As I don't post updates to facebook...

Maria Reiljan is looking around in the room, into all the drawers and cupboards and scratching her head- how on earth is she supposed to fit all her stuff into her tiny bag next weekend?
Some good music:

Technical problems

My computer started smoking. It might be the end of it this time. At least that's what the person in the UK repair shop told. But hell no, I'm not giving up! I'll let my friends check it at home.
Right now I have the replacement computer from work that I can use until I go home. At least I have the access to the internet.
Life has been busy, have discovered many interesting artists.
Exitement of going home is starting to take over my feelings. And today I felt a sudden sadness. Dunno why.
Today was Timi's birthday. Had some cake. Also did my last trip to Bristol.

Now it's just 9 days left.
And then that's it.

One journey is over. Many are ahead.

This place is tiny!

I went to donate blood today- when I got to the place, I saw one person, I do yoga with. I started talking to him. Then I went to give the blood- first of all- the people were so friendly again. I started asking about their day and they told that it's been long. And will continue for a while. Then they noticed my earrings and loved them, the same with my bracelet, belt, coat and handbag. My blood came out of my body fast- breaking the record with 3:51. So far the fastest for me. And then it didn't wanna stop. I could have given the double amount. No worries.
At the cookie-desk I started talking to a woman next to me. I found out she's the daughter of my co-worker. And she offered me a lift home in her mini-cooper. So lovely!
This area is becoming tiny for me already. Everywhere I go, I know someone who knows someone I know. Like Estonia already.
I don't wanna go home. People are so friendly. I love the local pubs. The leisure centre. I now know loads of people. And I like it. And I'm gonna miss the fact I can talk to all the random strangers everywhere and they are friendly and talk to you and offer you help. Why can't it be like this in Estonia?

So it starts again...

I've got about 3 weeks left here now and guess what? I'm not happy again.
Or well, I don't know what I am and what I am not.
I know that there are people every day that keep asking me about my feelings, keep asking me how much I have left here.
This weekend I had G over here- I made some new friends whilst out in the pub with him. Why now? Why did I discover this amazing pub about 1km from me now? Why? Why? Why? F**k!
I said bye to G yesterday- who knows when I'm gonna see him again. Gonna miss him. It always hard when your best friends are far away and you can't talk to them much. And well, I might see him in the summer, but maybe not. I guess the time will tell...
My friends who started off in the leisure centre with just the spinning, are increasing the amount of classes, they are doing. They just added a magnificient class to their long list. A hard class called kettlercise. I'd love to try that. But I should not. I have to decrease the amount of stuff I do. It hurts- I want to go and do more! I know I wont be able to do half as many classes when I go home because of the lack of time and money as well. It all hurts! And it hurts to think I won't see my friends every day again. And my roommate, who is just amazing!
I now walk around everywhere, keep seeing people for the last time (probably for the last time ever). I look at everything and think that I couldn't stay here for another 7 months, but a month or two more wouldn't hurt me. I know I wouldn't probably think of that when I had those 2 extra months, but still.
Life is closing up here.
And starting to open up at home again.
Lots of plans, people to see, work to do. I have a perfect life waiting for me at home. I haven't been there for 7 months when I return. There are new people born who I can meet.... There is a lot to go back to.
And I'm happy and I'm not happy to go back.
Because I can always return home, but it's not that easy to come and live here again. And also.... the world is full of different countries to discover. I don't think I'll be returning to UK in the next couple of years at least...
The heart is heavy as a stone.

Who can remember when I last left Estonia, crying and telling that 7 months and I'll be home... Telling that I don't wanna come back to England. Well, those 7 months were too damn short.

Another beginning. Another dream to follow.

Maybe Denmark/Africa next?

New Year's Eve

As you all know from my previous post- I had to re-organize my accommodation for the new year's eve in London. So I contacted my friend Aslihan, who I was only supposed to meet for a little while, to ask if I could stay with her and her friends. And the answer was positive.
So, on Saturday morning I went by bus to Weston and took a train to London Paddington station. I quickly topped up my oyster card and got into the tube and went to Piccadilli Circus where I met my friends. Oh, it was nice to see Asli after such a long time. 2 years, I think.
She introduced me to her Turkish friends and we went to a Turkish coffee bar in Piccadilly. Had a coffee there and then headed to the apartement where we were supposed to stay. I left my bag there and just grabbed my camera with me and then we headed towards Westminster bridge. We couldn't get to the riverside by bus because the roads were all closed so we had to walk there. Some of the areas on the riverside were closed so it took us a while to go round, past the Eye and to actually get to the bridge. We were there at about half past 8 and the bridge was already crowded. So we just stood there and took pictures.When it got cold, we started dancing. It attracted some Indian old men who came to us and didn't wanna leave. So okay, we danced a bit with them but they wouldn't go away. One man just started touching us and it was really uncomfortable and I told him to leave, but he was back 5mins later, offering us some drink which we obviously didn't accept. When we finally got rid of him, we danced around in the big wind and rain and it was great. At one point some random lad came and asked Asli for a dance but she didn't want to, so the man took me to a dance, just danced around widely and then he bowed towards me, said thanks and left. It all happened in 1 minute.

During the long waiting we called to our friends in Estonia and G to wish them a happy new year together. The Eye changed it's colours in the darkness. And we started to get more exited. We sang along to all the songs that came from the radio and then. at 23:59, the countdown to midnight started. And then- the fireworks- oh they were magnificient. Totally worth waiting 4 hrs. They lasted 10 minutes and everything was connected to the rhythm of the music that came from the speakers! Amazing. Just brilliant!
As the fireworks started to end, I noticed the annoying Indian guy staring at me. He had somehow appeared again next to us. Gosh... I was angry at him. (by the way- he was about shoulder-height to me). And after the booming ended me and my friends danced a bit and he still wanted to join us, ignoring all the signs of rejection. Finally, his friends had to drag him away.
We still had fun. As we were walking home, some people tried to kiss us, others just hugged us. Everybody were dancing and singing and it was just so much fun. And we were all sober. :) Probably lots of people thought we were drunk by looking at our behaviour. Never mind.

On the following day, Asli sent one of her friends to Victoria coach station from where she took a bus to the airport and then we went to Notting Hill alltogether and tried to find the famous bookstore. We knew it had to exist but then discovered that actually it didn't- so there was nothing in notting hill. But, we had a nice time, wandering around in the rainy London. In the evening we headed to one of Asli's Turkish friends and had a kebab and cheesecake and some Turkish tea and Coffee over there. It was lovely- I once again fell completely in love with the Turkish people. I love them anyway, but now it reminded me again, how lovely they are. We had an amazing evening and then headed back home where we went to sleep and then in the morning I came home again.

I could say that my new year's eve was just brilliant and I'm sure this year will be as brilliant as the beginning of it. :)
I gave no promises for this year, just to have fun and enjoy life :)
I know that this is a promise I can actually keep!

Happy new year, my dear friends!

Christmas

As I promised, I will now make a post about my Christmas, which were pretty amazing.
So, after I got home from Peter Pan, I had my two friends over at my place. Or actually- I just knew one of them- a Hungarian girl called Timi. She is working with a Turkish boy called Umut and they both came to visit me for christmas.
So as I got home, I ate some food, we talked and just had a nice time. We made the plan for the following day to go to Bristol.
The next morning we got up pretty early to catch a bus to Bristol through Wells but we missed it so instead we went there through Weston. We had a lot of fun, telling jokes to each other and laughing all day. I made a tour around in Bristol and we ate in Subway and had a coffee in Starbucks. We saw most of the things we wanted to see, and my friends liked it. After Bristol we went to Wells to look at the cathedral over there and do some shopping for food before returning home. At home we were welcomed by my-Timi and her mom who had cooked us some christmas meal and we all sat to a table and had a 3-course meal. It was so nice! We drank some drinks and chatted and it was just so cool. Lots of fun! And then we all opened our presents as well. I got some cookbooks from work, a bracelet, a vase from one of the residents, a necklace. And lots of chocolates. We drank lots of rum and the evening was nice. It was a bit of flirting going on between me and Umut and we got along really nicely :) Well, I've been told that I flirt with everybody, maybe I just did it subconcsiously. Never mind. It was a lovely evening, full of jokes based on LMFAO "I'm sexy and I know it" and Turkish delight. It was just brilliant!
The following day I cooked some Estonian food and we just hanged around in the house, not doing much. Just cooking, listening to music, sleeping, talking etc. But on Monday we went for a walk to the Strawberry line from where we went on top of some hills. It was nice. We talked to Umut a lot during the walk.... Unfortunately I can't write a lot about this christmas into this blog, as it's a public one, but I can say that christmas was crazy :) And lovely :) In the evening we just drank some wine and talked and sang. There was already some jealousy going on between some people and things weren't going the best way they could, but I was actually enjoying my time. In the evening my mum and sister arrived to the house and we drank some Estonian liqueur and then after a short while, my family went to sleep and so did I.

Tuesday was supposed to be the day when we all went to Cheddar Gorge. Unfortunately visitor-Timi was angry with me and I didn't know the reason, and she didn't come with us. So it was just me, my mum and sis and Umut. We walked about 4 hrs around in the gorge and on top of it! The weather was nice, you could see even until Weston. Everybody loved the trip and by the time we got back we were all just knackered. We had a wash and then ate some Estonian food that my mum had brought over or cooked here and also poured luck in the Estonian way with the Stannum. We translated our luck in the candlelight and my piece of metal said something about a ship- I guess I'm gonna have a year full of travelling. Sure as hell! In the evening most of the people went to sleep pretty early as we all were tired but I stayed up pretty late. Catching up with some lives.
The following morning Umut and Timi went away and Timi (my roommate)'s mum went to Hungary as well. Umut had lost his wallet so we had a bit of a panic for the previous days but as we went to Weston on that morning, he got his wallet back from the lost property of the coach company. Me and my family had a nice walk along the seafront in Weston- we watched the stormy sea and the tide coming in. They loved it! After that we went to Bristol to do some sightseeing and shopping. I felt like a bodyguard of the stars- you know, they have to walk around with celebs while they are doing the shopping and they have to carry the bags of their employers. I was the one carrying the bags this time. In the evening, when we got home, I was just exhausted. Ate some food, and then got to sleep pretty early again for another crazy busy day that was ahead of us.
On Thursday we went to Wells to have a look at the cathedral and the Bishop's palace, to look at the oldest clock in the cathedral (which is about 700 years old, the second oldest in the world with all it's original details remaining). Our journey continued to Bath where  I took my family to the Roman Therms and and Sally Lunn's house (the oldest in Bath) where we had our lunch and the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my entire life. It was quite crap weather but we still went around in the city and had a look at the Pulteney Bridge, The Circus and the Crescent. We wandered around in the city and did some shopping and then headed back to Wells by bus where we did some more shopping and then catched a bus home. By the end of that evening I was completely dead already. But still, we went to a local pub called the Lamb Inn, where I had a nice talkto locals (I was surprised myself on how fast I spoke to them). I also realized that this pub is such a nice cosy place and they even allowed locals to bring their dogs inside the pub. Cute, tiny homepub :)
In the evening when we got home, we just ate and washed ourselved, packed all the stuff and got ready for the next day. I also got a message from Timi and Umut who told me they can't host me in Gravesend for the new year's eve and the following day, so I had to organize another place to stay. I managed it easily and a nice couple of days was guaranteed. Still, I'm even now angry at U&T because they behaved so rude- I mean- I hosted them for nearly 5 days and then they basically stab me from the back. Bugger! I gave my best for them to have a great time, and then they behave like this. Just unbelievable! Never mind, I'm never gonna see those people again, so I don't have to talk to them any more. Fuck them. Some people less to care about. Makes my life easier. I don't need them. I've got plenty of friends who are a lot more lovely than them. Umut apologized a lot afterwards, so I'm not that angry with him anymore, but I haven't even spoken to Timea, so fuck her. She didn't even wish me a happy new year or ask how did it go. Never mind. Christmas was lovely and I'll stick to it!

On Friday I showed my mum and sis around at my work, they met with all the residents, my co-workers and saw the place I used to live before I moved to the Lodge. We talked to our managers, gave Estonian sweets to them and then went back to my home to get ready to go to the airport. My co-worker helped me to take my family to the airport and send them away. As I returned home the house was so empty- it was weird. I cleaned and slept a little bit and got ready for the new year's eve and my trip to London, about which I'm gonna tell you more in the next post....

Beautiful people

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Before Christmas eve and day

I haven't been able to blog for a while. And I don't actually have much time to do it even now, but I'll give my best to make an update of my life so far.
My time before xmas was crazy busy-  I did so much stuff that I can't even keep track on everything, but I'll give it a try.
My Christmas started on the first of December, when we put up all the decorations at our work. I got to decorate about 4 trees. On the same evening I went to see the christmas stall in Cheddar- it was nothing special, just people selling stuff on the streets and festive songs coming from the speakers. A bit like a market.I got myself a santa hat which I wore every day at work for 3 weeks. I kept myself busy with making cards and christmas presents and gingerbread for everybody.
On the 8th of December, me and my friends from the leisure centre went out for a christmas dinner. We went with all the people who do the spinning- it was nice to go and have a talk outside the leisure centre with all our instructors and just have a beer and eat some curry. And my friends- they are so lovely! I'm gonna miss them when I go home...
Also, on the same week I went to see the Bootleg Beatles in Colston Hall in Bristol with the residents. It was nice to see the band again, I discovered that the person who used to represent John Lennon, had changed. But the music was good and completely enjoyable.
On the last weekend before christmas I went to Cardiff to see G again. Hadn't seen him for more than 2 months. And we live 30 miles from each other. So I had some time in Cardiff until he finished working. I decided to walk to the Roald Dahl Plass and have a look at the Torchwood's Ianto Jones's memorial wall, look at the Millennium Centre, search for Torchwood signs. It was a lovely sunny day and I enjoyed a nice walk. I now know 3 different ways to get to the Plass from the train station.  Nice... As soon as G finished work we met at a pub next to the station and had some drinks. We then got on the bus to go to Edmondstown where he lives at the moment and which is about 20 miles from Cardiff. We stayed up pretty late, talking about our trips we had made (he went to Poland and CR, I had been to Scotland). It was a nice quiet evening. The following day I saw a little bit of the cliff that is located right behind the houses on his street. Pretty stunning, I have to say. I had to catch a pretty early bus on that day back to Cardiff, as it was Sunday and the buses in my place suck and the last one goes very early to my home. So I didn't have much time in Cardiff. But it was a nice weekend away from home.
Oh, I also have to mention- before I went to Cardiff, I played christmas songs on guitar to all the residents and sang them in Estonian and English. I also gave all the cards for the residents and the gingerbread. The whole house was full of those cookies, but surprisingly- they were all eaten by the residents and the staff and some of them were even taken home by my co-workers. Nice :)
On the last week before christmas I kept myself busy with cleaning the house, making some meatballs (kotletid in Estonian), preparing for christmas. Also- I went to the leisure centre.  We had christmas party at work (which was pretty boring as there was no entertainment besides some disco, it was nice food though), one evening we also sang some christmas songs with the reisdents.
Then, on the 23rd of Dec I went to see the pantomime "Peter Pan" in Bristol Hippodrome. The main actor in it was David Hasselhoff. I thought it's gonna be a silent play as pantomime in Estonia means this- but I was told it was supposed to be mainly focused on the children, very loud, all the children making "Yes! No! Awwwww! Yeah!" and so on noises to whatever was going on on the stage.. And lots of jokes the children don't understand and hints to Knight Rider, Baywatch and Britain's Got Talent, as Hoff was playing captain Hook and was the main character. I could say that I was laughing hard during that show. Everything I was told, was true. There were many hints to Knight Rider. Hoff was singing (he's got an amazing voice), dancing. There was a comedian telling jokes as well (the best joke was about Poundstretcher and Marks&Spencer's shop being united- you get Stretchmarks out of it). I had great fun. Got some videos about it as well. Brilliant!
And seeing the Peter Pan was the last thing at work that I did before all the crazy (and I can guarantee for sure it was crazy) christmas started.
Because as I got home, I had some visitors over at my place (Timi had her mom coming as well, but she came already two days earlier)..
But all the Christmas and my mum and sister being at my place will be told in the next post......