Kitty-sitting

Hearing: Harry Potter (dvd playing in the background)

Recently when 2 of my friends went away on a 9 day trip they asked me if I could look after their little baby - a kitten by the name of Cedes (as in Mercedes). You don't get to keep pets in company accommodation (they were doing it by stealth - they had snuck her in one day) and growing up with pets, I missed it a lot and was over the moon to take her. She was so affectionate, and settled in straight away, even my flatmate, who was hesitant to take her in, fell in love with her and invented a new house rule, whatever comes into this house stays in this house....LOL. As you can see, she was a popular little thing and A- couldn't get enough of her.



VP

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A drive through Colombo

Hearing: Crew chatting away

Good Morning all,

Its 6.50am here in CMB and I'm in the crew bus on my way back to the airport heading home, outside the sky is a light grey and its cloudy. Since its one of the more difficult layovers due to the early timing and short layover time, some crew have opted to sleep in their seat for the duration of the ride back to the A/P...wish I could catch some zzz's too since I've only had bout 4-5hrs of sleep but the amount of coffee I've had is working against me.

For those who don't know, CMB has a very hot/humid tropical like climate and therefore is perfect for lush green vegetation to thrive, as you drive along you can catch glimpses of green fields and coming from the sandpit its a nice change in scenery.

Since its early morning here and a weekday, like anywhere else in the world people are awake and out heading for work, to find work or to find a way to survive and there are kids in white uniforms heading off to school. Overhead electricity cables criss cross from one side of the road to the other as does the traffic underneath, a chaos of tuk-tuks, buses, motorcycles, trucks cars and bicycles.

As we drive through the streets I can see modern stone shopfronts side by side with rundown 3 walled, tin roofed and garage door fronted shops next to an open lot with rusted shipping containers - a small shrine - a flash HSBC bank - a small alleyway leading to someone's home - pizza hut - Toyota car yard - construction works - clothes shops - broken down abandoned homes - fenced in nice homes surrounded by greenery and 2 cars in the driveway - a row of wooden 2x2 stores - a small hut hidden among foliage in a field of green and surrounded by tall lanky palms - a man in a sarong standing at the 2nd floor window of his home (still being built) looking out at the bustle of the morning and sipping from his mug.

The people that my airline flies in and out of Sri Lanka tend to be working class, are very sweet in nature and have a dignity about them despite their humble situations...I have seen more beggars in Brussels than here. On board they take whatever you give them and the only thing they demand are drinks which they ask for tentively and are very happy when they get it. When they leave they say thankyou and goodbye to every crew they see with a genuine smile. On the way here I accidentally missed saying my adieus to one lady who came closer to me and waved so I would notice her and say goodbye to her too...I have to say that really made my smile grow wider. They really are a heartwarming people.

VP

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A completely bungled up wedding attendance...

Hearing:

Boy am I p*ssed off! For this month I requested 4 days off over my friends wedding so I could go and join her celebrations, but do you think I got it? No. For one crummy request per month I think its quite rude not being able to give it to us. What I got instead were 2 days off before the actual wedding date - 12th May - and 2 days after with a Peshawar night flight in the middle. How annoying is that??

I thought ok maybe if you explained the situation the guy in charge of crew roster's he might be able to do something...HA! I told him its my friends wedding, I have the ticket and visa and I didn't get the days off, maybe he could take me off the Peshawar flight and give me something else instead of the days off - something - anything but no...he didn't want to, just kept coming up with excuses every time I suggested a different option. And the thing is I know he helps others out all the time, so he can make changes but he probably just didn't like the look of me or something or maybe he was in a bad mood I don't know.

So now my friend is upset with me cuz she was looking forward to me being there and I'm in a foul mood. One of my friends suggested I call in sick and just go but I wont, I cant its not in me to do something like that but honestly I really feel like doing it just to spite them.

:(
VP

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Bangkok reflections

Hearing: Because of you - Kelly Clarkson (MTV Asia)

Today was spent wandering around BKK. Inthe morning i headed of to the Golden Mountain because i wanted to go somewhere i knew would be peaceful. I was early enough and made it to the very top this time before they had to close it. The view of the city was unobstructed and the golden top shone brilliantly in the sun.

I took my time walking up stopping to look out and take in the view, listen to the birds and just soak it in. At the top i stood at the windows for ages just looking out at the mix of homes and wondering about the lives of those it sheltered.

It certainly was a day of reflection. After climbing back down the mountain, i visited the temple and sat there for a while just thinking and feeling. It must sound strange but i felt like there was a change in the air, i felt less restless and a bit more at peace than i have been feeling for a long while now. Afterwards i took a walk just along random streets, not really caring where i went but feeling at with being where i was. I passed many run down and grimy shops and garages, some open but most closed and peeked inside at the people and their business. I think the owners must have thought i was lost or nuts but they were sweet and took time to look up from their work and smile, a very heart warming gesture i was more than happy to return.

Maybe the change is just in me, feeling different now that ive managed to feel comfortable in several foreign cities. I remember a conversation J, my friend in the UK and i had about how travel changes a person. He said that when people tell you to travel, its the best thing you'll ever do etc, sometimes you think they are exaggerating but actually doing it, you come to realise how right they are and if anything they didnt push you enough!! I couldnt have put it better myself.

VP

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