Mid Year Review

Just for a laugh, I had a quick look at my new year resolutions. Let's review shall we?

To go to the gym. I think I've been to the gym about 6 times this year. I don't think that counts as a success hahahaha

To pack my work lunch everyday. No. But I am trying.

To throw away food when it's bad. So far so good.

To get to work on time. I'm still 9:30 to 7:00 regular. Very bad behavior.

To focus my mind completely at work. Hmmm. I'd say this one is a 50-50.

Not so good, huh?

To consume or not to consume?

Since Christmas, Mr K-E and I have been on a strict retail ban. The main reason is that we are going to put our flat on the market this summer (fingers crossed) so we are trying to get rid of stuff, not accumulate more. When we move to a bigger place, the retail ban will be lifted and I will probably engage in a shopping frenzy.

We have already performed several "culls"; getting rid of clothes, shoes and other assorted crap that just fills up your living space. I have taken several binbags of shoes and clothes (some still have the tags on) down to the charity shop but man, there's still a long way to go.

However, symptoms of retail withdrawal have begun. I spend my evenings looking at handbags on Gucci/Dior/Mulberry/Balenciaga websites, licking my lips and whining. I haven't bought shoes for more than three months. I don't even dare to go into shoe shops because I know I am weak.

This is a dangerous weekend for me because Mr K-E is away and Selfridges is just a bus ride away. Must resist.

The hardest thing is that it's not about the money - I can easily afford that £850 bag. In the grand scheme of things, it's just a blip. (That makes me sound like such a show-off biatch, but I'm not, I promise.) It's the fact that the handbags I already have lie around on the bedroom floor and sometimes I even forget about them because they are buried under piles of semi-dirty clothes. Not to mention my Catholic guilt about people living on $1 a day while I feed into the great consumerist lie i.e. that buying more "stuff" will make me happy.

I also don't want my Boss to think I'm overpaid. Note to self : must keep up air of genteel poverty at work.

That's a Gucci "princy" in chocolate leather. Be strong, Katie -Ella, be strong.

Hearts and Flowers.

Do you hate Valentine's Day? Do you dread the time of year when restaurants advertise unimaginative "lover's menus" and tacky red hearts fill shop windows everywhere you look?

This year, why not spend February 14th in Brunei Darussalam, where Valentine's Day has been officially discouraged? Every year, Muslim religious leaders (Imams) announce how Valentine's Day is a western construct with roots in Christian tradition and has no place in a good Muslim's life. This doesn't stop all the florists, restaurants, hotels, travel agents etc in town from trying to cash in on the "romantic" day. I think it's kind of cute how religious leaders make all these pronouncements (Pope - birth control?) and everyone just ignores them and does what they want anyway. It's the sign of a civilised society. :)

Frankly, I think Valentine's Day is ridiculous. Isn't it a complete waste of time if you are actually in a loving and happy relationship?

Valentine's Day is either for
a) teenagers or
b) couples who don't spend any time together all year. For one night a year, they are forced to gaze at each other in a crowded restaurant, trying to make small talk and desperately trying to keep up the "romantic" mood. Yuk, yuk, yuk.

Ignoring teenagers (because they are silly and totally controlled by their hormones); don't people realise that restaurants are open all year round? Flowers don't just appear in early February and disappear from the shops on February 15th. You are allowed to kiss your wife and tell her you love her on any random day....I could continue, but I think you get my drift.

Someone (I think it was Johnny Vaughn) said that Valentine's dinner in a restaurant reminded him of prison visits i.e. rows and rows of couples facing each other, while waiters (jailers?) hover around making sure everything is OK.

Let's not forget, it's also a crap time of year if you are single. However, I did hear a good idea for a Valentine's Day singles night (or indeed any time of the year). You can only attend as a pair, i.e. you have to bring along a friend of the opposite sex who is also single, and you meet other single people for drinks etc. Great idea, huh? As:
a) the organisers are always assured of equal numbers of men and women
b) you know that you aren't going to meet anyone too crazy - I mean, they have to have a friend of the opposite sex to attend. So they can't be complete creeps/bunny-boiling psychos.
c) if you get trapped in an eyes-glazed over conversation with the IT Expert from Hell, hopefully your friend will come and rescue you. Maybe.

Dino Envy

Read something tonight scary on the bbc website. Gak...it's just like the Clive Barker story.

I was really jealous when I saw this picture of Lily Allen in her dino-suit. She went to Tokyo and she has a dino suit. Life's not fair.

Hello World

Hello world! I'm really excited about my first ever blog. I have to restrain myself from multiple use of exclamation marks. I have been inspired by great blogs that I have read, but it's harder than it looks.

To start off with the mundane - it's Sunday evening and Ghostbusters is on TV. Had a lovely roast dinner (roast lamb, potatoes, parsnips, peas, carrots and gravy - yum) with hubbykins. Hubbykins is objecting to being called "hubbykins" on my blog. Hmmm, shouldn't really offend him as he is my one and only loyal reader. Will review suitable name for spouse later. Mr K-E?