500 Miles Plus

Few weeks into my new job at Aberdeen, I decide to drive my car down (or rather up) to Aberdeen in Scotland. I'd tried unsuccessfully to commute by public transport or use taxi's but I have to say my work place in Aberdeen is unfortunately placed in a village in disguise, in disguise you say? Well it an industrial area with houses built nearby and 10mins drive from the airport, however it has terrible transport links and being a Londoner, I was not a happy camper. Hence I decided to take my car with me to commute within Aberdeen.

I headed out on my trusted 1 litre engine Yaris at about 10am in the morning, from my flat in east London, with a full tank of petrol, an extra keg just in case I run out miles from the nearest station, my sat nav and my iPod as companion. I'd promised to keep my siblings in London updated of my progress as I was driving alone (either that or they send out the national guard if 30mins go by without contact, they actually would do that; they'd just wait 30 more mins).

Listening to LBC 97.3 has I drove, I tried to take in some of the sites, so I could regale my readers about my journey. I drove past the sign for a town called Stilton (Yes, the Cheese).  I made my first stop 3 hours into my drive at the North Yorkshire/County Durham border. Had a moderately manageable sandwich and got a starbucks coffee on ice and stocked up on red bull, water and gum. I IM'ed my siblings to update, refuelled my car and headed back out.

After driving another hour or so, my radio stopped picking up LBC, I plugged in my iPod and sang along to the songs (with a wonderful voice, if I do say so myself) ok my singing voice is atrocious (don't judge me). I crossed the Scottish border at 15.01pm. By this point I’d made a 10mins stop and consumed my coffee and half of my red bull/water/ice mixture.

I got lost at this point because I took a wrong turn for the services, ended up in a town called Tranet, where fortunately I was able to find local services; I rested up for another 30mins, ate and continued on my journey. Back on the motorway, I passed a sign for a town called Dollar (wonder if they spend pounds there?). Had to drive past Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Fife and such, because of the big cities in Scotland and Aberdeenshire is one of the furthest. At this point I had switched off my iPod and started having a conversation with myself (not that I hear voices in my head or anything). I reached Aberdeenshire at 19.10pm and Aberdeen city at 19.36 (drive like the wind, vroom).

Pulled up at my rented place at 20.18, to say I was worn out would be a crime against me. I’d driven a manual car for 10 hours (granted I was in 5th gear most of the time), although the sights where lovely I couldn't enjoy it as my options where watch the road or look at the sites, doing the drive alone was not ideal and I would definitely advice against it. However that is one experience I will not be forgetting soon.

Me In My Old Age

I often wonder in my old age, if I would be hunted by my memories

Memories of loved ones gone and love lost

Memories of life un-lived and life I missed

Will I question choices I made and choices unmade?

Question things left undone and things I have done

If I look back on my life, will I feel I lived every moment completely?

In my old age, will I smile with wrinkles all over my face?

Each line representing a decision unmade, a love I’d lost, a path not taken.

I see a picture of me in my old age, an old woman with a life wholly lived.
Will what i see, be a true reflection of the life i will live.
Of me in my old age.

2 Days Not 9 Hours to Aberdeen

I'm starting a new job in Aberdeen next week. Kind of lovely to get the role, granted it’s a contract position and it’s a little awkward to travel to (OK a lot awkward, seeing as I live in London in the south east of England and Aberdeen is all the way in Scotland) which is over 9 hours drive. However I saw it as an opportunity and went for it. 

So here goes, on my initial trip to Aberdeen for the job interview, I decided for several reasons (money and convenience) to go by coach. The coach trip took 12hrs (yes half a day, I kid you not). However as I was travelling overnight Sunday to Monday it was beneficial as I got to sleep on the coach arriving at Aberdeen mid day on Monday. 
My interview was on Monday afternoon, and the timing worked great. However after being on the coach overnight, I kind of didn’t smell so good. Never fear smarty pants here (<me) had prepared for this, I had packed my interview clothes along with some on the go toiletries. So when I got to Aberdeen I made a beeline for the nearest mall, which was fortunately for me annexed to the coach station. This was no basic mall, this mall was newly done and to a very high standard if I might add (O yea!).  I went to first to the ladies and brushed my teeth (you do not want to know the weird looks I got doing this at the ladies sink), then I went into a stall and cleansed with wipes (several and several wipes), came back out to put on my makeup with the aid of the huge and properly lighted bathroom mirrors. My next stop was a ladies clothing store, a brief browse and pick of a couple of items from the rack and I made my way to the fitting rooms.  I went into the fitting room in jeans, a t-shirt and plimsolls and came out in a dress suit, tights, heels and a whiff of “very valentino” perfume (booyah!!!).  I handed my quick pick store clothes to the attendant and headed for the coach station lockers, stored my luggage jumped in taxi and headed for my interview. 

Got there early with time to spare, the interview went great (must have, got the job) and I scored points when I responded to the interviewer’s question of how I travelled to Aberdeen. Back at the mall after another cab ride, I sit to have Mexican for lunch (areeba) and treated myself to a cocktail [which was richly deserved]. A couple of  hours later, lunch done, window shopping done, changed into regular clothes and took a leisurely walk back to the coach station. Yes another overnight trip; with me sweetly snoring most of the journey back to London. 

To recuperate, I had long soak, with a cool glass of water chasing down a full English breakfast and just as I was retiring for a nap, I received the call that I’d got the job. Suffice to say I took the nap with a big smile on my face.

With HOPE

Hope is that which keeps you standing, after everything around you has collapsed and everyone else has given up and crumbled,

Hope is that which keeps me standing; I will keep standing until the moment my heart withers and my body gives out,

And In that moment I will smile my biggest smile, for i will know beyond the shadow of a doubt, 

I have achieved my DREAM; I have fulfilled my ultimate GOAL by GOD. 

I have lived with HOPE.