I will attempt to keep this post as clean as possible but I just had the worst exam in the world. It was so bad that I have a feeling I will be re-sitting my Advanced Tax module in June 2010.
There is not enough swear words in the english language to express my annoyance. So please feel free to donate other swear words from other languages to help me vent my anger!
7 December 2009
25 November 2009
I need therapy!
Once again I have failed big time.
Joining my collection soon will be a two piece kimono (April - I bet you can guess where I brought it from ^_^)
and a black shawl which will be very versatile in my wardrobe (well that is my excuse)
My alternative excuse to just wanting the above items is that I need cheering up. It has been a rubbish week.
Joining my collection soon will be a two piece kimono (April - I bet you can guess where I brought it from ^_^)
and a black shawl which will be very versatile in my wardrobe (well that is my excuse)
My alternative excuse to just wanting the above items is that I need cheering up. It has been a rubbish week.
12 November 2009
New Kimono and Jewellery
I tried to hard to resist buying another kimono but when a yabane kimono came up for sale I couldn't resist. I blame it on Priscilla, every since I saw her one, I have been wanting one for myself.
Here it is! Normally I am not a fan of orange but when it comes to kimono, I actually like the colour. I think it is to do with the pattern more then anything else.
and a close up of the pattern (ok not completely orange)
If that wasn't enough, my boyfriend decided to buy a few chokers for me on etsy. Which is really sweet of him and the first time he has every brought me something without my consultation.
This one is a nice black beaded one.
This one has a more gothic feel to it which I like and it has purple.
And the final one is suppose to be a vintage choker. I have always love vintage jewellery as they seem to have more style then the modern day stuff.
Yes he brought me three chokers for some reason which is very nice of him and I did wonder why they were all black. However he does know that black is one of my favourite colours and it will go with everything in my wardrobe. Apart from my kimono collection but I am sure I can solve that one.
I don't normally celebrate Christmas but it would appear it has come early for me.
Here it is! Normally I am not a fan of orange but when it comes to kimono, I actually like the colour. I think it is to do with the pattern more then anything else.
and a close up of the pattern (ok not completely orange)
If that wasn't enough, my boyfriend decided to buy a few chokers for me on etsy. Which is really sweet of him and the first time he has every brought me something without my consultation.
This one is a nice black beaded one.
This one has a more gothic feel to it which I like and it has purple.
And the final one is suppose to be a vintage choker. I have always love vintage jewellery as they seem to have more style then the modern day stuff.
Yes he brought me three chokers for some reason which is very nice of him and I did wonder why they were all black. However he does know that black is one of my favourite colours and it will go with everything in my wardrobe. Apart from my kimono collection but I am sure I can solve that one.
I don't normally celebrate Christmas but it would appear it has come early for me.
5 November 2009
Success!!
For many months I have been battling with ACCA UK to get some "performance objectives" signed off my someone at work.
The story begins back in Feb 09 when I actually completed them on paper but of course in these modern times, it is possible to do this online and thus I completed my form and submitted for review. However the partner in my office could not access my submitted answers for some reason and ask me to resolve this with the ACCA.
After 8 months of phoning and complaining I thought enough was enough and decided a letter was in order to highlight my plight. I contemplated my styles of letters from the confrontational to just stating the basis fact but instead between my boyfriend and I, we came up with the following letter. Warning this is a very long letter.
Dear Sir or Madam
Experience has long been a problem in business, both obtaining it and proving that you have it. Thankfully, however, I am a student accountant with the ACCA. In their nigh-infinite wisdom, the ACCA has seen a solution to the second half of this problem, the world-renowned on-line trainee development matrix.
Through the grace of my employer, **** ****** ***, I have had some experience in effective communication, the evaluation and computation of taxes and have prepared for audits and collected evidence while at audits. Like so many others I wish to become an economically viable member of society. My chosen path through the woods of life to this goal requires me to be able to prove that I possess relevant experience. Thus I was driven to navigate the wonders and mysteries of the internet and access the online trainee development matrix. I took three of the challenges that lay within this matrix answering the three times three questions posed with all the resourcefulness that I possessed on the subjects "communicate effectively", "evaluate and compute taxes payable" and "prepare for and collect evidence for audit". Pleased with my efforts I sent the answers away to their destination and retreated to more well-trod and familiar areas of the web. This was in late January.
The sun rose and fell, rose and fell again. The months changed and February blew in, bringing its cold weather and lengthening days. On one such day, one of the higher beings that inhabit my office asked to communicate with me, with trepidation I approached **** ******* my training manager, and respectfully inquired what I had done to draw his attention. Those answers that I had so carefully formulated had yet to appear before him. He had dutifully followed the link sent to him and found, in the relevant drop-down box of trainees that my name did not appear. Thus there were no answers and nothing to accept. Fleeing his displeasure, I took the only route available to be and contacted the ACCA connect helpline. Surely they would help me assuage my manager?
At length and with care I explained my perilous predicament. The disembodied voice responded that they would forward the query to the IT department who would investigate and resolve the issue, explaining that a month would pass before the answers would be available. Much time passed, yet still the answers didn’t appear. My manager, whose ire had increased in the time that had passed, demanded that I should to redouble my efforts to obtain a solution, since my name was still absent from the list and my experience was thus unrecognised. I called once more, the ensuing conversation with a distant voice at the ACCA connect helpline followed much the same path as last time. Despite my entreaties that they contact me with a solution, I was left lonely and forlorn in the following days.
Over the following months I periodically mustered the courage to try again, but to no avail. One such occasion, I helpfully cautioned that this difficulty had occurred once before, many moons ago and far, far away, when I worked for an organisation called BOC plc in Sheffield. I further detailed how merely re-sending the email did not remove the problem, there the other voice had given the following solution: that an IT worker should "un-submit" the challenge questions, I would "de-activate" the training the manager, “add” the training manager back into the system and "re-submit" the questions. The current voice answered, commandingly, that this solution was too time consuming. Accepting this, I asked that they do what they feel is best and waited; hopeful that the considerable knowledge of the ACCA connect helpline would suffice to overcome any and all difficulties. No solution was proffered, no comfort provided. Every time the phone rang I leapt to it, my heart soaring with dreams of a fix, but alas, never did the ACCA connect helpline call me back with a method to restore my standing with the great consciousnesses that exist within my firm.
Twice did the seasons change, no cure had arrived, my actions had borne no fruit. Summoned to a meeting with two mighty beings from my office, I was commanded to go forth and solve this problem. I feebly offered the option of completing a paper assessment and sending that via post to the ACCA. This was not acceptable to the two stern countenances before me, for such a method is outdated, wasteful and against my company's paperless policy. This was on the 13 October 2009.
I plead and beg and beseech you to offer me succour, to lift me from this miserable state that I and my experience have fallen into. I will provide whatever you should ask of me, should you need further information.
Wishing for a kinder, gentler, more provably experienced world,
We thought this was funny and sent it off to the ACCA customer relation department.
On 22 October, I received a letter telling me that they have received my letter. They will take my comments on board and a full investigation will be carried out to identify the issues that I have raised. Of course I had to allow them 14 days for a reply. All good so far!
Well on Tuesday this week, success!!! The partner in my office signed off my objectives HOORAY! And today exactly 14 days from when they received my first letter I received another one telling me they have completed their investigation and told me what went wrong.
What I can't tell is if my humorous letter help but I like to think they took a bit more notice because it wasn't the standard insulting letter.
The story begins back in Feb 09 when I actually completed them on paper but of course in these modern times, it is possible to do this online and thus I completed my form and submitted for review. However the partner in my office could not access my submitted answers for some reason and ask me to resolve this with the ACCA.
After 8 months of phoning and complaining I thought enough was enough and decided a letter was in order to highlight my plight. I contemplated my styles of letters from the confrontational to just stating the basis fact but instead between my boyfriend and I, we came up with the following letter. Warning this is a very long letter.
Dear Sir or Madam
Experience has long been a problem in business, both obtaining it and proving that you have it. Thankfully, however, I am a student accountant with the ACCA. In their nigh-infinite wisdom, the ACCA has seen a solution to the second half of this problem, the world-renowned on-line trainee development matrix.
Through the grace of my employer, **** ****** ***, I have had some experience in effective communication, the evaluation and computation of taxes and have prepared for audits and collected evidence while at audits. Like so many others I wish to become an economically viable member of society. My chosen path through the woods of life to this goal requires me to be able to prove that I possess relevant experience. Thus I was driven to navigate the wonders and mysteries of the internet and access the online trainee development matrix. I took three of the challenges that lay within this matrix answering the three times three questions posed with all the resourcefulness that I possessed on the subjects "communicate effectively", "evaluate and compute taxes payable" and "prepare for and collect evidence for audit". Pleased with my efforts I sent the answers away to their destination and retreated to more well-trod and familiar areas of the web. This was in late January.
The sun rose and fell, rose and fell again. The months changed and February blew in, bringing its cold weather and lengthening days. On one such day, one of the higher beings that inhabit my office asked to communicate with me, with trepidation I approached **** ******* my training manager, and respectfully inquired what I had done to draw his attention. Those answers that I had so carefully formulated had yet to appear before him. He had dutifully followed the link sent to him and found, in the relevant drop-down box of trainees that my name did not appear. Thus there were no answers and nothing to accept. Fleeing his displeasure, I took the only route available to be and contacted the ACCA connect helpline. Surely they would help me assuage my manager?
At length and with care I explained my perilous predicament. The disembodied voice responded that they would forward the query to the IT department who would investigate and resolve the issue, explaining that a month would pass before the answers would be available. Much time passed, yet still the answers didn’t appear. My manager, whose ire had increased in the time that had passed, demanded that I should to redouble my efforts to obtain a solution, since my name was still absent from the list and my experience was thus unrecognised. I called once more, the ensuing conversation with a distant voice at the ACCA connect helpline followed much the same path as last time. Despite my entreaties that they contact me with a solution, I was left lonely and forlorn in the following days.
Over the following months I periodically mustered the courage to try again, but to no avail. One such occasion, I helpfully cautioned that this difficulty had occurred once before, many moons ago and far, far away, when I worked for an organisation called BOC plc in Sheffield. I further detailed how merely re-sending the email did not remove the problem, there the other voice had given the following solution: that an IT worker should "un-submit" the challenge questions, I would "de-activate" the training the manager, “add” the training manager back into the system and "re-submit" the questions. The current voice answered, commandingly, that this solution was too time consuming. Accepting this, I asked that they do what they feel is best and waited; hopeful that the considerable knowledge of the ACCA connect helpline would suffice to overcome any and all difficulties. No solution was proffered, no comfort provided. Every time the phone rang I leapt to it, my heart soaring with dreams of a fix, but alas, never did the ACCA connect helpline call me back with a method to restore my standing with the great consciousnesses that exist within my firm.
Twice did the seasons change, no cure had arrived, my actions had borne no fruit. Summoned to a meeting with two mighty beings from my office, I was commanded to go forth and solve this problem. I feebly offered the option of completing a paper assessment and sending that via post to the ACCA. This was not acceptable to the two stern countenances before me, for such a method is outdated, wasteful and against my company's paperless policy. This was on the 13 October 2009.
I plead and beg and beseech you to offer me succour, to lift me from this miserable state that I and my experience have fallen into. I will provide whatever you should ask of me, should you need further information.
Wishing for a kinder, gentler, more provably experienced world,
We thought this was funny and sent it off to the ACCA customer relation department.
On 22 October, I received a letter telling me that they have received my letter. They will take my comments on board and a full investigation will be carried out to identify the issues that I have raised. Of course I had to allow them 14 days for a reply. All good so far!
Well on Tuesday this week, success!!! The partner in my office signed off my objectives HOORAY! And today exactly 14 days from when they received my first letter I received another one telling me they have completed their investigation and told me what went wrong.
What I can't tell is if my humorous letter help but I like to think they took a bit more notice because it wasn't the standard insulting letter.
31 October 2009
A small victory.
I love my kanzashi hairbands and for the past 6 months I have been searching the internet and shops for a box that will protect them.
Finally today, I have found it!
I can not tell you how pleased I was when I discovered them!
Oh I need to have a life if these little things please me.
Finally today, I have found it!
I can not tell you how pleased I was when I discovered them!
Oh I need to have a life if these little things please me.
24 October 2009
What is this!
I finally received my tsukuri obi and it is the most modern one I have.
However when I got it, it came with a plastic obi makura. At first thought this seem like a good thing until you realise the size.
Its tiny! The otaiko part is 30cm wide and this is just 10cm. There is no way that this obi makura will give me the otaiko fullness that I like.
Nonetheless, it is amusing little thing and I have no idea what to do with it.
However when I got it, it came with a plastic obi makura. At first thought this seem like a good thing until you realise the size.
Its tiny! The otaiko part is 30cm wide and this is just 10cm. There is no way that this obi makura will give me the otaiko fullness that I like.
Nonetheless, it is amusing little thing and I have no idea what to do with it.
20 October 2009
Feeling the winter blues already!
I really hate the end of summer.
The weather is cold and miserable but I can cope with that!
However the short days are a killer for me as it ruin my sleeping pattern. Somehow the thought of getting up when it is still dark just depressing. It feels like that I have only just gone to bed for a couple of hours and I like sleeping.
Tomorrow and Thursday I will be in London studying for my ACCA, which is fun but scary at the same time because these are my last two days of tuition. Soon I will need to think about revision!
The weather is cold and miserable but I can cope with that!
However the short days are a killer for me as it ruin my sleeping pattern. Somehow the thought of getting up when it is still dark just depressing. It feels like that I have only just gone to bed for a couple of hours and I like sleeping.
Tomorrow and Thursday I will be in London studying for my ACCA, which is fun but scary at the same time because these are my last two days of tuition. Soon I will need to think about revision!
18 October 2009
Saturday's Lunch
If there is an event happening in London that gives me an excuse to wear a kimono then I am going. And if there isn't then why not just create one!
This Saturday I met up with my IG friends for a spot of shopping and lunch.
It started off really well, I got up at the right time and got on the right train and then the series of misfortune began. As I was about to get to Liverpool Station I realised I forgot my obi ita! So an emgerency shopping at WhSmith was need to find a subsitute was needed. Lucky I found a clear folder which would make a reasonable obi ita. Then off to Hong's to get change then she pointed out that one of my kimono seams has come loose! So that needed to be repaired before anything else could be done.
Ok we are all dressed and off we went to Piccadilly Circus. Stupidly I just got on the first DLR that was there which did not go to Bank. Hong did tell me that it didn't go to Bank but my brain was panicking! Not a problem we thought because we could get on the Tube at Tower Hill. Wrong! It was closed for whatever reason so we got on a bus to get to the nearest tube station which was Monument. But that was closed as well and the nearest one was Bank so we had to walk to Bank.
Finally getting to Bank we got to Piccadilly Circus at 12.30, an hour late which is not fashionably late.
After making our rubbish excuses to Chantel and April we made our way to the old Japan Centre to look at the non-food items. So much cute stuff to buy but no where to put it. The was the most adorable glass cat mug for £6.99 which was just shouting to be brought. However I had to resist as I don't have any space in my room. Chantel on the otherhand decided to buy a few matching plates and bowls, triangular onigiri maker and a onigiri lunch box.
Then off to Minamoto Kitchen because we are suckers for them but we didn't buy anything. They did have a cute window display though.
Although looking at the picture now, the models look a little creepy to me.
Hong and I were thirsty after our adventure with London transport so off we all went to Okawari for lunch.
Now you hear of things happening around Chinatown at night time and when we arrived at our restaurant we found it taped off as it was part of a crime scene! Ok at this point I think we were all a little stunned however the nice officer allowed us enter the restaurant because we had a booking and it was only a few feet past the police tape.
Okawari was chosen because it had tatami style seating where the tables were sunken into the floor to give the impression that you were sitting seiza style. Great idea however we all had trouble getting our legs under the table which lead to some unladylike behaviour.
Lunch was surprising nice with bento boxes priced around £10 and we all shared a tempura starter. All in all a very nice lunch and it gave us time to take a few pictures.
April and Hong.
Chantel.
Of course a trip to London would not be complete without a trip to Haagen Dazs.
This Saturday happen to be the grand opening of Japan Centre new food store near Mitsukoshi with a 10% off promotion. So as you can imagine it was very busy and we left it to the end of the day to have a look to avoid getting squashed.
As we all parted our way we all saw the most funniest thing. The man driving the little van was also singing as well and yes the van was blowing bubbles.
When I got home around 7.10pm I thought I deserve some lovely belgium chocolates that my brother was kind enough to buy for me. They are very nice by the way.
This Saturday I met up with my IG friends for a spot of shopping and lunch.
It started off really well, I got up at the right time and got on the right train and then the series of misfortune began. As I was about to get to Liverpool Station I realised I forgot my obi ita! So an emgerency shopping at WhSmith was need to find a subsitute was needed. Lucky I found a clear folder which would make a reasonable obi ita. Then off to Hong's to get change then she pointed out that one of my kimono seams has come loose! So that needed to be repaired before anything else could be done.
Ok we are all dressed and off we went to Piccadilly Circus. Stupidly I just got on the first DLR that was there which did not go to Bank. Hong did tell me that it didn't go to Bank but my brain was panicking! Not a problem we thought because we could get on the Tube at Tower Hill. Wrong! It was closed for whatever reason so we got on a bus to get to the nearest tube station which was Monument. But that was closed as well and the nearest one was Bank so we had to walk to Bank.
Finally getting to Bank we got to Piccadilly Circus at 12.30, an hour late which is not fashionably late.
After making our rubbish excuses to Chantel and April we made our way to the old Japan Centre to look at the non-food items. So much cute stuff to buy but no where to put it. The was the most adorable glass cat mug for £6.99 which was just shouting to be brought. However I had to resist as I don't have any space in my room. Chantel on the otherhand decided to buy a few matching plates and bowls, triangular onigiri maker and a onigiri lunch box.
Then off to Minamoto Kitchen because we are suckers for them but we didn't buy anything. They did have a cute window display though.
Although looking at the picture now, the models look a little creepy to me.
Hong and I were thirsty after our adventure with London transport so off we all went to Okawari for lunch.
Now you hear of things happening around Chinatown at night time and when we arrived at our restaurant we found it taped off as it was part of a crime scene! Ok at this point I think we were all a little stunned however the nice officer allowed us enter the restaurant because we had a booking and it was only a few feet past the police tape.
Okawari was chosen because it had tatami style seating where the tables were sunken into the floor to give the impression that you were sitting seiza style. Great idea however we all had trouble getting our legs under the table which lead to some unladylike behaviour.
Lunch was surprising nice with bento boxes priced around £10 and we all shared a tempura starter. All in all a very nice lunch and it gave us time to take a few pictures.
April and Hong.
Chantel.
Of course a trip to London would not be complete without a trip to Haagen Dazs.
This Saturday happen to be the grand opening of Japan Centre new food store near Mitsukoshi with a 10% off promotion. So as you can imagine it was very busy and we left it to the end of the day to have a look to avoid getting squashed.
As we all parted our way we all saw the most funniest thing. The man driving the little van was also singing as well and yes the van was blowing bubbles.
When I got home around 7.10pm I thought I deserve some lovely belgium chocolates that my brother was kind enough to buy for me. They are very nice by the way.
9 October 2009
Another expensive hobby!
As you may have gathered, lately I have been on a kimono buying spree but I have another hobby which is even more expensive!
Corset!!!
Before I started on kimono my first fashion love are corsets. I have loved them for as long as I can remember and though people kept saying that they are fetish wear, I think they are gorgeous.
I have only three in my collection but with the cheapest on being £100 you can understand why I only have three.
£100 can buy you a lot of kimono.
As such, my next corset will be a custom made but I don't have a design in mind.
Corset!!!
Before I started on kimono my first fashion love are corsets. I have loved them for as long as I can remember and though people kept saying that they are fetish wear, I think they are gorgeous.
I have only three in my collection but with the cheapest on being £100 you can understand why I only have three.
£100 can buy you a lot of kimono.
As such, my next corset will be a custom made but I don't have a design in mind.
6 October 2009
One has gone a little overboard!
The following photos were taken after one of my friends took a picture of their kimono collection.
I feel SOOOOO guilty for buying to much.
But I do love everything and to show how sad I am, I actually enjoyed rearranging my wardrobe to fit all my kimono items into it.
Here is some close up of my kimono
Now the obi
I wish I had more time to wear them!
I feel SOOOOO guilty for buying to much.
But I do love everything and to show how sad I am, I actually enjoyed rearranging my wardrobe to fit all my kimono items into it.
Here is some close up of my kimono
Now the obi
I wish I had more time to wear them!
2 October 2009
I feel like moaning about annual appraisals.
Sigh..........work can be very trying for me. Ok with current economic being bad one should be glad that there is still a job for me and that there is no redundancy planned at my company. However it is the time of year for annual appraisals!
This year has been a bit of a challenge. I am doing well on my studies but it does not seem to be showing in my actual work. This means my progression through the ranks has been slow and as such managers are not happy. Unhappy managers means they don't like you and they will not book you for future work.
What does one do? Clearly doing my best is not working and although people have offered suggestions they don't seem to be working.
I can not help but feel depressed.
On a lighter note, I have purchase more kimono accessories!
Two pairs of lovely geta!
And another kinchaku bag which is slight bigger then my current one.
One has been very busy at Ryu Trading!
This year has been a bit of a challenge. I am doing well on my studies but it does not seem to be showing in my actual work. This means my progression through the ranks has been slow and as such managers are not happy. Unhappy managers means they don't like you and they will not book you for future work.
What does one do? Clearly doing my best is not working and although people have offered suggestions they don't seem to be working.
I can not help but feel depressed.
On a lighter note, I have purchase more kimono accessories!
Two pairs of lovely geta!
Another purple obi.
And another kinchaku bag which is slight bigger then my current one.
One has been very busy at Ryu Trading!
28 September 2009
Japan Matsuri 2009
It has been over a week since this event but I have been very busy. Anyway not only I am interested in kanzashi, I love kimono! And there is nothing better then getting dressed up in kimono for an event or whenever.
A group of my friends from immortalgeisha website decided to meetup for the event and what a day it was!
This was my outfit for the day.
I'm the one on the right by the way.
I heard that it was going to be 20 c in London so I decided to wear my ro kimono with a loose woven hakata obi which has been sitting in my wardrobe for over a year so what better co-ordination.
Here is a group photo of the day!
Don't we all look cute ^_^ , my friend in the red kimono was interviewed by a Japanese news channel and you can find it on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5NIsF-iDd4
)which means she is famous.
My friend managed to get a closeup picture of me wearing my hanagushi that I made for the day but I don't have a copy of it however here it is when I just finished it.
At some point I should have the courage so make and sell them but at the moment I don't.
31 May 2009
New Kanzashi!
I have been meaning to make one of these for ages just because I thought I could.
So finally after much planning I made it yesterday.
My first concentric plum kanzashi made out of white and lilac fabric.
9 May 2009
It has been a while since I have posted something. That is mainly due to the fact that I have been pre-occupied with things. Nothing important but for some reason I have been going through things in my head and it has taken up a lot of time. Like I spent my Saturday evening just watching tv because it is the only time my brain feels at peace.
Well I should rest my weary head now.
Well I should rest my weary head now.
22 April 2009
Hello there
This is my first blog and well I don't have much to say at the moment.I am currently trying to figure out my current plan on selling my kanzashi hairclips.
Early in the year I went to the Japanese Art Festival in Richmond and one of my friends came up with the idea of selling my kanzashi at the next festival which is in July.
For those who are interested, here is the website:
http://www.japaneseartfestival.com/
I have met the organiser a few times at other Japanese events and she is a very nice lady who is very passionate about Japanese culture.
Anyway, I am trying to make these clips but I am unsure if I should start selling now because they do take some time to make and I have a lot to do. These is due to the fact that I am working full time and also studying for my professional qualifications so making these flowers can only be done during the weekend (inbetween my studying of course).
What is one suppose to do???
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