works in the part of Glasgow that this guy is from, which is gonna be additionally strange...but yeah, it should be good!

Nick got a new job today. Great. Yeah, I guess it is. Don't worry, I'll stop talking about him in a few posts' time when it all goes pear-shaped. Yeah, he got a new job in Derby (we're in Leeds atm) so that's not so ideal. I thought he was only half-interested in me but the way he calls when he finds out I've had a bad day at work, or how he offered to meet me from work tomorrow before I get my train (only cos he's getting a train too mind!) and keeps offering to cook, makes me wonder. He also joked about me going to Nottingham to visit him but that's hardly gonna happen, is it? Well, knowing my track record for long distance relationships anyway. Ah well, I may actually get a job interview this week to go to China anyway. Shame really. I can honestly say I like this guy and I'm not fooling myself like I was with Pete.

Pete's pestering me on MSN at the moment. I just told him the real reason I broke up with him and he seems to have shut up. He was going on and on about how heartless I am and how I'm 'evil and sick and twisted' (which I was pretty proud of!), but now he realises he was in the wrong so its all good. Weird. I am such an arsehole magnet.

Grrr! And work is rubbish! It's just really really super uber really rubbish!! If I don't get this job in China (where I would work where I am until Feb), I will be leaving as soon as I can - i.e. if I don't get a job interview, I will start looking for work next week!

Kim x

Kim xx

2004-11-21T21:17:00.000+01:00

Two-thirds of Team T-Bar...Me and Rob at the Dixons Conference in Manchester

Lalala...

So, my parents have gone to Scotland. Erm, I'm going up for a few days on Tuesday night. Am in 2 minds about it. There's a lot of crazy sentimental stuff (i.e. exes) related to that part of the country that I may elaborate on later, but I'm pretty crapping myself about going up there!

Work was pants today. Like, really rubbish. It started off okay, then I was on a roll with so many customers that I kept giving so many of my sales away (although I'm on a commission-based pay structure). But, then it just went downhill and I almost never got home and argh! I was so stressed out by the time that I left the shop that I was ready to burst into tears!
Today I was talking with Rob, one of the Deputy Managers at work, and he said I was actually a Manager on Sundays and Mondays, which is a bit scary. He also told me that when he gets promoted to a higher deputy position, I will get his job. Argh!

That's scary man, I don't think I want it. It seems a bit too grown-up, man.

Nick quit on Tuesday which is cool because I don't have to worry about people at work finding out about us.

All in all, it's been a random week. Work's been work. Weds night, I met up with Nick for food (although Dan is my alibi, haha) at Norman, then we joined up with the guys at The Ship before I proceeded to Fab Café and finished up staying at Nick's. What am I all about, man? Living like I'm at Uni isn't so good. Well it is, apart from I don't get any lie-ins!! Thursday was spent monging at Nick's, buying weird stuff at Holland and Barratt's, sitting in Starbucks with Kamran having to justify to him why I broke up with Pete, and then at 5pm I had a work Xmas conference to go to in Manchester. Which was, essentially, the Area Manager Craig kissing the Operations Director's arse a lot, a presentation, and awards giving, then free food and free bar :D Wasn't as good as last year's but still was a laugh :D It's where the photo is from :D

I cooked for Nick last night too, which went to plan, then we just chilled and supped wine. Again, Dan was my alibi there. I don't really want too many people to find out about Nick just yet - only Dan, Ad, Kam, and the guys at work know. I'm so crap with men that I don't want too many people to find out because I'm still not sure about his motives just yet. Cynical I know, but I'm pretty capable of fucking people about, as we well know, so I'm sure he could be too! Luckily, the 'rents are away for the moment. Not sure what's happening when they get back tho!

The shortlisting for China starts tomorrow. I am absolutely babbing myself. I will probably cry if I get an interview, and I will also cry if I don't. Getting this job really means a lot to me at the moment.

Kimmeh x

My week...

2004-11-14T21:57:00.000+01:00

Woo, it's all been interesting from Thursday! Nick (from work) and I went out and I can't remember much besides snogging his face off, hahah! Which was random, and he didn't show for work on Fri. We went out again last night, after a dinner party thing at my parents' place, to see my mate Mike's band, then to Fab Café after. Ick, the 'B' key on this keyboard has something sticky on it. I'll finish this later when I can be bothered.

So, yeah, um...shoeboxes.

2004-11-10T13:19:00.000+01:00

Wow, so much happening...!

My God, where do I start about my past week...I seriously recommend that you get a beer and a cushion before you sit down and read this. Not that anyone will, as I only really use it because I have such an awful memory and can never remember anything major, although I now have readers! :D By the way, the pic is of me and my two best mates, Dan is on the left, and Adrian is on the right, so you and I can both put names to faces. Hope you're happy now.

Annnyyywayyy, right, yeah, I last mentioned Pete's inability to get to Leeds while hungover. Fine, after stropping for a day or two about it and boring my mates with my incessant moaning, I got over it.

So, Wednesday being my day off, I decided to haul ass to Liverpool to surprise him and take him out for dinner, and also have a 'talk'. I had told him that I'd thought about it so assumed he would be expecting me. So I got the train, 2 hours later I'm in Lime Street and his phone is turned off. 2 hours later, the shops have all closed and there's me talking to a Big Issue dude and still Pete's phone is coming up with voicemail. I call his house, he's out according to his ma, so after waiting for even longer I get the train home. He reckoned his phone was on the whole time and his network must have been down or something, yeah. So that was another strike down.

He came up on Saturday, to Leeds, to stay the night. I broke up with him on Sunday morning and won't bore myself with the details. However, I was a bit concerned about how badly he took it. Who am I kidding?; no I'm not. I don't have to care about anyone but myself again. Being selfish is so empowering.

So, back to normal life. No more long distance relationships for me, that was most definitely my last. I may have to move though, there is a serious man drought in Leeds. Sunday aft/evening was spent drinking with Dan (Yellow Card-tastic!) and then we met up with Nick, a bloke I work with, then Dan went home, and I can't remember much else about that. I've been super boring this week, I have no money left (thanks to my wasted Liverpudlian jaunt) although Dan is funding tonight's activities (at The Ship) and tomorrow night I am supposed to be going out with Nick again but I'm not so sure it's going to happen. Friday is either a mate's gig or sleeping, Saturday is a dinner party, and Sunday is a meal. Woo go me.

I'm in two minds at the moment. Half of me wants to carry on fucking everyone about and being a complete bitch to everyone. And the other half wants to be nice to people and stuff. Yesterday was awful: I will never achieve world domination if I carry on helping out people at work and sending shoe boxes to the Ukraine. Oooh, go here, and send one too: www.samaritanspurse.co.uk. Yeah, ok, that's enough of that.

So yeah, I'm back.

Kimmeh xx

Yesterday I was so annoyed!!

2004-11-01T21:57:00.000+01:00

Right, a bit of background first. My boyfriend only lives 2.5 hours away on the coach - a lot for someone living in the UK, but I know for you Americans it's not that much distance. Well, we don't ever know when we can see each other next as I work in a shop and we're getting busy for Xmas (never allowed weekends off atm) and he works a Mon-Fri job, but for the past month its been every weekend.

So Sat night, he has this black tie dinner thing to go to. We were not seeing each other this weekend but on Sat afternoon I found out that my manager had given me today off. It was not enough notice for me to go home and pack a bag to go and see my man, but we decided he was going to come here for the day on Sunday.

So, Sunday morning, I don't hear anything from him so I call about 11.15...he was to get the 12 midday coach to Leeds, spend a few hours here, and go back in the evening. But, on Sat night, he got so blind drunk that he was so ultimately hungover yesterday, he couldn't make it to see me . I offered to go to his city even though it would take about 3 hours (transport from my house is awful) but he still said he is too ill. And seen as I got so wasted on Thurs and broke my bank card, I have only a few quid until my replacement card turns up at the end of this week...!

There were two things particularly annoying me about this...: He knew he was seeing me yesterday, so why did he have to drink so much? He said he wasnt buying drinks, his friend kept buying them and it was rude to refuse? And, we never know when we are going to see each other next...so going back to reason 1), to me, he should have been more responsible?

After talking to a few mates yesterday and today, I realise that I wasn't overreacting, although I thought I was. Ad pointed out that there's no point being with someone that I'm never going to see, so I started thinking about it, but after speaking to Pete it's ok I think. At least he knows I'm aware I guess. But my bloke mates reckon he was out of order...! Mind you, Pete does too, especially after I laughed at him for being a lightweight...!

Wooooo, tomorrow it's another Team T-Bar night out...well, so far it's just Rob and me going out for a few jars, but we'll recruit some more from other departments of the store to join us!

Kim x

2004-10-31T13:57:00.000+01:00

University #4...

About a year ago, I saw a funding thing to go to The University of Pennsylvania, with funding, and I decided not to apply. I remembered about it this year, went to the website, and have missed the deadline by two weeks. I was all ready to apply, but maybe I should apply next year and save up for it...I really want to do a Postgraduate course abroad; to really make the most of it, and 'go out in style' hehehe :D The course I chose if from Wharton, and is an MA in International Studies, but starts in May?! How weird is that?

It would be the fourth University I would go to, if I was to remember to apply next year, and to be successful; I have already studied at The University of Central Lancashire, The University of Derby, and the IUT de Meaux. I was told last year that the Admissions peoples for UPenn are looking particularly for graduates from '2nd class Universities' so that's better for me :) I only got a 2:2. Here's a link to the Wharton page...:http://lauder.wharton.upenn.edu/

I have been researching American Universitites for weeks, and all I need is the money to go really...the fact that I have lived abroad twice must stand me in good stead in application. I should probably get off my arse and open a seperate bank account for travelling/studying funds.

Get in....if I go to China as well it will look super for me...I need some new printer ink before I apply for that, but my application is all ready and written up to post...and the closing date is November 22 :D

Work was bollocks yesterday. But, at the moment I'm looking at it with 3 months to go, unless I don't get in for this China thing.

I need a contingency plan. I am going abroad no matter what, no matter who tries to stop me or no matter what gets in my way. I have already turned down China and Mauritius in the past, and the travelling bug has bitten me rather badly in the ass.

Last night was muchas fun...

2004-10-29T21:18:00.000+01:00

I love beer.

Last night I went out from work, with work. Was random as hell. It was for 'Little Dave''s birthday...I must have had about 15 beers plus...and all I can remember is wrestling with Rob on a picnic bench in The Courtyard, slagging off Mark in The Conservatory (after he'd left) to our manager, ordering more Corona, holding hands and twirling with Nick, leaving my coat in Fab Café because I was too drunk to remember where I had left it, giving Adrian some money in the Joe, Nick getting weird chicken stuff, and some other weird things. Thank God for digital cameras! I turned up for work still drunk after an hour and a half's sleep and sobered up around midday. Quality.

Not much else going on really, just work, it's going seemingly well at the moment although I have no idea when my next day off is :s

2004-10-26T13:10:00.000+01:00

Nanjing...

Wow...I could be living there in less than six months...scary fact really...
I am applying to work in China, to leave in February, to teach English at various Chinese Universities and Aviation Colleges, on behalf of Rolls-Royce and The University of Derby, where I have just graduated from. I wanted to go in August (cohorts leave twice a year), but things 'came up' and I withdrew my application. However, that gave me time to get myself known by the interviewer and I've already had a mock interview with her so hopefully that stands me in good stead.

I have always wanted to visit China and am fascinated with its culture, it would be a dream come true if I was to go there, but time will tell. It may not be meant to be :(
It would be perfect for me though. I have lived abroad before and thrived on it. At the moment I'm a graduate (as of June 04), working in a shop full-time not really going anywhere - this is a year out but I've not managed to save any money as yet!

Better get on with my CV and covering letter then...I'll find out if I've got an interview in about a month...and I'd better get a contingency plan sorted too, there are a lot more applicants than last time!!

Kimmeh x

Okay, so I'm slack!!

2004-10-25T20:38:00.000+01:00

It was inevitable that I was gonna set this up and forget about it. I didn't, well, not permanently anyway. Argh, now I have too much to write about since last time so I reckon I should leave a chunk of it out and you should ask if you get confused. For the record, I work in a shop. I was a salesperson but I was so crap at it that they created a new position for me. I am now 'Customer Services', but I actually do recruitment and training and stand about quite a bit. Yeah, it pays okay for what it is. Bah.

Okay well today I worked. Argh, that's boring. There really is nothing out of the ordinary for me to ramble on about apart from I've not being going out so much (have to save the pennies for seeing my new man at weekends now). Oh, I'll tell you about him. He's ace. We met at Tribal Sessions in Manchester about 3 years ago through a messageboard and my friend Kam, who I also met there. Yeah, Pete's ace. He's a year older than me (not the 2 that I prefer but it's all good), he lives all the way over in Liverpool though. But he's really nice to me and looks after me :) It's been about a month since we started seeing each other, and it seems to be going okay. Right, I don't wanna jinx that.

Erm, it's dark outside...

Kim x

Bienvenue mes cheries...

2004-07-16T19:25:00.000+01:00

Well hello there....

Erm, not quite sure as to how to introduce this...this is basically an addition to my Student Diary located at www.interstudent.co.uk...

Thing is, I'm not a student anymore, as you will read later on I'm sure, and everything I write in there is completely irrelevant to student life :) So, here we are, I have a rubbish memory and need to write my daily doings ad saying down, it certainly makes for interesting reading a few months down the line when I don't have a clue :)

So hey there, I'm Kim, grab a Corona from the fridge, dim the lights, turn up Travis, get comfy, and enjoy the ride...

Much blessings,

Kimmeh x

P.S. How did the writing get to the side like that?

And so it begins...

2004-07-16T11:53:00.000+01:00

There's no point in my introducing myself. I mean, it won't help you get to know my any better and I'm okay with that. You'll pick it up along the way anyhow, but I will inform you that I just graduated, I just moved back in with my parents, I just started full-time work, I just broke up with my long-term man, and I just got some sick time off work because I hurt myself!

So, what does today hold? I'll be going to the gym later if I feel any better, before heading off the Friday Night Oak with Quinney for one final time - he's moving to Milton Keynes tomorrow for his placement job - getting paid to drive cars, man! Will have to go and visit him there I think...

That's about it really, this weeks been a lot quieter than last, but here's the good old scene-setting summary, starting from last week (before I forget, I have the worst memory ever, who am I?)...

Sunday: Drinks with Mike and colleagues, then dinner and cinema (Shrek2 rocks!) with Mike.
Monday: Dinner and drinks with Hannah. Prospectively planned a night out and she convinced me I'd been used by my ex.
Tuesday: I did something but can't quite recall what. Hmm can't have been that interesting!
Weds: The legendary Weds Night Ship with Taylor and Dan. Got Dan's number as we have a scary amount in common and he loves Alan Partridge. Went out after the pub, into Leeds, with Dec, Dan and Taylor, and met Mike later in Carpe Diem. Ended up in Fab Café for a change.
Thurs: Night out with Dec. Dec decided to tell me he liked me. Avoided answering that.
Friday: I *think* I chilled.
Saturday: Cinema and drinks with new-found partner-in-crime Dan. In the words of Alan Partridge, "Ahh, Dan's a lovely man"...
Sunday: Imminent break-up with ex was confirmed. Although I was extremely cool with it after initial shock set in (why, even when it was expected and I'd have done it if he hadn't?!), Dan insisted on coming over with offers of chocolate, and beer was consumed :)
Monday: Went to Monday Night Oak with my old schoolie chums, randomly discovered my mate Ben got stabbed last week. Pam is now back from Kenya. Tuney now lives in Scotland. I still have yet to move there. Maybe after America.
Tuesday: Mike's band played The Cockpit in Leeds then went to Fab Café with Dan.
Weds: Dan came over and we watched Alan Partridge DVD.
Thurs: A grandadism-and-a-half of a meal at my Grandad's NVA war veterans club, some anniversary dinner. Kim in formal dressing shocker...I'll show the photos when I get them!

Which brings us to today...and seen as I've run out of money, I don't think I'm going to be out on any major nights until next Thurs :)

Right, I'm off to be philosophical...

Kimmeh x