Another Day, Another Job

I have just recently, well nearly 3 months ago now, started a new job working at a company called WorkDirections UK Ltd. It is such a young and fun company to work for, the people are lovely and the commute is pretty much a non-event too.

Lots of people my age and generally younger!! Plus its full of "antipees" - Antipodeans - like myself! The Finance team alone has Down under very well represented; Shauna is from Perth/Brisbane, Jade is from Melbourne, Boris is from Sydney, Lorette is from South Africa, and Gavin is from New Zealand. That of course does not make the rest of the team less important, they just happen to be not from Down Under!

It is located at Royal Mint Court, which is right next to the famous Tower of London and Tower Bridge (the pretty one, the usually is mistaken as London Bridge - though London Bridge is a very boring one). Its also near Liverpool Street and Leadenhall Markets. I will get around to taking some pictures soon, to update this post with.

I was taking the Jubbly line from Swiss Cottage and changing at Westminister for Tower Hill, but discovered a quicker way from Finchley Road tube (yes I live near that one too) on the Metropolitan line right to Aldgate. I even usually get a seat and that is pretty special for a peak hour commute. Work is then just a short walk down to work from there. The walking is better to do and allows me to get my morning coffee too, its not Monmouth at the Borough Markets but its not bad!

My job is the Project Accountant for the new Pathways to Work project that they just won, so I basically look at the Finance side (and very much the non-finance side) of setting up all the new offices. I work with the Facilities team and the role involves lots of property, leases, lawyers, board business proposals and all the forecasts, actuals and budgets for the new properties. I am also involved in a few other things, like site finance audits, cash in transit, lease maintenance system, our new purchase order system, Pathways bank account and a bit of the month end.

They are certainly keeping me busy and well entertained, as I am sure you can tell from the Xmas party photos!!

A lovely Xmas - 2007 Worthing by Sea

After a chilled out weekend in London, trying to nurture a cold that hit me like a tonne of bricks on the Friday morning; I packed bag, then headed to Victoria Station to farewell London for 5 whole days for a small family Xmas in Worthing by Sea with Anne.

On arrival my first request was for a visit for a walk on the beach, which is quite literally 3 minutes from Anne's flat and you can see her flat from the beach too. So after a quick dash to the shops to ensure plenty of champers was on hand, we went to the beach. It was quite dark, ominous, windy & bloody cold; but that is what I wanted to see and couldn't feel at thing in my lovely warm coat with scarf and gloves!

Annes lounge room decked out for Xmas

That night was spent watching TV, yeah! Lack of TV at home has clearly seen me become a bit too excited when there is one, hell I have found just watching the news and weather intriguing - what a sad sod I have become! Though news and current affairs was something that was lacking in my life - its amazing that the world does go on even when you don't know about it. Oh and Anne has introduced me to the joys of Eastenders and I am thinking that this could be a bad thing, as clearly my brain has suffered enough damage this year already. I also got a chance to call some lovely people at home in Australia, you know who you all are, so Mwahhh - big kisses.

Our Xmas tree

Xmas morning Anne and I were up nice and early to ring home to speak with Mum and Nana, so we both got to talk to our Mum's for Xmas day. Breakfast, brunch was celebrated with Ruth and Kennan, who popped in to share some pastries, scrambled eggs (a la Lisa - yes I can cook, I just don't cook, there is a difference!!) and smoked salmon - with champagne of course. Anne got me a CD and a perfume that I have wanted for ages, while I got her some Molten Brown (bath products) and a Tiffany keyring.

Lisa & Anne after opening our pressies!

Anne with Kennan & Ruth

Kennan & Ruth

Later that day around 4pm, after much tv watching, texting, reading and generally doing Xmas day nothings....which included watching Finding Nemo, we had a lovely Xmas dinner of roast lamb, vegetables, all the trimmings, plus more champagne. Xmas pudding, was later...though given size of stomach at that point...I should never have even attempted pudding. Nor the super filling Winter Pimms that we had, either (Winter Pimms is served hot with Apple juice along with apples and oranges). Stuffed.... then sleeping.

The itty bitty xmas tree

Boxing day was sleep in day, with tea/toast (vegemite....yummmm) for breaky, then another beautiful walk along the beach because the sun was out and despite the slight chill it was absolutely gorgeous outside. We followed this with a visit to Alison and Dan's to thank them for all Anne's presents (Alison is super generous) and for a cuppa. Anne and I had by then decided that we'd go to the movies and we saw St Trinians. Now it was quite funny (but wait till DVD)and it had lovely Colin Firth in it, so I had to see it, that and that was all the Worthing theatre was showing.

Worthing beach

Anne had to go to work on Thursday and Friday, so they were very much Lisa "free" days. Though I promised Anne that I would cook for her as a gift for letting me abduct her futon, television and lounge room for a couple of extra days.

Anne's Xmas boots that I absconded with for the week.. so warm.

On Thursday I went for a lovely long walk along the beach and also sat on the beach for a bit to watch the ocean, which is just so relaxing. Though my bottom was numb with cold after getting up to go home. What did I ponder? Lots and nothing - but who knows? But I have decided that I really love the beach where it be sunshine, grey, cold, hot, winter or summer - it is no matter to me.

Anne & Lisa on Worthing by Sea beach

I plodded off to the shops before Anne came home and ended up making a lovely pancetta and mozzarella salad with tomato & red pepper salsa, we had this with some cous cous and champagne!!! Plus dessert was Brambly apple pie...mmmmmm. Thursdays movies were The Queen and Breakfast at Tiffany's, because I just love Audrey Hepburn and now own the complete box set - yipppee, I can watch her anytime now!

Lisa's cooking goodies..

Friday I slept late and I think the long walk had exacerbated my cold as I was feeling worse than ever. So I decided to stay in and had a DVD day, which consisted of The Devil wears Prada, Bridget Jones Diary and Anne and I both watch Little Miss Sunshine. Dinner was pasta with a hallomi cheese salad - again a la Lisa!!

Alas Saturday I was heading back to London and I got a good send off, as Anne and I headed for a brunch fry up at a cute little greasy spoon cafe, just neatly tucked off the beach in Goring by Sea. The sunshine was brilliant, my sunglasses were just struggling with the light. Though when we tried to go for a beach walk the wintry wind was bitterly cold and we both could only endure a short walk before we had to get back out of the cold.

Goring by Sea

and more of Goring by Sea

I did have a lovely relaxed Christmas and I am lucky that I have family to spend it with... now back to reality, where was my list of New Years resolutions - I promise 2008 is going to be amazing ... I cannot wait!

Weather update...

What can I say.....nothing, you all know how I am. Well am happy to report that am peeing my pants with excitement at this weather report as per below.

Thursday it seems is to be 0 degrees, with light snow, so finally we are at snowing temperatures...wooo hooo.

Acheemm...achem...ok as you were.





Ps this is the BBC, so they reserve the right to change their opinion of the weather at any random moment, so fingers crossed this is just not a random guess at the weather.....as I so want SNOW!!

WorkDirections UK - Xmas Extravaganza

Shawna, Jade & Lisa
Its a blast!
Definately Jade
Lisa & Shawna
Lisa & Boris
Shawna not happy with the Bar service, whilst Gavin looks on!
Lisa and the lovely Michelle
Shoe Shot
Group Shot, mixture
Finance
Finance again!
Lisa in her frock!!

Tower of London Iceskating

More Weather..I just cannot help myself...

But today there is just this amazing fog that has not shifted, it was there at 8am and its now nearly midday and it shows no sign of abating... very cool! Though probably not for those trying to get in or out of London on planes for Xmas. There are plenty of strikes on so it probably won't matter too much anyway, fog or sunshine I think they were going to be land bound!

By the way....

Lisa could really do with a nap...she is going to be totally buggered tomorrow...

London - Weather Update

Ok I know I tend to talk a lot about the weather, but I have a theory. This is my Internet blogging small talk with you, my blog readers. Plus I have an intricate interest in the weather.

I have a daily breath view rating, basically, if it is cold, how cold. So how much can I fog up the air around me by just breathing. Just a waft every few breaths whilst walking - eh...slightly cold...., looking like your a chain smoker about to going on a long haul flight...well yes then it's bloody freezing!!

I have a layer/clothing rating too, this allows me to consider what clothing to wear and melting possibility scales need to be considered. If it's about 9 degrees, melting is a possibility after walking down the street then getting on the hot stuffy tube....so lighter jacket with scarf and no gloves. If its less than 9 degrees, melting won't happen you'll just be cosy, but gloves might be necessary. Less than 5 degrees, no chance of melting, but will definitely need the heavier coat, gloves, scarf and be wearing boots too. Bugger wearing trainers (sorry sneakers) the cold air comes in and bites your toes.

The other day for the first time ever we had black ice, that is where the road and pavement looks sort of shiny, but due to a nice thin layer of ice. Ouch. You nearly go flying, type of shoes is irrelevant and it's almost impossible to see. Mark fell over and despite my sensible shoes and logical thinking the ashpalt (got a bit of grip surely) would be less slippery than the side paths...I nearly went over a couple of times too.

Local weather forecast from the other day attached (note the current temperature at the top of the screen), along with a forlorn looking wintry view from the flat. A bit dreary. It doesn't help that sunrise is not until 8am, then sunset about 3:30pm. Basically it looks like mid morning...all day...

However, it is just 2 tiny weeny days away from Winter Solstice, whereby we endure the shortest day of the year - yippee. It will start to get light again after that.

Ok well thank you for tuning in for Lisa's random weather update, I am sure I can come up with more intriguing blogs for you in the future... me well I am off to bed, its nearly 4am and well even though I am not tired, I should try to sleep. I am Queen of the Night Owls!! Haa

It's getting hectic....and Christmas is coming...

Christmas lights near Bond Street station

Well the silly season is upon us, and it truly is very silly. The last couple of months have been quite a whirlwind, very much that I am really enjoying "me" time at home to sit, contemplate and ponder the greater things in life. No seriously I just need time to do my washing, read books, pay bills, wrap presents and write Xmas cards, things which I normally would have done ages ago, complete with computer printed labels! No such luck this year.

Just to give you a run down over the last couple of weeks;

Friday, 7th December - had tickets to Powderfinger, but a cancellation saw me not being able to go, then I had a friend at works 30th, old school style near London Bridge to go to instead, followed by another party near Piccadilly Circus which saw me out till about 3am.

Saturday, 8th December - was meant to be a quiet one, with Pilate's in the morning and then relaxing day shopping. It ended up with me sleeping in (see previous evening), an afternoon pedicure, followed by shopping on Old Bond Street at Tiffany's (someone is getting the good stuff for Xmas - no not me!), then out with my friend Sue for a family party.

Sunday, 9th December - got a sleep in for a bit, but after lunch had a coffee with a friend, followed by a quick bit of Xmas shopping in Canary Wharf before an amazing Croatian feast with Mari and Barns...it was just meant to be a light, late lunch - not so with Mari, who is a cooking genius. I finally made it home by 11pm on a school night - tut tut!

Monday, 10th December - movies after work to see The Golden Compass. I can recommend, as I have read the books by Phillip Pullman, which are a trilogy entitled - His Dark Materials. Quite an intriguing read.


Tuesday, 11th December - mad dash to an appointment after work, then back into town (thank goodness Oxford St is ongoing till 10pm even mid week during the silly season for last minute Xmas shopping and shoes for the WorkDirections Xmas party!!! ahahahha

Wednesday, 12th December - was a group ice skating session with a bunch of people from work at Tower Hill, very near where I actually work, so I had a chance to work on my backwards ice skating technique. It is quite amazing how many people cannot skate, and they think its weird that I can ice skate, but cannot surf....ah the joys of being classified a typical Australian.

Thursday, 13th December - was a silly night indeed, it was our work Xmas party dinner and well we had a great time, what with the event straight after work, there was chaos as all the girls tried to get ready in the bathrooms, a mad dash across London (in our outfits) to Kensington High street (my finance group took the tube and arrived about 1/2 hour earlier than people who took cabs!!), party favours, silly antics, food, dancing - it was a very fun night out!!



Friday, 14th December - was a day of sore heads. I made it in for 10am, and was not too bad actually considering. Though I did post phone a meeting till 11am that normally was on at 9am, as there was just no way I was going to make that!! But I also had to be at work to ensure that I got to meet the Managing Director of my company WorkDirections.

This lady, Therese Rein, also just happens to be the now first lady of Australia. Yes you got that right, I met the Australian Prime Ministers wife. I had been looking forward to meeting "the Queen of Australia" as I kept calling her, all week, and was so excited all I could do was compose myself enough to say my name and position (she came into my meeting), then nod politely in the general discussion that another manager was having with her.

I never even thought to say congratulations on Kevin Rudd becoming Prime Minister or anything of the sort. I just didn't even think to!! Ah bless, my dorky ways continue and I become tongue tied upon meeting important people or celebrity types - can you imagine if it was the real Queen, she'd think I was a mute!!

That night (per previous blog) I headed to the Victoria and Albert museum with a friend to see a photographic exhibition for Lee Miller and for dinner.

Saturday, 15th December - I spent ages packing up Xmas gifts to send home (still wasn't finished but after 2 hours I had had enough), after a decent sleep in, this was followed by afternoon drinks out in Fulham for my Kiwi friend Katy, which was a birthday slash sort of engagement party as her boyfriend Ben had proposed to her on Thursday night.

That was good fun, but I had to leave just after 7pm as I had tickets to Kaiser Chiefs. Mark, myself, Laura, Ahmed, Anais, and Kerry all had a quick drink at the pub first before heading off to worship the god that is Ricki Wilson. We got there just as it started and I could not stay back, I left the group and dived into the crowd to be at the front - and it was brilliant!!! After that I was mean to continue on to my friends Chinese Xmas ball, but covered in sweat and beer, I was not exactly cut out for it, so to home I headed.

Sunday, 16th December - Lunch and football at the Walkabout with my friend Sophie and a couple of her mates. I know, I know, I promised never to go there again - but it was very civilised, we had a table and seats and good views of the TV's, so I stayed for the Manchester game, and the the Arsenal game!! Both teams won so there were happy campers around our table for sure.

Monday, 17th December - Hummmm Date night...

Tuesday, 18th December - Drinks, then dinner, then fun at Mari and Barns, I love those guys they spoil me rotten.

Wednesday, 19th December - Work drinks for my old work, that will be a West India Quay, so our old haunting grounds for drinks, will be a fun night

Thursday, 20th December - about time, but this is a me night....

Friday, 21st December - well its Xmas and so it will be a short day followed by farewell work drinks then i will be off to my friend Sues' in Hartfordshire for the evening.

Saturday and Sunday will be chill out days, followed by a Monday train ride down to Worthing on Sea to visit Anne for Xmas. Will be lovely and relaxing before I head back into London for New Years!! Woo Hoo - Bring on the New Year....

Sophie & Lisa at the Pub

Snow Globe

Friday night on 14th December, my friend Linda and I went to the Victoria and Albert museum to see a photographic exhibition on Lee Miller who was a famous model, come photographer from the US in the '30s. She did some great photos the most memorable would be ones she did of a severed breast from a masectomy served up on a plate, to represent the treatment of women. It was quite interesting.

After that since we were right next to the Natural History Museum and the ice rink, we went to have a peek. No skating as it was really cold and wearing a skirt I was not even going to consider risking it!! So no skating, well what to do?

They had a Snow Globe run by BA with fake snow to have your picture taken in, completely free too, so shoving some children aside (kidding...) we lined up and had a turn. We let the child in us take over for a bit.

We followed that with some lovely hot chocolate, fudge tasting, a turn in a massage chair in one of the stalls at the Xmas market there (complete with horror stories of ambulance visits - twice a day at least - to the rink from a stall holder) and a yummy Italian meal over at South Kensington.

Lisa is.....

On Facebook you have status updates where you are able to put in a comment about how you "is" right now...just a brief one and sometimes I think of so many but I never get a chance to put them in....so here is how I am right now;

Lisa is thinking that salami at midnight might cause bad dreams

Lisa is wishing the week away

Lisa is wanting it be Friday, Saturday and Sunday always

Lisa is going to Pilates on Saturday, then because its just a quiet one she is going to Xmas shopping, then getting a pedicure and going out on the town with Sue!!

Lisa is wishing she had time to wrap the presents

Lisa is hoping that work will go away if she doesn't think about it



Lisa is glad her lilies are so beautiful.. big love and thanks to Jenni and Avril for those.

Lisa is sad her roses are dying

Lisa is not sure about Xmas this year

Lisa is going to have an amazing new years at a Burlesque themed high falutin' do in central London!

Lisa is trying to be chilled but is anxious about so many things

Lisa is losing her curves...she'd better eat up

Lisa is going to be very tired tomorrow, but her brain doesn't seem to care about that

Lisa is liking a bit o space



Lisa is eating too much chocolate

Lisa is loving the chai tea she is sipping right now

Lisa is wondering what time she will get to sleep tonight

Lisa will try and take the good with the bad, the ugly with the beautiful, the ups and the downs, and the hard knocks with the soft landings.

Lisa is interested to know what the council tax bill will predict, so she knows how many fewer pairs of shoes she can buy

Lisa is praying that my VISA is all - A OK!



Lisa is hopeful there will be no rain tomorrow

Lisa is not sure about wearing tights all the time....

Lisa is thinking the flat could do with a tidy, so much paper!

Lisa is being philosophical again, because she is good at that

Lisa is being told not to be philosophical, I think that is because boys don't get that.

Lisa is glad she has had a pretty amazing life so far...and again over with the philosophical
Lisa is wanting world peace

Lisa is wanting a greener planet and wonders whether she should go to the protest march on Saturday



Lisa is a green person and would love to ride a bike to work, but has no room to store a bike

Lisa is sure she'd get hit by a bus if she rode anyway!!

Lisa is glad that Mark is being a nice person

Lisa is knowing that Mark will always be a nice person

Lisa is happy that she is finally reading books again

Lisa is schooled up about Henry III and his five lovely brides

Lisa is wanting to see the movie The Golden Compass, because the books it is based on "His Dark Materials" are just brilliant


Lisa is desperate to go iceskating, won't someone come with??

Lisa is going to do all of the rinks around London this year, Tower Hill, Sommerset House, Hyde Park, Natural History Museum, O2 centre Disco skate and Hampstead Heath of course!

Lisa is loving her hairdresser he is a GOD!

Lisa is knowing that London needs to get colder so the Winter is a proper one, maybe snow for Xmas

Lisa really wants reason to wear gloves, scarf and beanie!



Lisa is missing her family and friends

Lisa is just wanting to cuddle her little nephew because he is just sooooo cute!

Lisa is 31 and thinking life is just beginning ... again!

Lisa is loving work, but needs a kick up the pants to be just a tad more motivated

Lisa is wanting a teddy bear to call GOD



Lisa is wondering if she should go canoeing for a couple of years

Lisa is going to meet the Queen of Australia next week - Therese Rein!!

Lisa is hoping people know the Prime Ministers wife is Lisa's current employer

Lisa is wondering why Therese is visiting the day after the work Xmas party.

Lisa is not going to sleep the night of the Xmas party

Lisa is wondering if she should have voted in the election



Lisa is looking forward to Bo's birthday bash, she is going as a school girl - Best Girl at that!

Lisa is going to do some work now as it won't get done in the morning

Lisa is promising not to eat more chocolate tomorrow

Lisa is not trying to impress anyone, that never worked before and its not going to work now

Lisa is who she is...and you love me for that.

Lisa is breaking out and its due to lack of vegetables and Lisa loves vegetables

Lisa is into historical fiction again, The Other Boeyln Girl is a good read guaranteed

Lisa is glad for the calendar on facebook, all will get birthday card from her

Lisa is going to stop now because this is getting just a tad silly

Lisa is really thinking that this is quite a fun way to get thoughts on paper

Lisa is hoping that her readers think so too

Lisa is wishing you all a good night

Lisa is tired, but won't sleep for hours yet!