So much has been happening...

And luckily I have captured it all on film :-)

I will upload the pics of the main events when I get back from ... PARIS!

Yes, I am finally going to catch up with my old Canadian roomies; Mims and Maja in the most amazing city ever. I cannot wait to see what it looks like at Summer time!!!!

SO EXCITED!

I am off to the station now... have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Shhh, Shh...

It's oh so quiet.
It's oh so..... LIBRARY LIKE?

HMMMMM.... What the...?

So, we have moved floors in our office - we are now sitting where the 'important' people are located.
It's like a library.

No wait, its worse.... there is not even any whispering.

I cannot imagine being 50 and looking back over my working years, and having this to reflect on. Being in this envionment for the next 10 years of my life or even longer.

SO I have made a pretty important decision to do something crazy.

After I have thought about it more, I may share it.

The basic criteria it has to fit:

Feeling the blood rush through my body, getting natural energy from what I do, and loving it (and at the very least loving most of it more than the other parts!)

Time Out

Sometimes you just need time out.

This weekend was mega time out for me... relaxing, doing things I love, being with people who I adore, doing simple things.

It was a weekend of thinking aswell.

Thinking:

What do I want from my time in Netherlands?
What do I want from my next role?
Where am I going?
What are the things I really love and what I don't?

It was a weekend of listening to music that cleanses my soul.

Phantom of the Opera
Amelie Soundtrack
We will rock you musical
Disney Musicals

It was a weekend where I went to the movies - something that I REALLY love. Unfortunately I missed Dancer in the Dark, the Danish movie that was playing as part of the European film festival, and which I have been meaning to see for ages. BUT I did see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Thumbs up! Johnny Depp does a freakish Willy Wonka.

It was a weekend of healthy eating, as I am starting a new healthy Mazzy regime which involves water instead of Diet Coke, gym, and voluntary exercise! Thats a new one!

Anyway, a good and much needed weekend break. Will put photos up soon!

Finding Gold

Was at work cleaning the office, and I found all these oober groovy psychological tests, and materials from a European psychologists conference that our learning guy attended.

NOW in my possession I have the Myers Briggs Qualification kit - to become a qualified MBTI consultant.

LOVING THAT!

I could not wait to go home and read about it, OH how people fascinate me :-)!!!

Comfortability

You know you are with good friends when you can plan to meet at a cafe, and not actually talk. One person is reading, another is writing, another is reflecting looking out the window.

This has got to be the essence of comfortability.

Someones you need to be with people, but also by yourself.

Am I going insane?

It's funny. I have been feeling really motivated lately by the subtle changes I see happening in the workplace. People talking, sing a song vouchers gaining popularity on other floors, people wanting to spend time socially...it's all very positive. And my connection with the bank, and the people in it is definately increasing... or so I thought.

It's easy though, when you are painting a room in a house to get into that room, to start to decorate it, try to make it a place that you would feel more at home in, and funny enough you start to forget the bigger house. You forget that it was the house that you used to care about, that you had plans for, that motivated you into action. You realise that whilst you have been spending all your energy and time on the one room, a room in fact you are only making look good because you have to live in it. Because it is safe to stay living it, and think about further decorating the house, instead of moving into a new room, or rennovating the entire thing.

But what you want to do REALLY is to move into another room.

You REALLY want to at least see the other rooms.

And sometimes people visit you from the other rooms, or remind you 'Mazzy, what about the rest of the house - didn't you have plans to make bigger changes to it?

Gosh.... I do not know if I am only making sense to myself.... but I think that is exactly what i am doing here at ABN AMRO. I think the things that I have to offer the room, are better suited in other areas of the house.... but when I am in this one room, one that I dont like terribly alot, but one which can seem ok at times - well I start to focus on the room and not the bigger picture..

Am I making sense?

Do I think too much?

What is going on with me?

Something new?

I am in a restless mood.

I want to do something I have never done before, something out of my comfort zone.

Any ideas?

My Colleagues

IMG_0027, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Himanshu and Ilona hard at work :-)

IMG_0017, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Himanshu and Rashida at the infamous coffee machine where I get all my hot chocolates!!!

Himanshu is a colleague, and Rashida drives me to work each day!

IMG_0028, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

One of my lovely guardians, Claire!

IMG_0024, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

I sit in the middle section between Private Clients Netherlands and my team, PC/NGM Human Resources.

In the corridor, so I can talk to people as they walk by ;-) And give them lollies !!

ORM, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Operational Risk Management - I LOVE these guys!!!

Jan, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Jan from Finance in the smoking room. My pink bag was a good prop we thought :-)

Who said...

pink jacket, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

... that pink and corporate do not go in the same sentence?

I beg to differ.

Last weekend I found THE most amazing addition for my corporate wardrobe. Something that makes me feel good walking into work, less like a suit, more me.

Behold my new pink power jacket.

I can take on the world in this thing, I really can.

I simply had to share it :-)

THE Evidence

U2 tickets, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

The tickets, the backstage pass, a sign we stole while we were backstage.

These will all go in my Netherlands scrapbook....

Amazing how a simple picture can captue a whole nights worth of fun, isn't it?!

Images of goodness

See also Maria and Ericas sites for cool weekend pics!

ai2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

J&L, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

pais, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

dance, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Eu, elisa, helena, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Elisa, eu, lana, raquel, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

What's the word? FAMILY

So, last night I went to the AI transition party in Rotterdam, and reunited with people who I truely consider part of my global family.

I have to confess though that upon arriving I was absolutely knackered from U2, totally drained of any energy - even talking seemed a difficult feat (and that is very unusual I have to admit). So under any other circumstance I would have stayed in and watched movies at home.

But not last night when people whom I have met in different countries, at different times, and have not seen for AGES were in town.

Not an option to stay in.

So I took a stiff upper lip and headed towards Rotterdam with some other trainees from Amsterdam.

And after 30 minutes or so at The Loft seeing old faces, sharing hugs etc I totally forgot I was even tired, I was energised just from the atmosphere and the people.

Luckily... as the night concluded at like 6am.

Gosh, I cannot even express how amazing it was to see people that really mean something to me.... Rob, Taco, Arthur, Tom, Mils, Sam, Diego, Dey, Szymon, Lanchanie, Maria.... gosh the list is just TOO long.

The night was typically take someone outside for a good talk, get a drink but get stopped every two minutes along the way by people and faces with smiles.... and a big 'MAZZY'!!!

So I feel very content at the moment - realising that although I may not see people every day, no amount of time changes the relationships I share with them.

Will write more tomorrow.... and post some pics.

But this weekend has truely KICKED ASS!!!

Vertigo 05

So I just arrived home from the MOST AMAZING night ever.

U2 Vertigo 2005.

And itexceeded expectations.

The thing is, the VIP tickets that Frances secured for us got us literally 5 metres from Bono in the exclusiveVIP stage area the centre of the Amsterdam Arena. Imagine ACTUALLY being less than 5 metres from Bono and the band.

Then imagine that you got backstage passes- YEP we talked and walked our tickets behind the scenes and 'took' some memorabilia whilst we were there.

My goodness, I have no voice, I am completely dehydrated but mega pumped.

Frances babe, you gave me the night of my life.

Thank you does not seem enough.

It was U2 in the BEST possible spot with the craziest person.

I'm so excited!

And I just can't hide it!

I'm about to go to U2 and I think I'll like it!

Ok. So I am going to U2 tonight, and I am soooooo unbelievably excited.

I am like a person high on drugs.

I can't stop smiling.
I can't stop dancing.
I can't stop doing crazy things.
I can't stop BEAMING actually...

BEAMING.
GLOWING.
LIT UP.

Thats how I feel.

It's like Santa has come and filled up my heart with the best present ever...

One letter
One number

U2.

Anticipation

I have to confess that I have the biggest feeling of anticipation for the upcoming weekend.

It is going to be MEGA!

First I have the all amazing -I can't believe I am even going - U2 concert on Friday night.

Then on Saturday is the AI transition party where I will see so many people I have not seen in ages... good friends from my time in AIESEC. The whole danish MC and MCe are attending, Mark, Maria, all the Amsterdam guys, the AI teams of course, and probably alot of suprise people that I have no idea about.

I can't wait to party with some amazing people!!!!

U2 are HERE!!!

I am getting so excited seeing all of the people waiting for U2 outside my workplace at ABN AMRO. You see we are only 5 mins from the stadium where they will be playing for the next 3 nights - so there have been people waiting outside since I came to work this morning, ready for tonights opening concert.

Also whilst driving to work with my colleague we spotted the U2 bus, carrying the crew and bandmembers... how cool is that!

Another colleague also told me how he met Bono when in Monaco years ago, just on the sidewalk, and they talked about rental cars in The Netherlands....

HOW RANDOM!!!

(but cool)

Anyway, getting more excited. Check out the playlist below:

______________________________________________________________________________
The Play List

VertigoI Will FollowElectric Co.ElevationNew Year¹s DayBeautiful DayI Still Haven¹t Found What I'm Looking ForAll I Want is YouCity of Blinding LightsMiracle DrugSometimes You Can't Make it on Your OwnLove and PeaceSunday Bloody SundayBullet The Blue SkyRunning to StandstillPride in the Name of loveWhere the Streets have no nameOneZoo StationThe FlyWith or Without YouAll Because of YouYahwehVertigo
_______________________________________________________

Getting Away, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

I have this weird feeling at the moment that I want to escape, to take a vacation, to have a sabbatical if only for a few days, or a week. I want to be alone, to work through stuff for my future options, to think about the experiences that I have had in the different countries, to relax, to take time out for ME.

And come to think of it, it has really been a long time since I have actually taken a vacation style trip. Not a travel trip, not a hanging out at friends house trip but a vacation in the way i think of it:

Beach, sand, surf, sun, books, dinners, relaxing.

It has been so long since I have had THAT type of vacation, the type that re-energises my soul, that kicks me into shape to hit the real world again for a longer period.

I am actually thinking of booking a trip to Italy, or Southern France, or Spain...

To vacate.... what an amazing thought :-)

Small Steps...

SUCCESS!!
So we ran our level 6 drinks and trivia night, and in the end it was a GREAT night!
Over 50 people rocked up - in part due to the mammoth promotional campaign :-)
SO HAPPY!
It really has made a small change in the atmosphere around here... little steps, little steps ;-

Giving Weekends a Good Name

I just had the kind of weekend that gives weekends a good name.
Catching up with old friends, making new friends, enjoying the sun, shopping, live bands, video night, the movies...
Now I need another weekend to recover from it!

Ode to Frances

The AMAZING gal who manages to score TWO VIP TICKETS to U2.

I will be going with her next Friday...

HOW ROCKING IS THAT!?!!!

Irritated.

I have fundamental problems with people who think that just because I have a mobile phone, I should be accssible 24 hours in the day.

Sometimes I may see a call and not want to answer
Sometimes I may want to respond at a later time
Sometimes I am busy,and don't accept the call

Sometimes,I am just plain not in the mood forpeople.

The phone is something thattells me people are trying to make contact with me- it's up to me whetherI want or will allow that contact.

SO irritated about this.

The Boys

The Boys, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Threesome

Threesome, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Threesome

Threesome, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Verdict

So what do you get when you add Bergio, Huy and Maz, some wine, some lasagne and some candles...

THE BEST NIGHT EVER!

Nothing beats catching up with close friends :-)

Just Half an hour

Till the mega reunion with Huy, Bergio and fingers crossed for Pete.

The excitement is driving me crazy!

Could the stars be relevant?

Interesting, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

My Boys

Getting excited because tomorrow night I am catching up with some of my boys - specifically Huy, Bergio and possibly Pete (due to a last minute phone call by Berg and I last night to the man of no communication!)

This will be the first time we have been together since August last year - and I am so pumped about the reunion.

The plan?

Wine, snacks and HOURS UPON HOURS of catch up!

It's always an amazing feeling to catch up with people who mean so much to you, and who you know inside out.

We have been through alot together, and changed together, so it will be amazing to hear about the new changes and life developments since we have been apart.

Tomorrow's THE day!

Rain Rain...

...Go away
Come back another day!

Monday is bad enough without adding rain to the equation.

It's simply crap to wake up in snuggly warm blankets to look outside the window and see grey rainy skys.

At times like these, I wish for 'RAIN FREEDOM' days - where workplaces allow employees 'SNUGGLE' will, so that they may stay in bed under the proviso they still achieve their weekly outcomes.

I would SO be a fan of something like that.

Hip & Happening!

mum & nicky, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

The amazing people you see in this picture are my sister and my mum.

My sis has just recently joined AIESEC, and is totally pumped about it. To be honest, I must admit that it is nice to have someone that you are so close to, and love so much, actually understand what you have been going on about for years.

But it is weird meeting up with Taco, and hearing him say 'Gosh you sound like your sister!!!'.

MY sister?

Weird to be connected through the same people again.

She also met a good friend of mine, Carl at a Pub night and they both smsed me!

BABE I MISS YOU!!!

Huge Huge Hugs

Love Mazzy xx

Star Sign Reading ... say what?

Today, Friday, July 01, 2005

After weeks of trying to find ways around certain rather disheartening obstacles, you were just about to give up. Now suddenly the tide has turned. Ironically, when you gave up, you also give things a push. In relinquishing one set of goals, you cleared the way for the realisation of other, equally worthwhile, ones.

What does it mean?

ABN AMRO Collage

Collage, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Happy Canada Day

For a country that is a part of my heart, HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Oh, how I miss it in Montreal.... what a special place it is ...

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY all my friends in Canada, MWAH xx

candles, originally uploaded by Mazzy.