quoth_ravynne

Just before I left New Zealand I invested in a small, pretty ring, which happens to contain a tiny diamond and fits nicely on my ring finger. The purpose of doing such a thing was indeed to give the false impression that I was engaged (and thus *obviously* not travelling alone through some of the dodger parts I would like to see... ;-). As I rather liked it and don't really give a damn what people think I just wore it all the time cause I liked it. It wasn't until early last year when somebody I would consider almost a friend asked about my fiancee that I realised other people actually do notice and care, and after that I stopped wearing it.

Today, I had to move seats several times in order to find a functioning power point on the train, and ended up sitting at a table across from a bloke who looked reasonable enough. I continued typing away with my headphones on after a brief apology for interrupting him (sleeping). After a while he commented (while I was wearing headphones) on another ring I happen to be wearing today, and then on all of them (three) and asked if they meant anything. One of them actually does a bit, but I wasn't really interested in talking about it, so I said 'No, I just like them'. I guess he took this as an encouraging sign and pursued conversation. I tried to be boring, but apparently failed, and, as always, it came to work. "I'm a nanny". "Oh you like kids then?" "Eh, they're okay. Better than other jobs I don't like." "Don't you want kids of your own?" "Hell no. I like my life." "What?! You're strange, you really don't want kids? Why not?" "Umm I know *exactly* how much work they are and have no desire to have children. I like my sleep, thank-you-very-much. They're fine, as long as I can hand them back at some point." Man shakes his head and lapses into silence, apparently at a loss for words.

Feeling vaguely insulted I put my headphones back on and return to my typing. After sending a text on my phone I tuck it under my clothes on my shoulder (my solution to the lack of pockets on dresses is putting it securely under a bra strap), only to realise he is talking to me again. After a moment I reluctantly remove my headphones again (I would like to point out, by the way, that my head phones have "I can't" and "hear U" written on them...) and discover that I am being told that I should put it in my pocket because the radiowaves from it shouldn't be next to my skin. "It's hardly radioactive" I respond, replacing my headphones. Half a minute later he is trying to get my attention again. (paraphrasing here) "You will get cancer from putting your cellphone on your skin by your heart". "I'm going to die of something, it might as well be cancer". Man lapses into defeated silence.

I somehow felt the whole time that I was being sussed out as potential wife material (interest in the meaning of my rings, views on children etc). If I had still been wearing that ring I suspect that I could have avoided a great amount of this ordeal. I HATE feeling objectified. I would rather a man just came over and asked if I were single and wanted to have sex with him. I mean really. I find being weighed up as potential wife or whatever entirely creepy. No, my rings don't mean anything. It doesn't mean I'm a) Interested in finding somebody b) Interested in you c) EVER interested getting married or making babies. I also find being considered 'strange' because I don't want children as ridiculously rude. Just because I'm a woman I'm supposed to want to procreate? Eugh.

Next time, the one on my right hand totally is an engagement ring. It is just a cultural thing to wear it on that hand... I shouldn't have to lie to be treated respectfully! FUCKING CHAUVINISTIC DICKHEADED MEN I HATE YOU ALL! Ahem. I don't hate all men. Just those ones.

Lying in the jacuzzi sounds pretty awesome, so I go to do that. Nope, it's colder than the swimming pool. I decide to lie by the pool in the sun. Nope. Fabric on the loungers is coming away from the frame, bad choice. I decide to go back inside. Trip over the stairs, everything goes flying, sunglasses, cellphone, clothes, and with an icy glass of water over the top for good measure. Something tells me that the world doesn't want me to be in this house at the moment.

Oh yeah, I got a new job, we're on holiday in the Caribbean at the moment, hence the jacuzzi and swimming pool, and the icy water. I'm not just getting delusional in the grey English winter.)

Hello Livejournal people!

I have actually been online and reading LJ, I've just been too busy to post!

I'm in France at the moment... no idea where I was last time I posted. Possibly hating my last job in London. Maybe on my failed job trial in Turkey. Really, not a clue!!! But I am living in a castle in the French countryside at the moment, which is pretty cool. Actually I have a slight feeling of deja-vu, maybe I have told you all about the castle.

Since then I have been to Dinard, in Bretange (Brittany) on the North Coast, which was nice, very pretty! And it had a piratical feel to it, sandy beach surrounded by rocky points with little sandy coves and houses on the cliffs above, which you just *know* have to have a tunnel down into the caves!

Anyway, I've forgotten what the point of this was all about!

Hooray and hello from France?! Yay!!!

Today I finally managed to see the travel nurse and get made immune to things. Hooray no Typhoid for me :-D But it's too late for Rabies or Hep B jabs, so apparently I just have to be good. Damn.

I have organised my insurance (yesterday) and today found out I will probably be there a couple of weeks longer than expected today, so need to extend it. Well I'm already covered for the first week of October, but that was adding one month after the end of my intended working period, so now I need another couple of weeks. Damnit I want to meander my way back to the UK, not fly back!!!

Have done shopping for lots of dresses and tops to wear in heat which also cover my shoulders (they might be secular but the older generation of Muslims aren't so keen on short-skirt, breast-baring white women, but ones who cover their shoulders, wear knee-length skirts and show some respect win points). I have also acquired some sandals, which may or may not hurt my feet with their epic flatness, but they're pretty :-) I have one pair in pink and one in purple, yay!

Ummm that's about it really. Hooray more travelling!

Excited!!!

Unless something goes wrong in the next week, it appears I will be spending my summer in Turkey! Yay for sunshine and warmth! I am rather excited by it all :-D

Yay paid holiday!!!

I'm considering the ways to improve my trip, which is to say deciding which route I should take back towards the UK; definitely some sort of exciting holiday is order. I'm looking at trekking holidays, but they're pretty expensive... but Cappadocia on horseback.....

Oh decisions. I have months to decide anyways, September I will be coming back this way. More urgently I need to sort out some travel insurance and vaccinations, but I need to speak to my mother first, I don't actually know what jabs I got as a child, and which I will need to get before I go, which is only a week away. Also I need to go shopping tomorrow to buy some clothing for summer in Turkey. And sandals. I think I may need more than one pair.

Okay, time for sleeping and or calling my mother.

The last few weeks have been a bit crazy and epic, especially the last 10 days or so. And I had many things I wanted to write about, but no time to do anything. Now I have plenty of time and I can't remember any of the things I was thinking about. So typical of me, I can be such an air-head! In one ear, out the other.

Hells yes!
Helps if you don't believe in ghosts I suppose.