Important facts vol.4

Angličania milujú čierne kožené sedačky. To je veľmi dôležitý fakt, vieme? Keď som sem prišla a začala pracovať v našej firme, hrozilo mi, že sa budem sťahovať do Birminghamu. A tak som začala hľadať byt, nezariadený, nábytok mi nevošiel do lodných kufrov, čo som ťahala cez Kanál. Skúste sa pozrieť sem. Vidíte to?

Englih people love black leather sofas. That is very important to know, right? When I moved to the UK and started working for our company, I was supposed to move to Birmingham. So I was looking for a flat, obviously. Unfurnished, cause my furniture didn't fit in the luggages I dragged across the Chanel. Try to have a look here. Do you see that?

ČIERNA KOŽENÁ SEDAČKA A SKLENÝ STOLÍK! Takmer všade. Som sama, na koho táto kompozícia volá "som slobodný, 40+, bývam sám, kľudne si zapáľte a ponúknite sa, pivká sú v chladničke".

BLACK LEATHER SOFA AND A GLASS TABLE! Almost everywhere. Is it just me to whom composition like that says "I'm single male, 40+, I live alone, please feel free to smoke and help yourself to a beer".

A túto úžasnú ponuku som našla v nejakých novinách, čo ležali vo vlaku. No nekúp to! Nie, fakt nemám rada čierne kožené sedačky.

I have found this jewel in some newspapers left in the train. Great deal! No, I really don't like black leather sofas.

Čo vy a sklené stolíky? A čierne kožené sedačky?

What about you and glass tables? Black leather sofas?

Old shoes, a.k.a. important facts vol.3

But this is a real important fact, mmmmkay?
Have you ever thought that throwing your old shoes to a rubbish bin is not enough? Have you ever wondered if there is another option for your unwanted shoes? Sure, for shoes that still looks great you have (at least in England) many charity shops which would be happy to re-sell your shoes. But what to do with the ones which are broken/worn out? Could those be of any help to anyone?

YES! There is an amazing project called Shoe Biz going on between UNICEF and Clarks.

I have read about it in our church newsletter. It's a shame it's not advertised more, no posters in the store, no leaflets....but it works. I have tried ;)

Donate your unwanted/worn out/broken shoes for a good purpose :

"Help Shoe Biz and UNICEF to reach even more children by donating your old or unwanted shoes at your nearest Clarks store. Your shoes will help to change children's lives."

Read more here.

Lately

Posledné dva mesiace som zasa veľa dochádzala do Londýna. Tu je aspoň pár fotiek.

Lately, I  have been very busy. I have been commuting to London a lot....again. Here is how it looks like.

Káviškovali sme na 40tke.

The best coffee place in London is on floor 40.

Vidíte to lietadlo?

Do you see the plane?

Minule sa mi podarilo uchmatnúť stolík pri okne.

The other day I had a desk by the window.

Milujem pracovať v tejto kancelárii, i keď to znamená vstávať o pol šiestej ráno a stráviť takmer 4 hodiny denne vo vlaku. Čo vy, máte radi vaše pracovisko?

I love working in this office. Even though it means I have to get up at 5.30 and spend almost 4 hours per day in train. What about you, do you like the place where you work?

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Stonehenge

Už som vám rozprávala, ako sme sa šli pozrieť na Stonehenge? Už je to hrozne dávno, Pán Fish ešte robil u nás, a ako dnes si pamätám jeho výrok: "Je to zdieranie. Ale keď už tam budete, choďte sa pozieť do Salisbury." Vtedy som netušila, akú vzácnu radu mi dal.

Did I tell you how we went to Stonehenge? It was ages ago, at that time Mr. Fish was still working with me and he told me "It's a rip off, once you're there go to Salisbury." At that point, I didn't understand what a valuable advice he gave me.

Snáď každý vie, čo Stonehenge je. Mysteriózny a logiku popierajúci triumf architektúry sa datuje 3500 rokov späť. Stavba bola postavená v rozmedzí 1500 rokov a jej účel zostáva naďalej zahalený rúškom tajomstva. Musela som to vidieť. A bola som veľmi sklamaná. Poprvé, vstupné je 8 libier. Hmmmm. Podruhé, návštevníci maju dovolené chodiť iba po chodníku, ktorý sa vinie okolo kameňov v asi 50 metrovej vzdialenosti. Zvládli sme to zhruba za 15 minút, vzhľadom na to, že sa rozpršalo. Na fotkách môžte vidieť sami, ako ďaleko od kameňov je dovolené ísť.

Everyone knows Stonehenge, the mysterious and logic defying triumphs of architecture. It dates 3500 years back, was built in three phases over 1500 years and nobody really knows the true purpose of these monolithic stones. I had to see that. What a disappointment was waiting for me. First, the entrance fee was £8. Hmmm. Second, you couldn't get any close to the stones. We were allowed to walk around the stones in 50 metres distance and that was it...done in 15 minutes considering it was raining. You can see on the picture how far the people are from the stones.

Práve som na oficiálnych stránkach našla, že vstupné sa zmenilo, je nutné si lístok dopredu rezervovať a stojí £13.90 (pre dospelého). Ja chápem, že takúto pamiatku je treba chrániť a starať sa o ňu, aby sa mohli kochať aj nasledujúce generácie, ale 13.90 je už trochu moc. Či?

I have just seen on their website that they have changed the entrance fee and now you have to book your ticket in advance, for £13.90 only (for adult). I see the need of money to preserve the nature and conserve the stones for the future generations, but.....really? £13.90?

Sklamaní sme vyrazili do Salisbury.

So we went to Salisbury. And that was something else.

I liked the atmosphere of a small city, with charming architecture and picturesque nature.

Salisbury ma dostalo svojou príjemnou atmosférou, krásnou architektúrou a malebnou prírodou.

We visited also the cathedral, truly amazing and worth every penny. One copy of Magna Carta from 1215 issued by England's King John can be seen in the Cathedral's Chapter House. 

Navštívili sme aj tamojšiu katedrálu (Salisbury je "city", to znamená že je v meste postavená katedrála), ktorá je skutočne prekrásna a hodná každého centu.

V tomto chráme je uchovaná jedna kópia Magna Charta Libertatum, Veľkej listiny slobôd, podpísanej r. 1215 Jánom Bezzemkom.

Čo vy a Stonehenge? Boli ste? Zdá sa vám to tiež prehnané, alebo ste ochotní zaplatiť aj viac? Dajte vedieť do komentárov.

What about you and Stonehenge? Have you been there? Do you think it's a 'rip off' or are you willing to pay even more? Let me know in the comments.

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Parents visiting

Mali sme na návšteve našich aj s bratom. Prišli na päť dní a klamala by som, ak by som povedala, že som nemala z ich návštevy žiadne obavy. Hovoria veľmi málo po anglicky, nikdy neleteli....a už si ani nespomínam, kedy sme sa  naposledy zišli všetci štyria.

My parents and my big brother came for 5 days. And to be honest, I was quite worried about them being here. They speak very little English, they had never taken a plane before...and anyway, it had been ages we spent some time all four of us together.

Ale všetko prebehlo výborne, užili sme si aj anglické počasie a jedlo (hej, mali sme aj fish&chips, maminin komentár : "nikdy viac").


But it went all great, we had a nice time, enjoyed English weather and food (yep, we had fish&chips, comment from my mum : 'never more').

Myslela som, že iba moja mamči je taká, ale keď som počula kolegyňu líčiť nasledujúcu historku, uľavilo sa mi : "Po príchode z letiska hovorím mame, aby si oddýchla. Ešte som sa ani nestihla otočiť, už stála na kuchynskej linke a leštila zvrchu skrinky." Hej hej, poznáme. Tá moja je skôr na reorganizáciu: "Tuším by bolo lepšie, keby si mala hrnce tu a taniere tam. Spravím to?" Mamina, vzhľadom na to, že bola na dovolenke, varila len jeden krát denne a upiekla len jeden koláč. Nechápte ma zle, veľmi si to vážim a cením (a hej, chcela vymeniť taniere s pohármi). Ale aj tak, svoju rodinu by som za nič nevymenila a dúfam, že sa im podarí prísť znova.

I thought it was only my mum, but then I heard my colleague telling this story: "I told my mum to rest after the flight. The next time I saw her, she was standing on the kitchen workspace dusting the top of the cupboards." Yep, pretty familiar. Mine usually says "It would be better if you put the sauce pans here, and your plates there. Do you want me to do that for you?" My mum, considering being on holiday, cooked only once a day and baked only one cake. I'm very grateful for that, don't get me wrong.  And yes, she wanted to swap plates and glasses. Nevertheless, I love my family very much, I hope they will be able to visit again real soon.

Important Facts vol.2

Vodičský preukaz - šoférovanie - auto - stres - panika - NIE!!!!!!

Driving licence - driving- car - stress - panick - NO!!!!!

To sú asociácie, ktoré sa zrodia v mojej hlave, ak niekto navrhne, že by som si mala spraviť vodičák. Som i vedomá výhod, mám rada to pohodlie, ale stále si myslím, že nie som dosť zodpovedná na to, aby som som sa mohla zapojiť do premávky...a hlavne udržať oči na ceste. Som totiž strašný snílek.

That is the train of thoughts in my head, when someone mentions that I should get a driving licence. I understand the benefits, I like the comfort, but I still believe that I'm not responsible enough to drive a car, especially to keep my eyes on the road. I'm a terrible daydreamer.

Gangsta zasa raz vyhral. Na stole mi leží žiadost o vydanie vodičského preukazu. Dýcham zhlboka. Prečo to musí obsahovať stať o darovaní orgánov?!?!?!?! Dokonca si môžem zakrížikovať, ktoré orgány chcem darovať. Vďaka Bohu. TO SNÁĎ NEMYSLIA VÁŽNE!!!!!

Gangsta won. I have "Application for a Driving licence" on my table. Breathing deeply. Why the hell it contains a paragraph "Organ donation"?!?!?!? But it's cool, I can tick what organs I want to donate. Thank God for that. ARE THEY SERIOUS????

Happy Birthday Me!

Ano, zasa som o rok starsia....a mudrejsia, krajsia, sikovnejsia, bohatsia a vyrovnanejsia. Kiez by.

Oh yes, one year older....and smarter, prettier, better, richer and more settled down. I wish.

Tento rok som ako darcek dostala cestu do Portsmouthu, noc v hoteli s vyhladom na more a honosnu veceru. More+Jedlo+ja = VPL .

This year, my present was a trip to Portsmouth, booked hotel with amazing view at the sea and festive dinner. Sea+Food+Me = LOVE

Kratka prechadzka v Portsmouthe. Musim uznat, ze uz je tu celkom chladno.

And a short walk in Portsmouth, I must admit, it's getting chili.