CAT'S EYES

This spot is dedicated to the world and how I see it.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

EARTHQUAKES
28 February 2008

I have never ever experienced an earthquake before - but in the last 2 months I have experienced 2! I have always been sort of scared about them, but still curiously been wondering how they feel like. After all, it's something quite fascinating about moving tectonic plates. Huge powers underneath the surface of the earth, constantly present, but which we never think about it.

Greece, January 2008. My Greek friends have told me about their earthquakes, but that nothing really happens, when they happen. But still, I was a wee bit worried when going here. Not really worried, but nevertheless, I was thinking about the risk. On an Athenian hill, at midnight we were discussing them and what to do when they happen. And, voilá, at 7:14 in the morning, I was thrown out of bed by a 6.4 on the Richterscale quake! How did that happen?! Did a Greek God hear me? And it was rather scary. 15 seconds shaking of the flat you are in and a deep noise from the earth is a very weird experience. It made me feel physically sick. But most of all, it makes you feel so small. And you get incredibly much respect for Mother Earth.

Wales, February 2007. Would you expect an earthquake in Cardiff? Na, not really! But never say never. I have lived almost 7 years in the UK and never experienced one. But only four hours after having arrived there this time, the biggest earthquake in 25 years hit (5.4 on the Richerscale)! What is that? Do I attract them?! 00:57, I was asleep, woke up and saw my Hilton hotel room moving... This one was not at all as scary as the one in Athens, and I fell asleep pretty quickly afterwards.

Friday, February 08, 2008

I AM BACK!
8 February 2008

Back in the two senses of the word: First, I have been back in the world where I feel I belong for a year now. Exactly. Mainland Europe, or whatever you like to call it. After 6 years in the UK, I returned back to my side of the pond a year ago. It was a terribly hard decision, but I had to do it. And so I did. And here I am, one year later.

In Brussels. Single (still). Nice, cushy and good job. And most important of all. Happy.
Happy happy happy!

Why? Because I have found back to myself. Yahhhh!

It's been the most difficult year of my life and at points I was seriosly wondering how I would manage. Boyfriend broke up with me. 3-month contract. Back in Brussels where I had lived once before, hating it. Godammit. What did I do to deserve that?

But, dear friends, things DO change. Oh yes, they do! And after a while you start realising how inhibiting certain aspects of your life were. Like boyfriends who you love, but who give you wibes that you are not good the way you are and that you need to change some small little things with yourself in order to be good enough. GOD, why didn't I see these signals?

But this year is different and there's no looking back anymore. And this is something I feel so deeply it's difficult to explain.

Now life's treating me so well. I am happy with most things and spend much of my days smiling. I meet genuinely nice people and people who make me laugh. So simple.

Simple. As they say, the beauty is the detail.
Keep things simple, take a step back and have a cup of tea and things will be alriiiigght!