It's 2012

And I don't think our dream to go to the Olympic games while pregnant will come true...all the same, I think this is going to be a GREAT year :) so....

Happy New Year!!! 

to all my Busy Girls :)

Before I give you an update on my life:

Happy Birthday Tas and Helena!! 
Hope you both had AMAZING celebrations and wish you a wonderful wonderful time ahead :)

....can't wait to read some updates...and more about some Mexican flirt....

Bella, I was so excited to read your post, I think I read it at least three times :) Beril, XX and MAP, get typing ;)

I know, I know, I haven't been that good myself either. But here I am!

I am so glad that (I guess) all of you got my special Christmas card! With all the travelling, this year I had a very limited budget for Christmas gifts, so I thought that would be a nice idea. I just forgot to print one for myself...

I just realized that my last post is from before Thanksgiving and St John! So, here is a quick update:

1. Thanksgiving - OMG I ate so much, and I actually never stopped, until now at least, and I am going on a diet now, especially after the trip to New Orleans! Anyway, Thanksgiving was nice, we went to Bernard's sister's place, she really cooked some amazing food, and everyone was very nice and friendly.

2. St John was so cool!! It was soooo nice, I never want to get back when I'm there!

Paradise

Trying to get tanned....

Hello beach!

Ouch...who gets sunburned there????

aaaaahhhhh.....

and us!

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!!! You wait so long for Christmas, and then it goes by soooooo quickly!

We spent a few days at Bernard's parents' house, eating, eating and yes, some more eating. I also had the opportunity to meet a lot of his relatives, which was nice, although tiring: smile, smile, smile to everyone! Really, I was glad it was over in the end :)

Christmas lights in New York

The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Plaza

Bernard's gift was indeed a watch! I knew it :) 

At granpa' and granma' house...wow so many gifts!!

Bernard's nephew: isn't he cute!

hmm...

Before Christmas though I had a rather shocking news: Lara has resigned and will leave sometime in February, going back to London and to TNS Tech!!!

Not a massive surprise, because I really don't think she really liked here. She wants to get back with her ex-boyfriend, which I think is number one reason. On top of that, the job wasn't what she expected it to be. So, she is going back.
I guess it makes sense for her, but I don't think she timed it that well professionally. 2012 could be a great year for us, and she's going to miss all of that to go back to TNS as an upper level Managing Consultant!

Anyway, it's very strange to think she's not going to be here in the office anymore...like the end of an era. And I am also a little worried about what's going to happen to me.
I have started talking to Paul and his boss about what will happen to me and the team...I will know more next week and then I will update you!

As Claire (my roommate) always says, it is what it is!
And, as I always say, we have to wait and see!

Now, the last part of my update: New Year's Eve!

New Orleans was GREAT, or I should say, Louisiana was GREAT!

We drove around, saw some old plantations...

were the only guests at an old bed & breakfast...

 ate A LOT of food....

and more food....

...I have sooooo many pictures of food it's ridiculous!!

(OK, enough with the food!)

had a blast in New Orleans on NYE....

and although we probably drank a little too much...

at the beginning of the night.... 

sometime towards the end of the night

we survived drinking, dancing, walking around the city in heels and even a quick visit to one of the many strip clubs in town! Yey! 

You all know I am not a big drinker, and I was concerned about how the night might evolve...Bernard kept saying to our friends: "let's make sure she actually gets to 2012!

So I think I did pretty well....and the next day my hangover wasn't even THAT bad ;)

Y'all take care (trying a bit of a Southern accent there...)

& hope to read your posts soon!

Love

xx

C

Happy new year!

Happy new year everyone! Wish you all a fruitful and happy year ahead! Miss you!
Xxxx

Happy Birthday to Tas and Helena!!

Happy Birthday BusyGirls!!!



Missing you and wishing you an absolutely AMAZING year ahead!! Being such crazy, beautiful, fun, adventurous busygirls anything you wish could be in store for you this year :-)


Let us know you're plans for celebrating and for next year?


Since you're both Capricorns I thought I'd find your horoscopesfor 2012

Capricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19)
People born from December 22nd to January 19th are born under the zodiac sign Capricorn. They have mature personalities accompanied by great intelligence. Capricorns possess lots of esteemed qualities such as having stable mind. Capricorns also portray honorable traits of practicality, patience, and straight to the point attitude. You are confident and you use this confidence with an intense purpose. In fact, there will be more excitements and opportunities for people under this sign. Furthermore, since you are full of ambition, this New Year 2012 will bring you lots of surprising things and well-deserved achievements in many aspects.

Lots of love xxxx

Ive had mail!

Clelia, thank you so much for the BusyGirls Christmas Card!! It arrived today and has taken pride and place on the fridge - I love it!! 

2 sleeps till Christmas!!! Xxx

Its nearly Christmas!!!!

Hi busygirls!!

I've been completely rubbish with updating the blog!! I'm sorry :-((( It will be my new years resolution to be better!! I have been enjoying reading all of yours though :-)

At the end of October I REALLY needed a holiday, and would have LOVED to come to Egypt but couldn't convince Sarah - Tas next year I'll come on my own!

So we went to Tenerife instead which was lovely and hot and suunny - its so nice to getaway that time of year when its getting cold and dark!!

This is a pic from the beach there at dawn (we had a big party night)

Then in Novemeber it was birthdays, birthdays, birthdays with Sarahs, Rob, Amy's and mine within three weeks so it was crazy with parties - and cakes!!

Home-made Bonfire Toffee for Guy Fawkes Night!

A tower of cupcakes I made for Rob's birthday

A Winky-face cake I baked for Amy


Boob cup-cakes I made for Olly Reid's birthday

Haha! So it felt like November was spent baking!!

I did have a lovely birthday - thanks for all your messages - wish we all could have done something together!

Then, as a birthday treat the girls took me to Milano which was Magnifico!!

Here's Becky and Me at the Duomo

It was a lovely, lovely weekend with lots of food, shopping, food, wine, limoncello, food, more shopping, sightseeing, gelato, food, more wine! Perfect weekend treat! Did I mention the food? It was AMAZIN

I really loved Milan - it was a really exciting, beautiful city - Clelia you're so lucky to have grown-up there!

So... thats takes us to December and Xmas parties!! And, your welcome, heres a little Christmas treat:

YES!! I DANCED WITH YAP!!

It was horrible, I had to take one for all the girls! Later in the night he bought a tray of 30 shots of tequila, but crazily tried to take them across the dancefloor! We all knew it was going to happen... someone high-kicked the tray and the shots went EVERYWAH! Lol :-)

The other Xmas parties have been good, to be honest I've been to so many now I forget which one is which, I've basically been over-enjoying/doing it for the last 3 weeks now - I'm throughly exhausted and ready for Christmas!! If you want to hear gossip on anyone let me know and I'll fill you in - there certainly are a lot of funny stories!

I will for sure write again next week as I'm in work with nothing to do! I'm also going to try and find the Egypt Movie to upload

What's everybusygirls plans for holidays next year?? I would like to plan something to see you guys maybe in summer?

If I don't speak to you again - Hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas, that its relaxing (not verybusygirls) and fun-filled - I want to hear all about what you did? Special love to MAP, Clelia and Helena who are away from home - so is my little sister and I really miss her over the holidays :-( I find the only way to feel better is to Skype her and sing White Wine in the Sun to each other (a Tim Minchin song)

Love all you busygirls xxxx

Not just a face

There’s been a pounding voice in my head. It’s been inundating me with begrudging comments. “Update the blog, update the blog, you horrible hermit”, it begs. The hermit bit hurts. It’s obviously got the wrong end of the stick. It’s obviously had too many drinks to even understand what its saying. But this voice has got a way of upsetting me, making me feel bad. It’s time I write...

Like every update, I’d like to write that my life has been exciting and fulfilling. But alas, it’s been same old, same old. A pair of sneakers probably sees more action than me these days. Here are some bullet points – because simplicity is key.

1. You might not know, but I won the Individual Achievement Award across the UK business for my work on clickstream back in July. I didn’t tell you guys, I think because I told someone and they didn’t seem too excited so decided to shut up. It’s actually a really nice thing to happen to me. I’m sad I didn’t share it. But what I will share is the bad news, I was nominated for the Young Technologist Researcher 2011 Award at the MRS awards and found out today that I was unsuccessful in getting to the finalists stage. Boo.

2. On that note, I’m developing a product for the UK business. It’s a really great experience and I’m enjoying the hassle of doing everything myself. No really.

3. When I’m not doing that, I’m working client side. It’s nice and not as stressful. But then again, it’s not amazing.

4. I’m going to Paris for New Years with Julia, Jo (Cathy’s cousin, Cathy’s now moved to NZ) and a few others. It should be lovely!

5. I’m going to Finland for a few days in early January. I’m going husky sledding, snow mobiling and going to see the Northern Lights. Yay!

6. Heading home Feb-Mar for 4 weeks. Can’t wait to see my nephew and my sister’s new baby. I’m also going to be in the delivery room for my sister. CAN YOU IMAGINE!

7. I don’t have much going on romantically. Although I have an awkward situation with someone at work. I think we both like each other but it’s too messy a situation. I can’t write his name here, but you know him. I wish it wasn’t awkward, but can’t see that changing for awhile. It’s not a big deal anyway. Actually, it’s hardly anything. My relationship with Grey’s Anatomy is definitely more interesting.

8. Grey’s. OMG Tas, have you been watching! I’m at Season 8 episode 4. But I read ahead by accident and know things I shouldn’t yet. Come to think of it, this cute guy at the client office has an Alex Karev anger thing about him. For some reason I like that. I’m crazy.

9. Finally, but most importantly - I’ve been wearing my hair up high lately. Hair up = too much face, sometimes. Soon they’ll be calling me “The Face”. I don’t care for that.

The Face 2011 xo

Busy and Tired...

Hey Girls,

I'm so glad to see all the posts since last time I checked. Beril, Helena and Clelia well done. XX, Bella and MAP come one, more news for us :)))))

So for me things here are going crazy. Last week there was a lot of sad things happening in Tahrir Square, 41 people died, 2 of them worked with us in the campaign. the tensity of actions was really high. after 12 hours in Tahrir and while having my only meal of the day, I will get a phone call saying that my candidate might go to tahrir for a press conference and u have to be there... I leave everything and run there. I saw really sad things, kids, women and great men being injured, dying or losing their eyes... for three days, I used to sleep crying when remembering what I witnessed during the day

along with that there was a lot of freelancing work I had to do and then the beginning of this week started the elections. I took some workshops on how to monitor elections to ensure its integrity. Muslim Brotherhood took over and we still don't understand what will happen after that. I'm not afraid r even worried, just need to understand how things will evolve with time.

For Xmas, and it's my birthday too, I will travel to dahab for my advanced diving course (30m) yaaayyyy and a week with 3 great friends, diving, chilling and partying... so I can't wait

Then after I'm back I think it will be just crazy as the presidential elections is supposed to be in June and in that case I doubt I will be able to leave the country till after it

I miss you girls so much and I really wish we will be able to meet some time really soon

Loads of love,

Tas xx