7 December 2006
My Mandarin teacher brought out a whole bag of those little pieces of dried beef wrapped in paper yesterday that we used to eat when we were little. Now, instead of being wrapped in little bits of pink and white waxproof paper, they come in gold and red foil. We scoffed the lot. That led into an indepth discussion into EU law and how importing meat (even in tins) into the EU was illegal. She didn't seem to bothered, which is a good thing, as it means more dried meat product for me!
Labels: food, politics, restaurants
5 December 2006
One of my friends, S, was stopped today by the police on her way to work. She asked why and the policewoman told her it was because she was walking too fast and so they had stopped her under the terrorism act. ????!*"&$£"????!!!
S said that she was late for work - hence the walking fast. Although, frankly, in London you're more likely to stand out if you walk slow - unless you're a tourist. I'm speechless...
Mind you, I forgot to note on my return from Porto a few weeks ago, that the Portuguese check-in staff photocopied my passport. BB was highly indignant and belligerently asked why they were doing it. Apparently, the British authorities have requested that they take copies of passports of anyone of Asian origin going to Britain - even if they have a British passport! And this country masquerades itself as being a democratic country. Pah! They were very apologetic about it though, and a bit embarrassed I think. Unlike the policewoman who stopped S this morning, who apparently was obnoxious and rude in every way.
S is black by the way. However, she looks not dissimilar to Thandie Newton and styles herself on Audrey Hepburn, so is probably the least likely looking person to be perpetrating an act of terror. Whilst one should not be taken in by appearances, all I can say is, 'Come on! What are they thinking?"
On another note, finally, I have moved into my office. Wah! I have my own office at work! Like in Working Girl, but not so high up. I have a view of Manchester Square and the Wallace Collection which is leafy and green. I also have business cards! I've never had business cards in my life. I feel like a real grown-up.
However, my new office is so full of boxes of all sizes and descriptions crammed full of Christmas gifts, filing, shoe and bag samples, Christmas cards, envelopes and other paraphenalia that people often come looking for me, fail to see me and then go away again. Perhaps that's a good thing...
S said that she was late for work - hence the walking fast. Although, frankly, in London you're more likely to stand out if you walk slow - unless you're a tourist. I'm speechless...
Mind you, I forgot to note on my return from Porto a few weeks ago, that the Portuguese check-in staff photocopied my passport. BB was highly indignant and belligerently asked why they were doing it. Apparently, the British authorities have requested that they take copies of passports of anyone of Asian origin going to Britain - even if they have a British passport! And this country masquerades itself as being a democratic country. Pah! They were very apologetic about it though, and a bit embarrassed I think. Unlike the policewoman who stopped S this morning, who apparently was obnoxious and rude in every way.
S is black by the way. However, she looks not dissimilar to Thandie Newton and styles herself on Audrey Hepburn, so is probably the least likely looking person to be perpetrating an act of terror. Whilst one should not be taken in by appearances, all I can say is, 'Come on! What are they thinking?"
On another note, finally, I have moved into my office. Wah! I have my own office at work! Like in Working Girl, but not so high up. I have a view of Manchester Square and the Wallace Collection which is leafy and green. I also have business cards! I've never had business cards in my life. I feel like a real grown-up.
However, my new office is so full of boxes of all sizes and descriptions crammed full of Christmas gifts, filing, shoe and bag samples, Christmas cards, envelopes and other paraphenalia that people often come looking for me, fail to see me and then go away again. Perhaps that's a good thing...
11 October 2006
This post from Eating Asia is the kind of press Muslims should be getting. These are the sort of people who just get on with their lives just like everyone else. I really can't stand the stupid Western press that just makes things worse by sensationalising negative Muslim stories. For instance, the Evening Standard recently had a headline - Muslim Taxi Driver Bans Guide Dog. Well, frankly, I've been banned from taxis because the taxi driver just couldn't be bothered, which is a worse reason if you ask me.
Quiet day at the office. Have started planning Christmas dos and sorting out Christmas cards for the office. How depressing.
I just learnt that a secretary in Mandarin is a 'mi shu' or 'secret book'. That's quite nice, I think.
Quiet day at the office. Have started planning Christmas dos and sorting out Christmas cards for the office. How depressing.
I just learnt that a secretary in Mandarin is a 'mi shu' or 'secret book'. That's quite nice, I think.
Labels: language, politics, work
19 September 2006
I don't really know what life in Dulwich is like at the moment, as I'm mainly at work it seems. Good thing I'm still being paid by the hour for the moment.
Nothing to report but work, work, work. We had a company pepping-up session today which mainly involved me lugging big boxes of gift bags, product samples, awards (where's mine I ask) and everyone wanting a piece of me. Still, it all went smoothly and the canapés were nice.
So, Thailand is having a coup... It always seemed like a relatively stable sort of place.
Nothing to report but work, work, work. We had a company pepping-up session today which mainly involved me lugging big boxes of gift bags, product samples, awards (where's mine I ask) and everyone wanting a piece of me. Still, it all went smoothly and the canapés were nice.
So, Thailand is having a coup... It always seemed like a relatively stable sort of place.
4 May 2006
No one I know voted today in the local elections. Now, I don't pretend to know much about politics or to know what any of the policies of the local candidates are or the parties they represent, but I kind of think that if somewhere back in the annals of time and throughout the ages since, people have rallied and fought and battered themselves to pieces to get the vote, the least we can do is turn up at the local library and put a tick in the box - even just to show the incumbent party whether you are happy with them or not and prove the censuses wrong or right.
Am pooped today. Too much work in the run-up to not being at work for the next 3 weeks. Hurrah!
Leftover curry for dinner. It's always better the next day.
It was the first truly hot day of the year and I'm off to Helsinki where it's still snowing (apparently) and people pass out from drinking too much vodka in the streets.
Am pooped today. Too much work in the run-up to not being at work for the next 3 weeks. Hurrah!
Leftover curry for dinner. It's always better the next day.
It was the first truly hot day of the year and I'm off to Helsinki where it's still snowing (apparently) and people pass out from drinking too much vodka in the streets.
Labels: politics
5 November 2005
Received a letter from Alan Johnson, MP for Dept of Trade and Industry. This was in response to a letter that Tessa Jowell (my MP) sent to him because of an idle moment on the internet when I sent her a letter expressing my support for wind farms and renewable energy. I'm amazed.
Tessa Jowell had already sent me a letter telling me that she had forwarded my interest to the DTI, which already astounded me. Who would have thought that one's MP actually takes every single constituent's plea for attention seriously. They must be rushed off their feet as I have no doubt there are great hordes of people out there more than willing to fire off letters of discontent at the drop of a hat. It was signed personally and everything - not just pp-ed or stamped with her signature, although with the quality of printing these days it's hard to tell.
I'm not sure what all this letter writing has achieved - although apparently they will raise it as item 1-billion-and-something on the Government's mighty agenda. But as the correspondence comes on headed House of Commons stationery, I do look like I have friends in high places.
Tessa Jowell had already sent me a letter telling me that she had forwarded my interest to the DTI, which already astounded me. Who would have thought that one's MP actually takes every single constituent's plea for attention seriously. They must be rushed off their feet as I have no doubt there are great hordes of people out there more than willing to fire off letters of discontent at the drop of a hat. It was signed personally and everything - not just pp-ed or stamped with her signature, although with the quality of printing these days it's hard to tell.
I'm not sure what all this letter writing has achieved - although apparently they will raise it as item 1-billion-and-something on the Government's mighty agenda. But as the correspondence comes on headed House of Commons stationery, I do look like I have friends in high places.
Labels: being green, politics
