LAB RAT

Ohayo!

So my days at VIVA Magazine are over. If I stapled together all my bus receipts I could make a full skirt like so:

Reiss. by the way. I probably spent 6 hours of my day commuting. Regardless, I would do it again. I mostly did a lot of research for upcoming projects (the majority of which belonged to the travel and leisure sections of the magazine), and called up companies and gathered information. There was literally one day of filing and no days of getting everyone's coffee. I may also get a chance to take part in their monthly 'Great Debate' section, where a couple women gather to (obviously) discuss a topic. Next month's topic is celebrity related I think. But there's a photoshoot of course, and I may not be around for that. So...here's hoping.

I also got to meet up with some people from Harper's Bazaar Dubai who offered me work experience as well, but I'm not sure when I'll be around again. July brings me to the start of a heavily packed travelling schedule, starting off with China in a couple days.

Anyway, while I was busy swearing at myself for forgetting their 'thank you' card at home, the VIVA team was putting together an expensive and heavy parting gift for (apparently) their longest and most efficient intern.

So I've spent half of my day in the bathroom already, testing out this firming cream, that aqua cream, and smelling like a million bucks, and am about to put on some white nail polish. I have absolutely no use for half this stuff (the avid fan of natural beauty and a good black liner that I am) but it seems by accident the Clinique Repairwear Lift SPF15 has cleared up the damage of some unfortunate spots overnight. The transformation is effing surreal. So...whatever, use it for the wrinkles and lines and the lifting and smoothing, but I just found me my acne medication (someone please tell me why I am now getting acne. My face used to be comparable to a baby's butt cheeks). I also really like the Spa Pedicure Cucumber Heel Therapy. Those babies can become quite dry out here in the desert.

THANKS VIVA!

STALKER

If you've been following me all these months, you will know that best-selling British Asian author Hanif Kureishi dominates my current mental bookshelf. I am about to start 'The Body' this evening, once I round up the last couple pages of Kerouac's 'On the Road'. I'm falling so far behind on my summer reading list for my Developing the Novel class next semester. I'm supposed to be going at a one book a week pace but Kerouac's took me two weeks because of my new crazy/busy schedule (new to the office life, folks).

ANYWAY! I WAS TALKING ABOUT HANIF KUREISHI!!!

Geez, as much as I love my tangential train of thought during my writing process, it kills everything else. So, The Guardian is featuring Writer's Rooms and they naturally chose Kureishi's. Here it isss!

Ahhh...beautiful writer jumble and clutter. This may be of waning interest to you but as the daughter of an interior designer, interiors are just as important to me as wearable exteriors. Besides, a writer's work space must give off the right vibrations and must only have inspiring things within its walls. It's a very key part of the process. Anyway, also required of us for the Developing the Novel class, is that we set up and finalise our writing space this summer in preparation for the long months we'll be spending in them for the class, as well as for the rocky road beyond graduation.

Thank God I came across this because I completely forgot that assignment. But either way this proves tricky for me because I live out here in the U.A.E. half the time and then when I head back to England for school, my accommodation arrangements are pretty much non-existent. I change rooms like underwear. It's crazy. My London belongings are scattered all around London at various friends' and families' houses. And I am certainly not looking forward to the treasure hunt when I get back, of retrieving them and finding a place to rest my head.

Back on track now, I'm not sure how I'll be able to organize a proper work space until I move out to the U.S. after school. AND EVEN MORESO, I find I get more on the page by sitting on a bus from start to finish anyway! I'm set, even if I were a bum.

NOW THAT I WORK 9-5 (6)...

...I realised life is short. Fiction Friday and the likes is cancelled. I'm busy enjoying my adolescence, so go scamper off and do the same. Run along...go on...shoo! Peace.

DIARY OF AN INTERN: MY FIRST FASHION PHOTOSHOOT

Day 4 of my internship at Viva had me helping out at a fashion photoshoot which took place at the newly opened Alpha club at Le Meridien Hotel, Dubai.

OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

...Let me have a love interest for my 20th birthday. A romantic nook atop my new favourite hang? Yes, please! This is the coolest place EVER(!) , which is why I may have to reconsider my heading to Japan for Seijin No Hi on my 20th. This way I'd actually have friends around and wouldn't be burning too big of a hole in my pocket.
I hang out at the Troubadour from time to time when I feel like a motivated bedhead sexy and chic writer...and when daddy's little girl's allowance rolls in at HSBC. A bit steep for a student, but I never act like one anyway (for example no. 2 on this list). I finished up the last of my essays there eating vegetarian breakfast at 2pm (serves 'til 3). After that, I just shifted into lunch time and ordered a dessert. Sipping my superb hot chocolate, I scanned the noticeboard and saw they offered a yoga class some mornings in their Gallery! Yes, they have an art gallery too; and a club GOD KNOWS WHERE, that's featured acts in the past such as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix! One of my new faves The XX is playing there on June 20th...when I'll be interning in Dubai (mopes inappropriately since I'll be working for a major fashion magazine and have seen them perform twice, AND plan to see them on the 23rd).


Plus the interior of the place makes you feel so god-damn slick just to be sitting in there. It's like a vintage indie version of TGIF's decor what with the hanging trinkets all over the walls. Very shady...like a hangover den! ha! The windows are crowded with colourful rusty watering cans, and a pitchfork on the wall threatens to puncture some diner's head below. Awesome. And not that you'd need it once eating there, but there's a Starbucks five paces away. I love me my 'bucks...Perfect for the morning after though!..staying at their suite. OOOOHHH! SO EXCITED!


Anyway, I also decided when I come back from the break that I will just apply to do barwork there. They are constantly looking for people. And I think as a yoga buff, new art and music enthusiast, with a penchant for being surrounded by alcohol, and already having bartending experience, this is kind of effing perfect for me :)


P.S. Walkabout tonight!

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES TIED UP WITH STRING...

Ooohhh! It feels like Christmas. I was greeted with these this morning; some of my summer reading list and a gig ticket for tonight's show. I'm aiming for one book a week. But no pressure...

Okay. Back to watching 'The Joy Luck Club' and crying all over myself (I'm pretty sure I have to change my contraception). Then I'm going to cook pasta so I don't have a barf fest later what with all the boozing I am SO doing tonight. It's been a while.