I discovered a bunch of things about myself during my
travels in Europe in 2003. Here's a permanent reminder
to myself about some of them.
- I not only like being on my own these days,
it’s
a necessity for my happiness
- I really love museums and interesting art
- History and politics still fascinate me
- Discussions about politics and film with good red wine
and great food are still my favourite
- The right sort of music can make you feel good no matter
where you are
- I really do want a kid and probably soon
- I'm really looking forward to having a cat again; free
cute black kitten wanted...
- I loved my old job and I really do want something like
it again after all, but in the meantime, I have other options
- Even if I never get a fabulously amazing job again, I
could happily live a life that involved working periodically
so long as I got to travel like that every (European) summer.
- Expectations are what get me every time. I just have to
stop imagining how good the nightclub/drinks with friends/whatever
is going to be and then I won’t feel so let down when it
doesn’t materialise, or when the people I’m expecting
will call me don’t call me back.
- I’m apparently one-night stand material but not
second date material and definitely not relationship material
at this stage.
- But I can’t be too bad on first impressions, because
at least I had quite a few one night stands
- My thesis is slightly on the wrong track, but it’s
close to where it needs to be. My supervisor is definitely right
to keep using the term ‘language wars’ and I think
I’ll be able to throw myself into this properly again
soon.
- I have a lot more patience than I remembered. Or at least,
my patience has really improved and I like myself better with
patience.
- Some of the people I think are my friends are often not
my friends. I need to let them go.
- I crave the kind of light-hearted, gather regularly for
drinks community that I seem to read about regularly on your
various journals but I don’t think I’ll ever be
a part of those communities.
- I love language in all its forms
- I never ever want to work for Murdoch ever again
- I really hate the insecurity of freelancing
- A press pass is a wonderful thing
- I need wide streets with trees to make a city bearable
- I hate traffic
- Crowded cities make people rude
- People can be cruel, especially when they feel they have
no responsibility to you because they only just met you
- Other people are incredibly generous with their time,
money and intellect even to complete strangers
- Happiness is a night of museums surrounded by other interested
strangers
- Happiness is wild sex with a great kisser on the top deck
of a boat in the middle of the baltic sea.
- Happiness is sitting in the sun on the banks of the Tajo
with a good book
- Happiness is great food and great wine with new and old
friends in cosy houses
- Happiness is dancing to excellent music in clubs with
people you know (Family in Toledo, Roxy in Prague)
- Happiness is sunsets, water and trees
