Europe

I am still alive

5 months after the last post on my blog Jana has finally managed to reset her password...I created the blog to record my travels and adventures and I guess it was a bit pointless trying to write about nothing after my travels finished. And tonight I turn the television on and there is Michael Palin travelling around the Balkans...It has brought the best memories and created such a great feeling...

I have a new job and I love it!

The bottom line is that I think I have landed in my dream job. Second week in my new job and I believe this is it.
So..... Last year I left Exeter, after having studied there, and I decided it was time to move on. I went travelling, came back and moved to London. Tried one job for 3 months, didn't like it so handed in my notice. I went to an assessment centre at the end of Feb - I wanted to be a recruitment consultant. I got through. I started my job last week and it has been great so far. It's exactly what I am looking for. It's tough, hard work, brain stimulating, frustrating at times, too much pressure but it pays off. And I am bloody enjoying it. I used to envy all people who were passionate about their job, who were determined to succeed, who went the extra mile to make the difference. So, ladies and gentlemen, I no longer envy those people. I have finally found my niche. (just keep your fingers crossed for me that my enthusiasm will last and that I will not run out of my self esteem, energy and fuel). Guys, wish me good luck, I want this job!!!

P.S.Any objections or suggestions - email me. Would love to know what everybody else thinks. (Is anybody actually reading my blog????)

I am a year older now

So for those of you who haven't seen me for a while this is what a 30 year old look like.
It happened like this: I decided to celebrate it with only a few friends and we opted for Cafe Loco in Muswell Hill. For those of you who live in London I highly reccommend it especially if you fancy a pleasent evening in a relaxing atmosphere. They do a selection of tapas from which you can choose, and although they are not big, they are very filling. And paella is just awesome! And even on Saturday night they have happy hour from 6-8pm and you can choose from at least cocktails - £2.50 each to get tipsy on. The waitress is german though (i think) and the chefs are eastern european. I have captured some of the moments from the evening so I will share them with you.

I am turning 30 tomorrow

It's the first day of spring tomorrow and I am turning 30. Phew...... Not sure if I am supposed to feel different but I don't. Well, apart from trying to remember where all my twenties have gone. Let's see......
I remember my 21 birthday, big celebration on a barge with some friends. (Went with a guy called Leigh - best thing that ever happened to me was when we split up).
22 - no recolection whatsoever apart from being accepted to uni, it was my last year at college and didn't really want to say good bye to all my friends there - Dien, Leila, Malaika, Peta etc.
23 - horrendous year, started uni and my mum died. Moved to Exeter and lived on the outskirts. Lived with Louise from Birmingham and Emma. Oh my god it took us hours to walk to the nearest pub.
24 - moved to a house on Portland Street, met Clarisse and lived again with Louise and Emma. (Went out with a guy called "I am so good looking all the girls fancy me and you should be lucky you are with me". So decided it was time to let him go so he can find himself someone who would appreciate him more).
25 - working for Reuters then off to Spain - Salamanca. Lived with 3 spanish girls in a flat that was very cheap but had no central heating. Damn.... it was was freezing at nights and boiling hot daytime. Went out with someone who turned out to be already engaged to someone else....
26 - last year at uni. I actually enjoyed this year... No relationship, no pressure and stress from men just studying during the dayi and partying at nights.
27/28 - stayed living in Exeter and kept wondering whether it's time to move and start a new life. I was a bit torn between moving and staying, I loved the place (and still do) but I felt like I had to move on and move to London for a few years.
29 - handed in my notice, took the summer off and went travelling around Eastern Europe and Balkans. It was time to reconnect with my old roots. And I loved every minute of it. Moved to London after that and I am still trying to find out whether I made the right choice. So.... that's my 20's
30 - tomorrow, who knows what my 30's will bring.....

London under snow

Who would have believed it? London under snow! And it all happened over night. I woke up this morning, openend the curtains and saw the road and pavement covered with snow.

"Thousands of schoolchildren have enjoyed the day off as more than 400 schools in London were forced to close after heavy snowfall."

"Network Rail has warned passengers to check services are running before setting off for their journey on Thursday."

"Snow takes hold across the country."

"England in grip of severe weather."

And yet again Britain is not prepared. Hundreds of schools all over the country have closed. Public transport is unreliable and there are major power cuts across London. Phew..... What would they do if they got the same amount of snow we get in eastern Europe? I think the whole country would colapse.

Introducing London

Lowdown
Population: 8 million (population of whole Slovakia 5.3 million)
Time zone: Greenwich mean time
Coffee in the west end: £2.00 (I can live with that, currently paying over £2.00 for Starbucks latte with extra shot)
Pint of Lager: £2.50 (which works out cheaper than Exeter)
No-no: chatting to a stranger for no particular reason (they will either think you are crazy or a perv - which I am)
Best way to annoy a Londoner: stand on the left-hand side of a tube escalator (this applies to me, especially if you are in a hurry, you easily lose it on the tube).

The pace in London is hard and fast, the price for residing in such a vibrant, teeming city. This capital runs on ADRENALINE - as well as a goodly amount of coffee (as i do), Red Bull and Pro plus.

So, this is london - some cities are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them - London has achieved both. The typical Londoner is dead, long live the typical Londoner. And if you want to know how londoner's define themselves is by being indefinable. Many people, like myself, live here for a couple of years before moving, exhausted and financially RUINED, but definitely exhilarated, back to somewhere far less demanding. And it is truly a challenge to talk about the identity of the capital's millions of inhaitants - you are as likely to hear Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian as English.

I have recently found out that I live in one of the most expensive areas of London and the house prices reflect it. Totteridge Lane: average price of a house £2-3million. When you drive through Totteridge lane you can only see "the cheaper houses" with big driveways and private ponds. The more expensive are hidden behind the trees overlooking vast areas of green valleys. The average house on Totteridge lane has 3-4 cars priced at 40k each. How does the other half live? Most of the houses belong to Arsenal football players and famous celebrities. The High street is paved with estate agents offering to sell houses at these "afordable" prices. I think only Bishops Avenue beats these hous prices.

All I can say about London : " I am loving it" and no, I do not go to McDonalds!

My favourite place on Earth so far

I have been sorting out my pictures from backpacking and felt really nostalgic when i saw these. I fell in love with Bosnia and Hercegovina. I thought i share these with you.