A cloud before the sun

I'm worried. Again, yes. What about this time, you ask?

In a little over a week, I turn 22. For the past four years, I would celebrate my birthday at home, after which I'd head off to Leuven for a party with 15 to 20 of my friends. This year, I have nothing planned and the more I think about it, the more I realise that I will probably spend my birthday alone this year. No family, no friends, just me.

For the first time in two weeks, I really feel alone.

Handywoman

Yesterday I went round to a friend's house and helped clean up their front yard, to be specific, I painted their front yard wall. It was awesome. There's something about doing manual labour which is so endlessly gratifying.
After a long day yesterday, I got up at an ungodly hour this morning to go into work. It was... interesting. I am sure I'll do good in this job, but I doubt I'm going to last the entire two months. I cannot motivate myself for a 12-hour workday 6 days a week, and certainly not for two months. So when I hit my goal of £2000, I'll probably quit and enjoy my holiday before school starts.
Speaking of school, before Monday, I will work on my dissertation. I want to at least have something done, as the deadline is swiftly approaching and I cannot afford to fail, as it would mean losing an entire year. So that's the plan for today/this weekend (got a trip to the forest with church people tomorrow, though I hope it rains a little less). For now, I am going to the bank, as I finally got a letter sent to me, which means I have proof of address and can apply for a bank account. Win!

Kyle

Last night, I had another couchsurfer over. He technically did not surf my couch, as he had to leave at 5am in the morning and we both deemed it ludicrous to get some sleep in for a tiny little while like that. Instead, we had malibu, candles and Disturbia (which was dead-scary, by the way). There were many hints of interesting conversations we only swiftly brushed over, ready to dive in there next time we meet. Whenever that will be. Til that day (if it ever comes), I will be reading yet another blog and acquire yet another bit of taste of those places in the world I am yet to visit, eagerly drinking in every detail and storing it in my mind for further reference.

London

Went to pick up my bike in London. Was bored most of the time (as some may have noticed), but it was alright, nevertheless. However, now I am faced with a dilemma: where do I put my bike. In the 'backyard', making it a complete hassle to get it in and out every time I leave the house? On the sidewalk, where people can steal or break it? In the alleyway, where it is safer, yet still not as safe as the backyard?

I really don't have a clue. On a brighter note, though: biking to town takes me 15 minutes. Biking to work should take me about 25, which is 20 minutes shorter than taking the bus. Food for thought.

Getting another couchsurfer in for the night tomorrow, after a day of training for my work. Should be interesting - he's got a bachelor's degree in writing!

Earning big bucks

I got offered the job and gladly accepted! Basically, we work on commission, earning £35 on every package we sale (telecom-package). This means, that if we sell two a day, we earn £400 a week. But there is more: if you sell 12 packages in a week (2 a day), you get a £100 bonus! (If you sell 6, you get a £50 bonus). As I am good with words and people, I am quite confident I will be able to sell this amount of packages, resulting in a total revenue of £4000 in two months!

The downside? We work from 8am til 5pm every day, Monday through Saturday (though we get shorter days on Tuesday and Saturday). But as it is only for two months, I am sure I will survive!

Little Leprechaun

People keep asking whether I'm from Ireland or from "over the water". Though a Scouser actually said I sounded a bit scouse today. Made my day. When I told him I was aiming at scouse, but missed it and ended up Irish, he told me the memorable words:

"Just be yourself, love. Don't try to talk to someone else, just talk with your own accent."

Oh, I do love the North.

Church, part two.

My walk to church leads me through Wavertree Athletics Park. It's a lovely park, with large grass playing fields on which dogs and children roam freely. Yes mom, you heard that right, dogs are actually allowed to run around without a leash here. Last week I met a lovely lady on this path, who was so kind as to show me the way to church and turned out to be the new resident of the former church leader's house. Or something like that. It felt like the so-many-eth confirmation of my belonging to this community and place and like I wrote in my blogpost last week, the church was lovely. Today was my second visit and it just warms my heart to be in that building amongst such friendly, open and mildly crazy people. I already felt part of the group and this was only my second visit! I must say, through most of the service, I had a big grin on my face because I felt so good and so uplifted by it. It was so refreshing to hear the teachers in the front voice those thoughts and feelings I have had inside of me for so long. I knew my move would mean a new start, both in daily life as in my spiritual life, but this I could not expect. The dust has been blown away from the tepid furnishing of my life. I have found myself again. Strange, but good.

Might have to work a little on my overwhelming-ness though. Starting to scare people. Whoops.