Change your position, Change your chi

Over a year ago, back in the other A-town in Australia, my friend Prue and I went out to a bar for some Friday after work drinks.

The beer garden in this bar was pumping, drunk people everywhere behaving badly, (we were not an exception, however, comparatively, since we had just arrived, we were well behaved) - imagine them falling into hedges, squealing, running around waving shoes above their heads, etc etc - and that was just the guys in suits.

Prue and I had a great time watching the circus, and it was all we could do but point and laugh (openly). However, we got a little bored after about 20 minutes in the same spot.

"We need to change our chi." she declared. ( For the uninformed, "chi" being the energy that surrounds you, sort of like a "vibe", comparable to a mix of the forces of nature that govern your fate, combined with your aura.) "We need to get another drink and change positions. Watch the world go by from another angle."

So we did. We picked up our glasses of Starvedog Lane Sauvignon blanc, and took about 4 steps to the left, and landed ourselves right next to a group of guys, and spent the next half hour trying to convince them that Prue was an erotic novelist, and I was her publisher.

It worked for about five minutes. And it was kind of funny. And then we got into an argument with them. And then we left. And then as we waited for a taxi, they walked out too, and scowled at us and walked on. And then we all ended up going to the same bar. Anyway, what happened after that was irrelevant, because quite frankly, they were losers. And we are awesome.

However, my point is this - we all need to have a change in position sometimes, to spark a change in Chi. You don't know what will happen if you move around a bit and see the world from another perspective. Surround yourself with new people, in a new environment. If you're bored, a move is a good thing, most of the time.

It's the life equivalent of getting up from behind your desk and getting a cup of coffee to reinvigorate yourself, and moving rooms for a moment or maybe longer. You never know who or what you are going to run into on your way to the coffee room, or what sort of interesting things you'll learn in the coffee room. If nothing else, you've just had a little walk, and refreshed your senses, and damn, that cafe au lait tastes good after sitting down for so long. And you can feel your brain slowly waking up again becoming alert to things it might not have paid any attention to before.

Whether it's in a bar, an office, or in my current case, in a city.

I need to see how life works in another part of town I think. So, we'll see how it goes with the hunt and possibly the move.

Marketing Genius in the making

I'm working on a new campaign at the moment which is kind of exciting because... wait for it....

I came up with the creative concept!

Me! I did it! Yes, little old bizarre oddball me!

I suggested it, and it got passed through all the internal stakeholders, and everybody really likes it! I can't really talk about the details because it's still in planning stages, but it's going to be a lot of fun, with lots of new potential to work with some cool new marketing platforms, and inject a new twist into the company culture.

Just working on the strategy on how it's going to be rolled out across the world, and what sort of timings and platforms we are going to use, but it's actually crazy to think that something that popped into my warped little mind might come into fruition, and have a life of it's own, and shape the brand that I work for!

I don't think I've felt this much passion for a work related project in quite some time and it feels good. Its going to take a lot of work, and some long hours, and no doubt, there will be some hurdles to jump, but I can't wait to see how it all pans out!

Ok, so I'm not Richard Branson. Or Donald Trump. But, I'm making a little wave in the commercial world, and maybe, just maybe... the wave could grow into a tsunami.

Friday night flashback

Me: So we were sitting at this club, and the others I was with had just gone to the toilet, and I was sitting there and I started talking to the guy next to me.

Laura: Who was he?

Me: I don't know. He was just sitting there next to me, so I started talking to him. I think he said he worked for MTV or something. Turns out he was having some drinks with his colleagues.

Laura: Oh that's interesting, what did he do there?

Me: Senior something commercial something, I think. I don't know, I'd had a few wines. In fact, I think my exact words when he told me that were " do you feel like a whore?"

Laura: What?!? You asked him what?? ..... Why??? What did he say?!

Me: I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure he took it it quite well. Yeah, I think he was ok with it... might even go as far to say that he was mildly amused.

Laura: Are you sure? Why would you say that?

Me: I don't know. It seemed like the right thing to ask at the time. You know, selling your soul for the corporate world...

Laura: You're weird.

Me: I guess he'll never forget me right? How many times in your life do you get asked if you feel like a whore, after you tell someone what you do?

Laura: I don't know what to say to that.

Not local and not an expat

Apparently I'm a refugee.

From what?

From Life.

Interesting notion to ponder whilst making my pumpkin, red lentil, and sage soup. (Num num num...)

Choosing between the two big players

Albert Heijn.

Dirk Van der Broek.

"Who are these weird dutch men?" you ask

"Are these new men in Rani's life, vying for her attention and love? Are they her neighbours? Her colleagues? Did she meet them in a bar? Are they the dutch equivalent of Cheech and Chong?"

No, no,no, no and no.

They are 2 chains of supermarkets here in the Netherlands.

Dutch people shop almost daily. Small apartments due to high density living in old buildings = small bar fridges as the norm.

I hate Albert Heijn. Since I got here, I've hated them. They pretty much monopolise the grocery chain market here, and they are shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

AH are generally open until 10pm every night but anything fresh is gone by noon. 3pm might see a broken baguette stick sitting all lonely like in the bread section. Maybe a lone orange alongside it. They do have good instant coffee machines though. Closed on Sundays. Actually most supermarkets are.

For some reason the name sounds like the name of a dirty old paedophile, with saggy pyjama pants (to me anyway.)


Dirk is cheaper. The kids that work there have better looking uniforms. They don't make generic and equally expensive brands of everything and pull the real brands. But they are few and far between. In general, this brand has more character.


For some reason the name sounds like the name of spunky young drummer from a Calvin Klein ad.

The competition between the 2 brands (in Amsterdam at least) doesn't really exist (not like Coles and Woolworths or Tesco and Sainsbury's) - Albert Heijn wins on a 8:1 ration or something random like that.

There's also Albi and C1000. Even fewer of these outlets.

More musings on grocery shopping later.

Meanwhile, someone has actually started a blog about how much they hate Albert Heijn.
Funny? or Sad?

http://ihatealbertheijn.wordpress.com/

Foxxxxxxy

I am loving Germany at the moment.

Random.

Meet Peter Fox.

First heard him at a house party in Berlin. Then Laura showed me more stuff by him. Then I danced my ass off to a song of his at a nightclub in Cologne.

Watch video one - read the lyrics, appreciate the trumpet, wiggle your bum to it, love it as much as I do.

Then watch him perform this song live in Berlin.

Then watch the drumline and him.

Awesome.

Dear Sunshine

So here you are. Back from your long business trip.

I hear your project down south went well. You got critical acclaim, they can't stop talking about you over there.

But you're back again. Finally.

Seeing you again fills me with glee - an overwhelming rush that is familiar and welcome.

I know its been a while since we've seen each other, but nothing has changed. Really. Honestly. We had something good on the other side of the world, tell me it will work out again here in Amsterdam, at least for a few months, before you pack up and leave for your obligations on the other hemisphere. I hope we can create some new memories together, and have a fresh start.

I missed you.. a lot. I'm sorry that I never told you how much you mean to me, but now you know.

People told me you would leave, but I didn't believe them. They tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen. I thought they were just being mean, flippant and short, teasing me with their cruel predictions.

I took you for granted, and I'm sorry. I know better now.

But you're back. That's all that matters. Let's make the most of our short time together.

Please stay. For a little while. I don't want a fling- I'm serious this time. I'm different now - I can see you for what you really are, and what all your qualities bring to my life.

I've known you all my life, and I realise that we were meant to be together. It took you leaving to make me realise these things... There's nothing to work out - let's just be together. Pick up where we left off, like nothing ever happened. I'll just be me, you just be you - it will be beautiful.

When is enough, enough?

The question of the month.

When do you know you've had enough, or don't want to take it anymore?

How can you tell the difference between a rough patch and when it's time to call it quits?

I saw the sun this morning, in all it's glory... I woke up to sunshine, the first time in a long time, and all of a sudden today, everything seems too hard, and I have this feeling that I want to go home.

I don't think I'm homesick, I just think I'm over being here at the moment.

I still don't have a doctor, because it just seems so freaking difficult to track one down on a weekday and register and I really want to see one.

The trek to work is just annoying.

I've been thinking about moving house to be closer to a community, but finding a room that is reasonably priced, with realatively normal people just seems impossible and renting on my own is not even feasible in terms of affordability.

My body just keeps rejecting the idea of being here, with constant little bouts of coughs and growing/shrinking glands, a blemish problem that won't vacate my face ( despite hundreds of euros of treatment from the simple cleansing and moisturising routine with basic products, to the pricier " this will work because a doctor created it and it costs about half a month's rent " type of products) and waistline that won't shrink despite watching my diet.

Work is just... work. Mildly amusing, mostly dull.

The only constant in my life bringing me joy is little Laura.

Maybe I am just tired. Of it. All?