I wish I could finally have a normal, relaxing weekend. No pressure from anyone or anything, just time to let this never-ending migraine go away.

This weekend was ruined before it even started. I had to stay at work way too late on Thursday, because of other people’s never ending delays. Then, on my way home I got a few more calls from people in the US, so my work day didn’t end yet. Add to that my boss’s constant nagging phone calls just to make sure I’m stressed enough to disable any form of normal sleep.

I woke up on Friday quite early, feeling as if I did not sleep at all. There were chores to do, and my final hours at the radio (for which there will be another post), and finally a visit to my parents, but not before I stopped at the service station for some fuel and basic check-ups to find out there is a leak from the radiator cooling water tank, which means I can’t go very far until it is replaced.

By the time I got home I was already exhausted. At least E. was coming over in the evening. Spending the little time we had together was the only good thing that happened.

On Saturday morning there was family pressure. I couldn’t find a replacement water tank, which means I could not drive to a family do at my brother’s place down south. My brother is not one to take No for an answer, so there were phone calls, and shouting and him coming up with all sort of stupid “plans” to get me over there. On my side, there was no way I was going to go with any of my aunts and uncles and their kids. It was bad enough that I had to spend time with them at the event itself, I was not going to spend a three-hour drive with them too.

My Saturday was already wrecked, as E. was already gone, and I already woke up early feeling like hell, so I just went back to bed and ignored the phone. That is, until this afternoon, when another annoying SMS message from my boss came through.

When will I finally be able to just let my mind rest?!

I am starting to consider job hunting again.

You know that things are really going wrong when you get a phone call from the gym…

Yesterday morning I was sitting at the queue outside the nurse’s office at the clinic, waiting for my name to be called for a blood test. Usually it is quite well organized, with pre-set appointments and efficient nurses going through a large line of patients. However, yesterday morning one of the nurses was off sick, and all appointments were delayed while the other nurses covered for him.

There would be no reason for this to go wrong, except for the people waiting. The patients, mostly elderly people, would push themselves to the doors, keep shouting and asking about their appointments, knowing well that there is a delay and there is nothing they can do about it. They should have also known that their name will be called eventually, which did not keep them from shouting at one another to keep back and still try to push themselves to the start of the queue.

Don’t get me wrong, I really do appreciate that they have been though more in their life than me, and would like to respect the elderly, but how can I respect such rudeness? The Israeli stereotype is of impatience and impoliteness, and now I know where it comes from. This was stuck to us by the older population years ago, and even though younger people in Israel tend to be much more polite, we still have to struggle with the typecast. How can I fully respect the aged, if all they teach the younger generation is bad behaviour and lack of consideration of privacy? If manners are a matter of upbringing, how could anyone ever learn without a good example?

I was off sick today, and spent most of the day sleeping. I called in sick because I have been feeling sick quite a lot recently, but never enough to prevent me from going to work, and also because I felt that I needed a break.

There are a lot of things going on, and a lot of thoughts running through my mind recently, but I have to stop myself from blogging about it, which is a shame. I really do wish I could share all these thoughts, ideas and feelings with you, but I know that some people from work may be reading, and I really do not wish to be added to the statistics as another person who was sacked for blogging about work.

I am not planning any changes in the near future, and if there will be any, I’ll keep you posted. Either way, wish me luck.

The other day I was looking at the mirror, doing the girly thing and sorting out my mess of an eyebrow, where I found a white hair waiting to be plucked! The physical proof that I am getting older, right there above my left eye!

AAAAAAA!!!!!

Since it does not seem that I am getting wiser in any way, panic is the only way forward.

Recently my lovely car suffered what I consider to be one of the worse malfunctions possible. The right speaker somehow got disconnected for some strange reason, and I had to listen to all my music in mono! It was so bad that I had to threaten my car with a visit to a garage. My car does not like the garage at all, so somehow, yesterday I started hearing on the right side again. Just like that! A miracle!

The way he smiles when he pulls my hair.
The way he turns my head towards him for a kiss.
The way he holds my hand when he wakes up in the morning.
The way he calls me silly nicknames.

It’s the little things that mean so much and turn my belly upside down with excitement.

He bought me a toothbrush to keep in his bathroom. Such a little thing.

In about an hour and a half, the whole country will be put on hold. I’m not talking about a minute silence or anything that will be considered so sincere for most people. I am talking about the European Basketball League Final. Work will stop and everyone will put on their best yellows and blues to see Maccabi Tel Aviv’s crucial moments.

I know it is supposed to be a very important event, but to be honest, I couldn’t care less. I am not a sports fan, and far from being a patriot of any country, so I was hoping that I could at least let my life move on while others stop theirs. However, my hopes were crushed earlier when the administrative manager of my radio course called, to let me know that today’s class was postponed to next Sunday.

Don’t get me wrong, I really do enjoy my course and would have loved for it to go on for ages, but this is just time being wasted. Today was supposed to be the final class, which would include some summary words from the course manager and a guest appearance of one of the station’s stars. It would also be the kick-off for the hard work we expect to have on our pilot before it is handed-in in two weeks time. This will also now be postponed. I really want to get this class over and done with.

Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it, except make good use of the peaceful time in the office while all my colleagues are out watching the game and get some work done. Maybe I’ll even get out of the office early or at least early enough to avoid the traffic that will be created by all the people rushing to victory celebrations, if there will be any.

Following my stress from a few days ago regarding my holiday plans, now things are finally falling into place. A plan is forming.

It goes like this:

21st June – Arriving at London Heathrow and staying in a B&B in West London. I think it’s the same one I stayed in with a friend four years ago. I found it through the same site, so it is quite likely. I have good memories from that B&B, so I do hope it is the same one.

24th June – My first day at Wireless Festival, including Graham Coxon, New Order, and a lot more.

25th June – Off to Yorkshire. I still don’t have accommodation sorted there, so I’m not sure what will happen. I want to see visit some friends, see York, and walk around the Dales.

28th June – Back to London and the same B&B. My mum will join me for the rest of my stay, which is going to be interesting… And in the evening, it’s Interpol and Coldplay. I’m really looking forward to this one. It will be a very busy day, and I hope to enjoy every second of it.

30th June – My second Wireless Festival date, including Kasabian. More special guests are still to be announced.

5th July – Flying back home with my mum. Hopefully after enjoying every minute of my holiday, seeing all my friends, listening to plenty of music, enjoying gorgeous weather and amazing sceneries, plenty of shopping and giving my mum the best birthday party ever.

6th July – Back to work. You can expect a very depressing post.

It seems that despite my initial plans, I may be stuck for a place to stay during my holiday. The friends that I was hoping to stay with are unavailable, and I may need to find another solution. This is a source of major stress for me at the moment, so I hope I’ll manage to sort it out soon.

Does anyone know of a good (and inexpensive) place to stay in or around London which will be available for a couple of weeks, starting 21st June?