How Much is that Doggy in the Window?

The sun shines high and bright in a clear sky of iridescent blue. Not bad for early March in London and a welcome change from the grey drear of February.

So I am waiting for an equal lift of the spirits. The limbo caused by working out one’s notice, trying to see all one’s friends in quality installments in a month and a half, and wondering if one is doing the right thing packing up one’s life into 10kg (ok, 12 max) and buggering off to meet what can only be described as a crazy (if admittedly gorgeous) Skandi and travel bits of the globe together indefinitely can give a girl one bollocks of a headache at times...

In fact, of course, the whole world is feeling down (with the exception of Timo who is partying in Shanghai, being revoltingly chipper and dressing in a costume somewhere between Elvis and Captain Jack Sparrow – I leave the picture to your imagination but I will tell you for free that it’s pretty weird) and it’s hard to find someone who isn’t weighed down with apathy and general lack of get-up-and-go.

And what do we call this? We call it SAD – Seasonal Affected Disorder for anyone who hasn’t been on the planet in the last ten years.

Soppily Abject Despondency.

Seriously Annoying Depression.

However, as the alternative is eventual suicide, a course of action that frankly does not appeal it is time to snap out of it boys and girls and count our blessings! After all, there is always someone worse off… and let’s not forget, the majority of people we envy in one way or another turn out to be just as fed up… if not more. However, even when our cup runneth over we stress about getting the stain out of the prohibitively expensive white shagpile carpet.

So I charge anyone reading this to do the same as I did maybe a year ago and write a list of things you love (found here if you're burning with curiosity btw: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=35891626&blogID=260504530). JP did it. Timo’s doing it. Even educated fleas do it. You’ll be surprised at how much pleasure is to be found in the exercise (and if you can make it rhyme I’ll personally sing it on the metro tomorrow morning to the tune of How Much is That Doggy in The Window).

Talking of doggies went to Amsterdam at the weekend (or more correctly I stayed in Amstelveen at B&B McCurdy™, home of my two excellent friends Lindsay and Maaike, their little boy Finn, and Pietje. Pietje is a big white boxer and a long waggy tail that puts dents in the walls and big pinwheeling paws who likes to drown you in drool. To stay at B&B McCurdy™ you must first freely accept from the waist down and the chest up you are simply going to get covered in drool of either chien or bébé, plus hair of former and soggy biscuit crumbs of latter.

Amsterdam is a mere 30 minute bus ride away (when one has read the timetable) and the woods are close by for strolling, dog walking and horse riding should the mood take you. The food at this hotel is interesting AND vegetarian (often a tall order) with always a dish or two you haven’t sampled before. Accomodation is spacious (top floor to yourself) with double bed (spare blankets), ensuite and random washing machine. Be warned however: this is Holland and therefore the stairs are, to say the least, precipitous, and you may find yourself falling up or down them when pissed (ahem, not that I ever get pissed. Or fall up the stairs).

Five stars therefore, and thank you guys!! Btw my parents, after hearing my verbal review, say they’ll be contacting you shortly to arrange a short sojourn :-)

So yes, a lovely weekend. Lins and I went to see Reverend and the Makers at the Paradiso which was AWESOME and the afterparty was cool (except really should learn that Dutch weed is about 50 times stronger than the stuff I smoke here) and afterwards went to my joint fave bar in town which is called Gollem. Teeny tiny place but epic beer list, nice punters and friendly staff… who needs more?

Thinking about the gig, did you know that Dutch people don’t dance at gigs? Lins had told me but I didn’t really believe him. The atmosphere when we got to the venue was buzzing, people were obviously excited but when the music started… they all just stood there, jiggling slightly. Song finished, they all went mental. It’s so ODD!!! Fair play to the singer though – after 2 songs he stopped and said, ‘Right. everyone who wants to dance – down to the front please. Everyone who doesn’t want to – move on back.’

Bosh. Guess where we went?

Oh dear this blog is v waffly. To finish the Amsterdam story spent Saturday (after having recovered from hangover the size of Belgium) with lovely Patrick catching up and giggling like school kids. Another cool Bar. Met big bunch of his mates (at not so cool Bar) where terrorised DJ into playing decent tunes.

Cue 2nd epic hangover on Sunday and a skype chat with a young man in shanghai while we were both so tired that finished sentences were a rarity.

And now it’s back to work and you know what? It’s nearly 17h30 so, as my friend has just cancelled drinks for tonight (am kinda pleased actually – am tired) I can go home. I can walk home as well as I have my SENSIBLE SHOES with me. I think. It’s not completely dark. It’s only 2 days til the weekend. There are friends to talk to and my boy to chat up :-) The weather looks nice for tomorrow. Have some nice food to cook. Some travel insurance to arrange for my very exciting trip (did I mention at any point I am leaving this sorry arse country in less than 6 weeks??!!?). Some new tunes to upload and check out on my ipod. There might be daffodils involved somewhere…

Life, you know, is not so bad!