Confession

Birthday tea party @ Covent Garden Hotel

As a journalist I know I'm not doing what I'm supposed to do, which is BLOGGING non stop. I realized that when my dear friend Claire text me the other day very excited about her blog. (Guys, please go and check it out! - you will love it.) Claire you've inspired me... So with that in mind, I thought: "Hey what about mine so called blog?" or "What am I doing to get my journalistic practices in action?" And because of that, I will give it another go. But this time around will be more personal entries and will try to document more of what I go through on daily basis. Hope you enjoy it! Lots of love G

60 seconds with

Ziad Khouri, a chief technology officer, 35, has lived in North London for over 20 years but is originally from Amman, Jordan. In his free time he enjoys going to concerts, museums, art galleries and practising MMA.


How long have you lived in North London?

I lived in Camden from 1977 to 1998, so, 21 years.


How was it back then? Has it changed a lot?

Yes. Camden used to be totally different. It was much edgier-home to various subcultures including punks, and graffiti artists. Also drug abuse was everywhere. It was raw, but also much more exciting. It first started to change when MTV and other TV companies opened their studios there. Now its been cleaned up and made more commercial.


What makes it so special?

Music. Lots of genres were born in Camden. Even today it has many excellent venues.
The market is the biggest tourist attraction in London by size, by profit and by number of people. The market has to be seen to be believe-It's huge and vibrant. There is nowhere like it in the world.


What are your best memories from that time?

My favourite thing would be to walk along the Regents Canal to the market. Its so green in some parts, you can forget you're in a city. I would walk along picking blackberries and checking out the new graffiti. Through the zoo and past the pirate castle! Then at the market I'd meet some friends for coffee and doughnuts before shopping for clothes and second-hand books. We'd finish the day with a pint or two and some loud live music.


Any places that still exist that would you recommend for us?

Trattoia Lucca: Serving excellent authentic Italian home cooking for over 30 years. I've been visiting this family run Italian restaurant since I was a child.
Cyberdog: Started in the early 1990's, this cyber-clothing label is a great example of the vibrant subculture scene. Check out their flagship store in Camden Market.
The Good Mixer: one of the few pubs that still have the 'old' Camden vibe. Not for the faint hearted!


If yes, do you ever go back there nowadays?

I go back a couple of times a year, usually to show visitors. Camden Town is really totally unique. It always feels good to go back.


Did you ever think of moving back?

I wouldn't move back. It was fun when I was younger, but these days I prefer things to be less hectic.

Dialogue with God

Me: God, can I ask You a question?
God: Sure
Me: Promise You won't get mad
God: I promise
Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do u mean?
Me: Well, I woke up late
God: Yes
Me: My car took forever to start
God: Okay
Me: at lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait
God: Huummm
Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call
God: All right
Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?
God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one
of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that
Me (humbled): OH
GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.
Me: (ashamed)
God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick & I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.
Me (embarrassed):Okay
God: Your phone went dead bcuz the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.
Me (softly): I see God
God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm Sorry God
God: Don't be sorry, just learn to Trust Me.... in All things , the Good & the bad.
Me: I will trust You.
God: And don't doubt that My plan for your day is Always Better than your plan.
Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, Thank You for Everything today.
God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I Love looking after My Children...

There is still time! Get ready for Valentine’s Day… or not.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, people are often confronted with a mix of feelings. Those in relationships usually love it: they go out, buy presents, cards, flowers, and chocolates… Anyway, they celebrate in the best possible way. But those who are not dating anyone, can end up feeling lonely or left out. On the other hand, they feel happy for not having this commitment and end up celebrating with friends or what’s usually called a ‘singles night out’.
With this day in mind, I spoke with a few different people of differing ages to give you some good tips on what to (or not to) do for this so called ‘Day of Love’.
Chatting about this topic with a single male colleague led to a point where he said that his dreams were to have a partner, to get married and have a family. He couldn’t bear the fact that he was going to spend another Valentine’s day all by himself. Okay, fair enough you are lonely and all but this ‘couldn’t bear the fact’ sounds a bit desperate. I tried to cheer him up and encourage him to do things with friends, but instead he looked at me with a disbelieving look on his face as if I had said something outrageous.
Options to be with the loved ones, or with friends, are endless. In a city like London, the opportunities and deals are some of the best you can find. For example, you could go watch a famous musical like Chicago or Les Misérables.  Every booking made by the 16th of February gets a free night in any of the 3 stars hotel listed, and all tickets are discounted by 20%!
If you’ve ever said that you don’t know what to do for Valentine’s Day, you’re not trying hard enough. Everywhere you go to, either on the streets, or online, there is a flood of deals, packages and promotions.
Speaking to my friend Juliana, over a coffee at Costa’s recently she quickly answered: “Well, it depends on what you are looking for on Valentine’s Day really! If you want to get laid, bring your partner to Babbo restaurant, a good romantic Italian meal follow by a free glass of champagne then back to his or hers! Or, if it’s your first date and you don’t want to head home quite yet, go to Cuckoo club for a great night out listening to the latest hits on the dance floor.”
Actually those tips are not bad at all and I think I would fancy the first option. A night out for an Italian meal seems quite romantic and easy.
But what about those couples with babies and kids? How do they celebrate? Do they have time for that? For that answer I had to call my good friend Anna to find out. She just had her third baby and her life seems to be nothing but, nappies, baby food, overnight shifts, and crying… Needless to said she did laugh out loud and say: “What? Valentine’s day? I haven’t known what that means in years!” Fair enough, her life is completely different from 5 years ago where she and her husband had all the time in the world for themselves.
So if you are in a relationship, you are a single soul, or have a huge family to take care of, there is always something enchanting you could be doing with your loved ones, either a nice cooked dinner at home by candle light or a simple ice cream at Marina Ice in Camden. Staying in or going out doesn’t matter, as long as it is in the name of Love, it’s all-good.
 

Fake tan

After my 2 weeks holiday in Brazil over Christmas and New Year, I arrived in London with a super sunkissed tan-soooo nice! It has been a while since I last got a tan like that... People were complementing me and all... I looked healthier, I felt helthier even though I ate like a pig, drank lots of soft drinks and ate sweets 24/7.
As my super nice tan faded way (in this english winter wasn't going to last long) I had a 'brilliant' idea to keep my tan one way or another. So I rang the nearest beauty salon and made an appointment for a spray tan. 
Doing everything by the book,  I go for a body scrub first, apparently takes dead skin off and the fake tan last longer..
Oh God almighty!! 
Firstly, you stay inside a mini tent and follow the instructions (straight, legs apart, hand and fingers apart, arms up, arms down) while you get sprayed all over you. The thing that put me off from the beginning was the smell. It stinks!! Stinks like a male pee. Its disgusting. The worst is when she goes into your face and you get that smell right inside your nostrils. Beurgh... She ended up doing 2 layers of it. Oh boy!! I had a super strong tan lines even stronger than the tan I had before but instead this was fake and had a horrid smell.
When I was all done I was already dying for a shower (for those who know me well- knows I love taking showers and to feel clean) when the woman said that I couldn't take shower for at least 24 hours!!!!!!!! I went crazy! Whaaaaaaaat????? You must me kidding me?!?!? Why didn't you say that before?!? 
Not to mention the fact I had these freckles on my face and I look like I have been working on a gold mine for the last couple of hours.
Anyway, goes without saying that I did take shower as soon as I could. I know that I definitely put money down the drain but I could never sleep well with that dirty on me and that smell...argh! So yeah... Spray fake tan?!? No never again and thank you very much. I rather be pale and wait until summer than have spray tan done again. Unless you want to look like that...

Subscriptions

It's been ages since I was here last, in fact it's been a year since my last post. Wow. Anyway, I've decided to take blogging another chance. Let's see how long this one will last...

Today I will talk about my experiences with subcription magazines the ones you get those amazing deals and gifts when you sign them.
I'm so frustrated at the moment. I always love the idea of having magazines/newspapers delivered to your door plus that they cost much less if you subscribe them...
In the begining is fun and all but I started to realize out of 200 pages 180 is advertizing plus is full of overpriced stuff. I don't see myself being able to afford any of what is in those pages. It's never ending advertorials and ad campaign telling you to buy this or that...Gheez.
Well, maybe if I really put myself into saving mode for a couple of months, perharps I will be able to afford a Mulberry bag.
I've tried many times to get in touch with their customers services but they sure take their time on answering emails... but eventually they finally answered.
I've got my cancelation and surprisingly they will reimburse me for the money they took from my account just before I've cancel. So, in the end I guess I should have been more patient and understand that customers services people have a life too.

Joke

A man in a hot air balloon realised he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”

The woman below replied, “You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.”

“You must be a chief editor,” said the balloonist.

“I am,” replied the woman. “How did you know?”

“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help so far.”

The woman below responded, “You must be a writer.”

“I am,” replied the balloonist, “but how did you know?”

“Well,” said the woman, “you don’t know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it’s my fault.”