Barbie visits Amsterdam

So, I figured it was time to catch up on some of the stuff I've been up to in recent months. Whilst I was off work I did a bit of travelling with the lovely Mr B, it was great to be able to really kick back and relax and one of the places on our hit list was Amsterdam.. so we did.


We stayed in a great hotel, which was just a short wander away from some open parkland with geese friends

We saw a lot of parks...

And canals..

And bikes..

More bikes

Obviously we had to visit the sex museum, it was a good giggle - once we convinced the guy on the front desk that Mr B really was an adult (long story - but needless to say he was a sharp dude with a very dry sense of humour).  I especially loved the reactions of the other visitors, from giggling groups of girls to a young guy in the over 18+ section who was really quite shocked!

This toilet seat is broken...

Like the new punch bowl?

 Overall, we had a really great time, we are already planning another trip over in the coming months.  I'll try and take more photos next time (of everything, not just the sex museum!) 

Still Walking

It's been three weeks into my new job... and I'm still alive!

So far, so good...although I have already got a list of pet hates, (mostly about letterboxes!) a few blisters and very sore feet.  I've quickly learned not to underestimate the number of stairs a building can have and how quickly I'm expected to get up and down them, I've met some lovely dogs as well as some slightly evil ones and been warned about a few 'attack' cats.

Definitely the hardest part is the walking.  I know that sounds crazy, I'm fairly fit and it's only walking (albeit with a pretty heavy bag) but the distances covered day after day are pretty high...here's a view of my September so far...and I'm not quite doing a full route yet!

Spot the days off...

It's pretty grueling but I'm feeling like I'm slowly getting used to it so I think I'll survive.

Barbie take steps to a reformed life

I posted a while ago about leaving my job.  I took voluntary redundancy from a role that I initially loved but had grown to despise a little over the years. 

I've had a few months off, I've travelled, relaxed and enjoyed myself but now it's time to get back to a little bit of reality so I needed to find a job. 

During this time off I realised that the world of high power executive work, stuck in an office for 8+ (usually 10!) hours a day isn't right for me.  My physical and mental health was suffering and all in the name of bringing home decent money each month...money that I never really got to enjoy because I was too tired from work to do anything else. 

So, in my recent work search I applied for jobs that were a bit different from what I had been doing and the one that excited me the most was the complete opposite to my usual type of role... and that was the one that I got too!

So, next month I will be starting my new job, pounding the streets for up to 6 hours a day delivering mail.  I know that it sounds like hell to most people, but I've never felt better than when I'm getting large amounts of exercise on a regular basis.  No hassles about my personal style, no need to worry about how to fit in regular exercise and I get to come home every afternoon at a decent time and actually have time to myself.  I'm so excited that even writing this is bringing me close to tears!

I know that my first few weeks will be a challenge, my body will ache and I will have to get used to working outside in all weathers - especially the infamous Scottish sideways-falling rain - but I'm still really looking forward to it. 

I'll let you know how I get on! 

Just a little Japanese duty free

I love Japanese food so on my way home I did just a teeny bit of shopping...

Giant Pocky - in various flavours

Tokyo Banana - squishy deliciousness

Mochi Balls...

of many varieties!

Sakura Jelly

Yuki rice cakes - sweet and savoury heaven! 

Calpis candy

More hard candy - chocolate and caramel flavour I think!

Needless to say none of this lasted long after I got home...and now I want to find a place to get some closer to home!

Cinematic problems make Barbie a grumpy girl

I used to be a big cinema-goer.  Recently however, I only go when there is a movie that I REALLY want to see on the big screen - this is partially due to the rising costs and partially due to the fact that many movies I'm not that fussed to see in the cinema, but to be really honest the main reason for my growing disdain towards the cinema is...other people.

Today was an epic example.  I've just come home from watching Avengers:Endgame, we went during the day on a weekday to avoid the cinema being mobbed, however, that still didn't stop the two people in the seats directly behind talking the entire way through the film.  I'm sure the movie is as wonderful as many people have thought but my experience of it was thoroughly ruined by these two.  I found myself getting increasingly annoyed to the point that I was pretty irate by the end of the film so I don't think I got the full effect of what should have been a fairly emotional ending to such a long run of movies. 

I'm not going to pay to see it again, I'll wait for it to come out on DVD to watch (and hopefully enjoy it more!) in the peace and quiet of my own home instead. 

Best review ever

I'm planning another trip - whilst I'm off work I may as well, right?

This time, we (Mr B and I that is) are going to Amsterdam.  It's not somewhere we've been before and we are both looking forward to it.  We have some friends there who we plan to visit as well as seeing some of the sights.

So, as usual, I am doing my bit on the planning and looking in advance for things to do during our trip.  Tripadvisor is always one of my first stops for reviews on activities and tours etc so obviously I headed straight there.  One of the recommended attractions is the sex museum, so I had a quick browse through the reviews and spotted this absolute gem (only the title and the first line are relevant)....

I do love how people can draw comparisons against absolutely nothing.

Headline Smashers

I'm bored already, so I'm spending a crazy amount of time in front of my computer randomly surfing the net.  That means I'm coming across some amazing stuff though

My two favourite headlines of the week so far...

Man rescued after getting stuck in hole he dug himself

and

Angry swinger can't enjoy "a cup of tea and BDSM" due to club's new sex rules

I've linked them but the actual stories don't do those headlines any justice!

Ready for the next adventure!

Before I post about Japan, I have other news...One Wednesday a few weeks ago, my workplace announced redundancies, my job was one no longer included in the company after the proposed restructure so by the following Friday I had already put in my application for voluntary redundancy.

Also by that Friday, the information of which jobs were placed at risk had leaked out and people started giving me the side-head "I'm sorry" speeches. It was a bit awkward because I'm really not unhappy about it so I responded with a cheeky grin and an explanation that I view this as the universe simply giving me a nudge to go and move on to my next adventure.

I feel like I have the whole world at my feet right now and honestly, that's quite exciting. I know that I'm lucky, I have very few commitments, so this is a great freedom for me whilst I understand that for others it could certainly feel like their world is crumbling.

A few days before I left for Japan I got called into the boss' office and they gave me the best news - My application was being accepted and I was being put on garden leave from the following Tuesday (I needed to come in and see my direct boss before I could officially go anywhere and she was off on leave).  I admit that I didn't do anything from there onward that might have constituted work for the next few days.  My team were shocked at the speed of the process (from announcement to final decision in less than a week) but it was far better for me not to have it drag on.

So now, I'm free....

I'm feeling a little odd about it, if for no other reason than I've not been unemployed since I was a teenager. 

I often said that in this situation I might consider starting my own business - I still might - I've not even started to decide yet. At the moment, I'm planning on taking a few months off and going on a couple of trips with Mr B before I really start to think about getting back to the grind. 

Goodbye 2018...Hello 4th Decade

Well, 2018 was a bit of a rough year.  Throughout most of it my geriatric cat - Tori - was very ill.  A liver condition that we knew she wouldn't recover from.  She kept going until August when it all became too much.  She followed my grandfather who also finally gave into his illness at the ripe old age of 97.  I'll admit that both of these instances left me emotionally drained and it is taking a while to build up those reserves again - but I'm working on it. 

I turned 40 at the beginning of 2019 - yeah, I can't quite believe it either.  Hopefully, my 4th decade will be as filled with growth and fun as my 3rd but I'm not quite sure it's sunk in yet (whatever "it" is - I still seem to have the mind of a teenager so I don't think I will ever grow up now!)

Anyway, to help me get back to being more...me, I have booked myself a trip to Japan and a holiday to a sunny spot with the lovely Mr B in the coming months. I know that getting back to Japan and some good training will be highly beneficial and a sunny holiday always does everyone good.  I just have to brush up on my Japanese and dig out my bikini!

I will likely have lots of upcoming ramblings about Japan after my trip - if the excitement gets to me you may get some pre-trip too! - and probably some photos of the sunny holiday (not of the bikini though - no one needs to see that)