This will be my last daily blog for a while.

I’m a competitive little vegemite and hate giving up on a challenge - but to be honest? Since the day I started this blog in April 2006 (with the exception of my New Zealand holiday last year) I have blogged every single day. Hell, I’ve technically already completed Blog 365. I have no shame in throwing in the towel on this one.

I value you guys too much to post crap.
I’ve got loads of things to say but not much energy to post them.
I need to take a wee break.

(Ha! A wee break.)

It’s time to take a step back.

I’ve been tagged today by the lovely Mrs Higrins, and since I’m trying to keep myself distracted and focused all at once, I’m up for the challenge. Feel free to yoink for yourself, if it tickles your fancy!

4 Things I did 10 years ago (1998):

1. Was in ninth grade of high school.
2. Dyed my (already blonde) hair with bleach, resulting in really light colour for a few months, and then dark, dark roots that are still with me to this day. Stupid self.
3. I began working in my first job; bet you never knew I started out as a Maccas chick!
4. Began dating my ex-boyfriend, a relationship which would last three (long) years.

4 Things I did 5 years ago (2003)

1. Studied at university, and making the decision to take educational psychology electives. (This was the choice that eventually led me into teaching.)
2. Was in the ‘early years’ of the Jason saga, lots of warm fuzzies involved.
3. Worked at Jeanswest, selling clothing and loving every minute of it. Except my sore feet.
4. Began saving and planning for my January 2004 trip to Europe!

4 Things I did yesterday:

1. Worked a late shift at work, and won a Marks & Spencer gift voucher. 10 quid!
2. Found out that we have been granted approval to house a cat in our apartment.
3. Won an Ebay auction for a pair of purple and white Havaiana thongs/flip flops.
4. Went to bed early, and snored like an elephant.

4 TV shows I love to watch:

1. Grey’s Anatomy. I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I love it. Sometimes it sucks, but I still love it.
2. The X-Files. Geeky but oh, so fabulous.
3. House. (I’m secretly in love with Hugh Laurie.)
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. About to start re-watching all of those again.

4 Things I love to do:

1. Annoy Jason.
2. Read blogs & search for kitties on the web.
3. TV show re-runs.
4. Sleep. Need I say more?

I may not be a fan of buying bottled water, but when this advertisement came on the telly today, I sat tapping my toes and giggling through the whole thing.

(Obviously I’m a nerd. But dude, that song is awesome. And that’s totally how I dance.)

Something caught my eye on my blog dashboard today when I was logging on:

Akismet has caught 10,014 spam for you since you first installed it.

Over ten thousand spam comments? Damn! I know that’s nothing in the grand scheme of bloggers and their amounts of spam, but considering I’ve not been using the Akismet program for very long, that’s pretty scary.

(Imagine if I got paid $1 for every spam comment? I’d be able to buy a pony!)

The spam program has it’s downfalls, like how it never fails to eat the comments from certain bloggy friends, despite me going in and de-spamming them. I usually still have to go and rescue them from between the offers for Viagra and Young Russian Brides. But I’ll tell you what, you miss it when it’s not there. A few weeks ago when I updated my version of Wordpress, I forgot to re-activate the Akismet plugin, and in one day? I must have had about sixty spam comments that I then had to wade through and delete.

I guess the thing that really gets me about spam comments is that they’re just so pushy. They don’t ask, or offer to pay you for ‘advertising’ their penis enlarging product. Nope, they just rudely announce themselves on your blog, taking over and making you resort to drastic measures to combat their advances. It actually reminds me a little of those rude people who catch the underground who, despite the obvious fact that you’ve been waiting longer than they have for the train, shove in front of you into the last tiny bit of room in the carriage.

(Of course, my drastic measures in that kind of situation are to simply launch myself in after them, with a pointy elbow in their rib direction. Oops, sorry! Little crowded in here, innit?)

Ah, the dreaded spam. How has yours been lately?

Back in 2000, I joined a band message board. I’d heard a song on the radio, fallen in love with it, and went home to google them to find out more information. Turns out they had a message board for the music-lovers. That board was responsible for bringing me to a load of people; some of whom are still around, all these years later.

The first time I met Stefi in person was while I was in Florence in 2004, in the middle of our whirlwind European trip. When she moved to Australia to study, we met up a few times in Sydney, keeping in touch all the while. My jet-setting friend is now in Dublin, so flew down for the weekend. We caught up again today, which was good fun.

We headed out for Thai food; highlights? Coconut rice & Thai pancakes. Green ones.

After that, it was down to Greenwich for fruit smoothies and relaxing in the park.

Followed by some time wandering around Canary Wharf, wander wander wander.

Finishing up at home with a game of good old fashioned Monopoly.

See those hotels? They’re all mine. (I totally won, by the way.)

I’ve come to a sad conclusion lately; when it comes to shoes? I cannot wear heels.

I love them, definitely. They look so gorgeous, and I’m envious of people who can wear them all day long and be comfortable. For work, it’s always flats for me. I’ve tried the heel thing once or twice, but after just standing on the train to begin my commute? I was totally done.

I should add that I am a former shoe-addict. I used to have an entire closet load of pretty shoes, but bit the bullet and sold/gave loads of them away. And whilst wearing heels back home, things were fairly simple. I’d wear them to the car, drive to the restaurant/occassion, hobble around there, and then drive all the way back home. Here in London, it’s public transport all the way - and let me tell you, heels are not practical where I live.

I brought one pair of strappy sandal heels across the water with me, because they’re my old faithfuls - I wear them to weddings, to dinners, events like that. I’ve bought a few pairs whilst being over here quite cheaply, but the fact of the matter is, I can’t wear them. I walk like a giant, they hurt my feet and I just want to take them off and go barefoot.

I’ve seen people walk like ducks in heels, and I’ve seen others walk perfectly. My walk is kind of a cross between a shuffle, wobble and teeter. Add the pained expressions on my face, and I don’t look like any of the girls in the shoe catelogues, that’s for sure.

I think it’s time I invest in some nice summery flats; so I’m requesting some suggestions. I’d love a few pairs that are comfortable enough to maybe wear to work, but also nice enough to wear out to dinners. Ideas?

After work today, Jase and I met up and headed down south to have dinner with some friends of ours who offered to cook us dinner! Considering it was Thai food and a) I love Thai food, and b) I love board games, and c) I like our friends, it sounded like the perfect evening.

And perfect it was! Nothing like home-made Pad Thai, banoffee pie and fresh fruit, whilst happily bantering over a game of good old fashioned Scrabble. (And in case you were wondering, I totally won.)

Any of my blogging friends who have added me on Facebook will probably know that I am a Scrabulous nut. I love playing a few rounds before work, then during lunch, then just before heading to bed. I’ve always loved board games, and Mum initially got me onto it, but now everyone is fair game! Lara? Yep, we’re playing. Swiss? Yep, we’re playing too! Noelle? Possibly the world’s best Scrabble player. Enny? She is about to beat me, close game. Stacy? Girl’s whipping my arse!

I love the game, even if I do suck sometimes. And that’s why I love my Scrabble threadless tee so much. Fits me perfectly, in both senses of the word.

(Pooper should totally have been allowed tonight. Nobody believed me when I claimed it to be a word. Party poopers. Ha! I would’ve done awesome with that one . . . )

To the ladies of London,

I know you’re excited about the warm weather, but really - short shorts as business attire? Teamed with skanky heels and midriff jackets?

I just don’t get it.

Even if I lost half my body weight and looked like a twig, you still wouldn’t find me wearing butt-shorts to work. I’m fine sticking with my daggy work wardrobe, thankyouverymuch.

As always, there is an appropriate LOLcat for everything;

As I write this post, I can hear a bird chirping outside of my window. Scratch that, it’s actually birds (plural!) chirping outside of my window. CHIRPING!

Yes, Spring has finally arrived in London, with a vengeance.

Last month it was snowing; heavy, bucketloads of snow. Last week I was still in my layered clothing, carrying my trusty jacket with me at all times. This week I’m sweating it out in my long pants and swiftly realising that I am in dire need of some short-sleeved work t-shirts. When I was packing to move over here in December, it was the middle of bloody winter; so cool clothing was the last thing on my mind. Psh, I was moving to England. It’s always cold over there!

The last two mornings mark the first time that I’ve headed off to work without even bothering to take a coat with me. And (gasp!) there has been sunshine. All day long. Not a cloud in the sky. All of a sudden, there are ice creams trucks jingling in the streets, and let’s not even mention the roller bladers! Where the heck did they come from?

Believe it or not, coming from Australia, I actually quite like escaping the heat. We have days so hot that you literally feel the skin melting off your body, so moving over here to cooler climates never bothered me. I must say I’m a little sad to be feeling the warmth, but you never know; give it a few days, and it’ll no doubt be grey and miserable all over again.

I’m doing my bit to get out and enjoy the weather though. As soon as Jase walks in the door, I’m stealing him and we’re going for a walk outside - it’s still light, there’s a nice cool breeze, and I just can’t be bothered walking alone on my treadmill.

Hopefully the birds will have shut up by the time we get home. Noisy little buggers.

I’ve recently discovered that I’m an ‘all or nothing’ kind of person. I’m either completely one thing, or I’m completely something else. The ’somewhere in between’ sentiments have disappeared, and now I seem to be much quicker at jumping to conclusions and deciding what I am. Let me give you some examples:

I’m really, really cold.
OR
I’m so hot, that I’m sweating up a storm.

I can be optimistic and really look forward to things, even months or years away.
OR
I can be disappointed easily, and start wallowing in the negatives all too easily.

I’m motivated, dedicated, know what I want and know what I have to do. And do it.
OR
I’m not in the mood. And probably won’t be tomorrow. Or this whole week. Sorry.

I’m happy and content.
OR
I’m mopey and whingy. (You all knew that was coming, yes?)

I don’t know which is worse; being ‘all or nothing’ or being ’somewhere in between’. Each has its downfall. The extremes are, well, extreme - and I never did cope well with being in the middle, seemingly goal-less and floating along without any certainty.

I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Which category do you fall into today?