A Conscious Incompetent...

This week I started my new job and I find myself back in that uncomfortable place of Conscious Incompetence...when you know that you know absolutely nothing.

Without a shadow of a doubt there's some Unconscious Incompetence there too (I don't know what I don't know) but that doesn't count because I don't know about it...yet!

And this has all been combined with some god-awful jetlag which resulted in me hitting - no, head-butting the wall vigorously and repeatedly about Wednesday.  (What a joy I must have been to be around!)

So I'm frantically trying to muster some of my Competence (Conscious or Unconscious - I really don't mind at this point) to offset that first day at school feeling of 'how on earth will I fit in' and 'what will be my contribution to this new community'.

A bit like when I moved here 7 years ago and began 'Life in the UK'...

...and here I am, tap tap tapping away in my front window and taking a brief few moments before the inevitable Sunday evening maelstrom of getting ready for the Work Week whilst watching entertainment of the mindless, sparkly variety (currently Dancing on Ice for those of you who don't live in the UK).

Now that's something I know about!

ps...I'd also like to take this opportunity to welcome 2 new followers to the Gidday From The UK peanut gallery...Lil Chicky and Anji.  Hooray! Bonza! You Little Ripper! and all that...now settle in and make yourselves right at home!

Red Rag To A Bull...The 50 Book Challenge...

So one of my fellow bloggers, I Blame Oprah, posted about this 50 Book Challenge and as I love love love reading, I thought I'd give it a go. (Just in case you didn't get the point, the aim is to read 50 books during the year.)

I've added a new page so you can check out my progress, marvel at any pithy comments I might share about said tomes and keep me honest if you like.

And let's face it - I'm likely to have greater chance of success with this than the Great Bake-Off which is still at...well...one.

Let the literary marathon commence!

ps...Book 3 is already underway - Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh...

Life is Sweet...One For The Girls...

Following our nefarious shopping adventures of yesterday, we were off this morning for some serious pampering...here's the short version of what happened...

There were massage chairs...one for each of us...

(Look at those very smiley faces...aaaahhhh!)

...and much scrubbing, rubbing and painting to produce very pretty paws.

 

It was then time for a tad more shopping followed by some sweet, sweet sustenance at Theobroma Chocolate Lounge...here's the short version (again) of what happened...

Before, there were chocolate covered waffles and ice-cream...

Later, the chocolate covered waffles and ice-cream were gone...

...and then there were two extremely satisfied (if slightly nauseous) customers.

So definitely a day of sweet treats for the girls...

...and for any of you blokes who happened to read this post all the way through, I can only salute you for your patience / curiosity / ability to be in touch with your feminine side!

The Ghost of Christmas (Sales) Past...

Well, it's week 2 of my great Southern Odyssey, custody of my good self has been successfully transferred to the sprawling abode of Lil Chicky and Husband (and I do mean sprawling - my entire flat would fit in their garage!) and it was time to get out those Christmas vouchers and hit the sales.

5 and half hours later (noted with some amazement as we paid for our parking), voucherless (me) and footsore (both), we heaved ourselves into the car, agreed we'd had an excellent day...and groaned.

What is it about post Christmas sales that convince us to keep pushing on well beyond the comfort of our shoes and the confines of our finances? 

I mean, it happens every year so it's not like this is a completely new experience...but it does not seem to matter how comfortable the footwear (although I have not yet stooped to shopping in my slippers) or how often we stop to fortify our shopping lust (with lunch, cake, coffee etc), we always arrive back home completely spent in more ways than one.

And as I sit here with my aching feet propped up on the chair in front of me, I can't help but think about my fabulous purchases and smile with complete and unmitigated satisfaction...

...and wonder where we'll shop tomorrow.