Does it make me sexist against myself to have felt afraid when I realised my pilot coming back from London was a woman??
I dont know but to me a pilot is one of those jobs that is done by a man. I feel the same about doctors and lawyers, fireman and police. I think I am sexist....certainly not a feminist. I am not saying woman CAN'T do those jobs, I just feel better if they dont. Well, thats not really true, I dont mind woman doctors, police and lawyers. Not fireman, leave me one fantasy intact please.
In saying this, I wasnt at all keen on the pilot that took me to London in the first place.
I was flying Aurigny, which is the channel islands airline. After hearing the obligitory welcome onboard that the captain gives (usually useless information about cruising speed and altitude etc), which was a plesantly soothing english accent, this staticy announcement came over the sound system in what could only have been described as a thick russian accent saying 'Fliught crue seats for takeovf' I was not comforted. Particularly when I got back to London and discovered I had inadvertently managed to smuggle some liquid on board. I nearly died when I found the lipstick in my bag but then security obviously never cared so why should I??! Actually, my discomfort began long before that. Like when we landed at Gatwick. The pilot never really slowed down so at the end of the runway we turned and pulled up to the gate with a screech not unlike a formula one car. I thought I was going to die.
Otherwise I have had a most pleasant weekend. I spent it in London with my couins so was good to talk to someone who has known me for longer than 5 minutes, as seems to be with all my transient travelling friends. Also, I had been feeling a bit down lately, but getting back to London puts it all in perspective...there are tons of people there more loser-y than me so it was a small boost. Also, you only have to read the 'desparately seeking' page of the TNT to know you are not the biggest looser on the planet...those people are.
At the moment I am trying to decide where to go on holiday next. I had more or less decided to go on a tour through Croatia and Hungary and ending in London. I had all but booked and then I read the small print. You had to do a lot of helping out on the tour and it was also in tents. Now I have a fantasy that I am a bit of an earth mother type but I am not. I get angry if it rains and my shoes get wet so the small home comforts that are absent in a tent, such as being able to stand when dressing, are paramount to the level of enjoyment I will get on a holiday. needless to say that tour is no longer the top contender. I dont want to dismiss it totally though as it would be an experience, in patience if nothing else. Otherwise I pretty much dont know where to go. Its a combination of lack of money and time that make the choice so difficult. I seriously fancy a skiing or snowboarding one but I cant do either of those things so unfortunately thats a no go. I thought maybe an England and Ireland one but its not totally the best weather to be doing that....I would prefer to wait till summer. Of course, if I get a job I wont be going anywhere.
As for the capsule lifestyle I mentioned in the last entry, I still can only dream about it. To me a capsule lifestyle is one where you merrily skip though life with just the barest of essentials. You have maybe a small purse or a wallet and thats it. Nothing it too hard for you as you dont have a sack of 'essentials' to carry with you. I am not this person. I will never be this person. Apart from a small bag fetish, I seem to always be carrying stuff wherever I go. It seriously pisses me off. I dont know wha I need all this stuff, only that I do. This isnt one of those tales of woe where the woman carries around her life in her handbag, oh no. I dont even have a brush in mine, its just all brochures, phamplets, umbrella, sunglasses, glasses, wallet, phone, ID, keys etc etc. HOWEVER, I have almost mastered the capsule lifestyle ideal that I strive for. Its because I live 22 steps from work (I counted them) so if I need something I just go home and get it. Its only a small start but I am happy with it. My hands are free to browse (if there was anything in Guernsey worth browsing) and if I fall over nothing scatters (this is by far the best reward). I hope this doesnt mean I always have to live this close to work. It only works here as I cant actually see my department from my room. I like to imagine I could be anywhere.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Channeling good times...
Well things are looking up! I managed to score a job in the Channel Islands and I have almost mastered the capsule lifestyle I strive for! Bless!
Firstly, my job agency called me at the eleventh hour to offer me 2 different jobs. The first he said "...is in London but I dont want to lie to you, you are looking at an hour and a half travel each way every day." OK I thought, better than no job. "..And the other is in Guernsey!!!". Now I wont lie, I didnt have the first clue where Guernsey was. He was already continuing "they fly you out there, pay for almost all of your rent, its an all new nurses hostel....." blah blah blah. All I really heard was that they flew me out there so it mush be somewhere exotic, as obviously there are no airports in dull places (that is not true for Palmerston North, I think they have an airport, and so does Hamilton.) I jumped at the Guernsey one and then looked it up on the net. Well I first discovered that is was one of the Channel Islands (had only heard of Jersey before) and that is was mega close to France. Infact, asking some people at work, they had me convinced that it would be just like being IN France, while obviously being in the UK. Kinda. I was sooooooo pleased I got the job, even though its for 8 weeks only.
Things have been drama from the word go. I flinished work on Friday and flew out on the Sunday and started here on the Monday! But the drama began on Sunday.
After I finished packing, I decided to curse my way to the airport via the tube (even thought the bus would have been waaaaaaaay easier I realised at the tube stop). I got to Victoria and got a ticket to Gatwick heaps cheaper than I thought as I have a young persons card! Oh hooray for clinging to youth! The train was in 10 minutes so caught that no bother. Now, I wish I could be like Posh, Colleen, Cameron and the like, but I am not. I am not glamarous enough for airline travel. I first went to the wrong terminal (mistaking BE for BA). Wouldn't be so bad if you were in Auckland and you just walk the 10 steps back the way but you have to catch a train between tham at Gatwick. Embarrassing.
I then checked in and they guy said to me (probably as I was about 4 hours early) "just keep your eyes on the departure screens". No problemo. I then messed about the shops...bought a few mags and a book (un-necessary, the flight is only 40 minutes) and then had dinner etc etc till I decided to go through customs and to the gate. It was 7pm. My flight was at 7.45. The gate closed at 7.35. I got to customs and the line was out the door!! I was in a bit of a panic so tried to pick the fastest moving line, only to find that once you are behind the screens the 4 lines mrege into one. I got through the bag x-ray at 7.37 and looked at the board to see my flight flashing GATE CLOSING. I nearly died!! Apart from the fact I never paid for the flight, it was the last one of the day. I ran all the way to the gate, which was naturally, as you would expect, miles away. I arrived a sweaty, panting mess. Only to find, the bastards hadnt even started boarding yet!!! I managed to catch my breath before they did.
On the plane things were not getting better. I was seated at the window near the wings. For some reason, the overhead lockers here are smaller than all the others on the plane. I choose to ignore that though and held up everyone trying to get on as I vainly tried to force my bag into the overhead. It hadnt clicked that the bag was much bigger than that space, which which could have fitted a paperback at most. I threw my bag down in dispair (did I mention I am seated near the front so the whole plane can see me??) Someone kindly suggested putting it at my feet but as I had exceeded the 1 piece of handluggage rule that was not possible.
I made my way up to the front of the plane to tell the air hostess. Yes, I forced my way against the tide of people trying to be seated, bag in my hand. She told me to take it down the back and they would sort it out later. So I did just that, only to be told to put it anywhere I liked. So it was 9 rows back from me.
Anywho, we stopped in Jersey first as we had som Jersey passengers on board. Was good as we were flying so low I could see everything, not that I knew what antything was. After they Jersey people got off, they had to check all the handluggage to amke sure no one had left anything on (like a bomb presumably). They went though and called out the coulour of the bags that were in the overhead lockers. You guessed it, seeing as mine was 9 rows back from me, I missed them calling it out and as a result they were about to eject it from the plane and quite possible detonate it. Luckily I managed to jump up in my seat and yell that it was mine.
Honestly, Guernsey is not a big place and I am sure my reputation is 'nutter' already.
Anyway, after all that I am too exhausted to relive my capsule lifestyle capturing so will leave that for next time.
Au revoir!
Firstly, my job agency called me at the eleventh hour to offer me 2 different jobs. The first he said "...is in London but I dont want to lie to you, you are looking at an hour and a half travel each way every day." OK I thought, better than no job. "..And the other is in Guernsey!!!". Now I wont lie, I didnt have the first clue where Guernsey was. He was already continuing "they fly you out there, pay for almost all of your rent, its an all new nurses hostel....." blah blah blah. All I really heard was that they flew me out there so it mush be somewhere exotic, as obviously there are no airports in dull places (that is not true for Palmerston North, I think they have an airport, and so does Hamilton.) I jumped at the Guernsey one and then looked it up on the net. Well I first discovered that is was one of the Channel Islands (had only heard of Jersey before) and that is was mega close to France. Infact, asking some people at work, they had me convinced that it would be just like being IN France, while obviously being in the UK. Kinda. I was sooooooo pleased I got the job, even though its for 8 weeks only.
Things have been drama from the word go. I flinished work on Friday and flew out on the Sunday and started here on the Monday! But the drama began on Sunday.
After I finished packing, I decided to curse my way to the airport via the tube (even thought the bus would have been waaaaaaaay easier I realised at the tube stop). I got to Victoria and got a ticket to Gatwick heaps cheaper than I thought as I have a young persons card! Oh hooray for clinging to youth! The train was in 10 minutes so caught that no bother. Now, I wish I could be like Posh, Colleen, Cameron and the like, but I am not. I am not glamarous enough for airline travel. I first went to the wrong terminal (mistaking BE for BA). Wouldn't be so bad if you were in Auckland and you just walk the 10 steps back the way but you have to catch a train between tham at Gatwick. Embarrassing.
I then checked in and they guy said to me (probably as I was about 4 hours early) "just keep your eyes on the departure screens". No problemo. I then messed about the shops...bought a few mags and a book (un-necessary, the flight is only 40 minutes) and then had dinner etc etc till I decided to go through customs and to the gate. It was 7pm. My flight was at 7.45. The gate closed at 7.35. I got to customs and the line was out the door!! I was in a bit of a panic so tried to pick the fastest moving line, only to find that once you are behind the screens the 4 lines mrege into one. I got through the bag x-ray at 7.37 and looked at the board to see my flight flashing GATE CLOSING. I nearly died!! Apart from the fact I never paid for the flight, it was the last one of the day. I ran all the way to the gate, which was naturally, as you would expect, miles away. I arrived a sweaty, panting mess. Only to find, the bastards hadnt even started boarding yet!!! I managed to catch my breath before they did.
On the plane things were not getting better. I was seated at the window near the wings. For some reason, the overhead lockers here are smaller than all the others on the plane. I choose to ignore that though and held up everyone trying to get on as I vainly tried to force my bag into the overhead. It hadnt clicked that the bag was much bigger than that space, which which could have fitted a paperback at most. I threw my bag down in dispair (did I mention I am seated near the front so the whole plane can see me??) Someone kindly suggested putting it at my feet but as I had exceeded the 1 piece of handluggage rule that was not possible.
I made my way up to the front of the plane to tell the air hostess. Yes, I forced my way against the tide of people trying to be seated, bag in my hand. She told me to take it down the back and they would sort it out later. So I did just that, only to be told to put it anywhere I liked. So it was 9 rows back from me.
Anywho, we stopped in Jersey first as we had som Jersey passengers on board. Was good as we were flying so low I could see everything, not that I knew what antything was. After they Jersey people got off, they had to check all the handluggage to amke sure no one had left anything on (like a bomb presumably). They went though and called out the coulour of the bags that were in the overhead lockers. You guessed it, seeing as mine was 9 rows back from me, I missed them calling it out and as a result they were about to eject it from the plane and quite possible detonate it. Luckily I managed to jump up in my seat and yell that it was mine.
Honestly, Guernsey is not a big place and I am sure my reputation is 'nutter' already.
Anyway, after all that I am too exhausted to relive my capsule lifestyle capturing so will leave that for next time.
Au revoir!
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