It's been a long time since I have blogged, probably 3 years ago. I guess I got busy after university with work and life in general that I didn't have time to keep it up.
However, since I finished my ACA exams last summer and am now a qualified accountant, I thought that I would get back to blogging with the extra time I now had.
Some things have changed a lot in three years, and some things are still the same.
I'm still working at PwC although my role has changed somewhat and now I have the skills and experience to lead the audits and manage staff. I also feel that I have grown into a more confident individual, who finds it easier to meet and talk to new people, although I remain quite self-conscious.
I have just browsed over the last few entries which I made in 2006/7 all full of the excitement and hope common in new graduates about to start their lives after University.
And now, well graduates today probably don't feel the same way as I did since the recession now means that 1 in 4 face difficulty in getting their first job.
Take my brother, R, who graduated in 2008 at the start of the recession, and who is still trying to break into the finance industry. This is proving to be very tough. Sometimes he gets right down to the final interview and it is all going well, and then he either doesn't here back from them, or they say that they are no longer recruiting!
Fortunately, R has taken this unexpected free time that he has to try starting-up new ventures:
Fingers crossed!
Does anyone still have problems eating out as a veggie/with dietary requirements?
My main gripe is going to events or work related team outings. No matter how many times I have sent out emails or mentioned that i'm a lacto-veggie, I still turn up to the events and the meals always tend to have limited if non-existant veggie options.
Take last Monday. I went to a country club in West London as part of our Department's Day Out. The day was going well until lunch. Where everyone else had a choice of five dishes, veggie only had one option and to be honest it was lazy and bland - a small bowl of cold noodles (I don't even know if they were eggless so tasted a bit and left the rest) with a pitiful number of toasted cashews and some cold pieces of squash. No sauce, no seasoning whatsoever!
Dinner, an indoor BBQ type meal because of the rain wasn't really any better. A few veggie kebabs with an unidentifiable beige thing - which I think was tofu - not sure, and some veggie sausages.
Needless to say, I was glad to eat a proper meal when I returned home.
It's not the first time either. When I was having my graduate welcome event last year, I had to go complain to the waiters because there was no food on the menu that didn't contain eggs. Luckily, they agreed to rustle up something else for me - but it did mean waiting an extra 20mins for my meal.
Restaurants are starting to get better with the options they provide but corporate events still seem to be lacking behind.
I'm going on holiday soon - a few nights in Barcelona and then onto a med cruise. I'm hoping that we won't have similar problems there. For Barca i'm doing a bit of research today for veggie restaurants in the area since my spanish isn't too hot so I don't fancy my chances of ordering correctly in any random restaurant.
Has anyone else had similar expereinces/eaten out in Barca?
My main gripe is going to events or work related team outings. No matter how many times I have sent out emails or mentioned that i'm a lacto-veggie, I still turn up to the events and the meals always tend to have limited if non-existant veggie options.
Take last Monday. I went to a country club in West London as part of our Department's Day Out. The day was going well until lunch. Where everyone else had a choice of five dishes, veggie only had one option and to be honest it was lazy and bland - a small bowl of cold noodles (I don't even know if they were eggless so tasted a bit and left the rest) with a pitiful number of toasted cashews and some cold pieces of squash. No sauce, no seasoning whatsoever!
Dinner, an indoor BBQ type meal because of the rain wasn't really any better. A few veggie kebabs with an unidentifiable beige thing - which I think was tofu - not sure, and some veggie sausages.
Needless to say, I was glad to eat a proper meal when I returned home.
It's not the first time either. When I was having my graduate welcome event last year, I had to go complain to the waiters because there was no food on the menu that didn't contain eggs. Luckily, they agreed to rustle up something else for me - but it did mean waiting an extra 20mins for my meal.
Restaurants are starting to get better with the options they provide but corporate events still seem to be lacking behind.
I'm going on holiday soon - a few nights in Barcelona and then onto a med cruise. I'm hoping that we won't have similar problems there. For Barca i'm doing a bit of research today for veggie restaurants in the area since my spanish isn't too hot so I don't fancy my chances of ordering correctly in any random restaurant.
Has anyone else had similar expereinces/eaten out in Barca?
I've been browsing around other blogs this evening and seeing so many people taking photos has given me the bug to do the same.
You'll have to excuse my amateur shots though - I haven't really taken photos before except when I go out with friends.
At the moment I don't have a good camera so I'll have to rely on my camera phone, which, at 2 mega-pixels isn't that bad but nowhere near as good as even a standard digital or film camera.
So watch this space! Hopefully there will be some photos from my daily sights around London and the South-East coming this way soon.
You'll have to excuse my amateur shots though - I haven't really taken photos before except when I go out with friends.
At the moment I don't have a good camera so I'll have to rely on my camera phone, which, at 2 mega-pixels isn't that bad but nowhere near as good as even a standard digital or film camera.
So watch this space! Hopefully there will be some photos from my daily sights around London and the South-East coming this way soon.
Haven't posted anything here for about 2 months now. I guess I've been really busy with work since this is when we are out doing the final stages of the audits before companies publish their financial reports.
This week my work has taken me to a client down in Kent. Quite a nice place although the clients offices were in a business park and far away from any town so it felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. Plus the 2 hour journey was quite a killer by the end of the week. Perhaps I should have stayed in a hotel for the week but I didn't fancy having to hang around in Kent by myself.
I finally managed to meet up with a few friends last month for dinner which was fun. Didn't realise how difficult it would become to meet up once we all started working.
Am planning to organise a big meet up over next few weeks for lunch and a trip to the theatre. I haven't been to see any big productions in the West End before ( I know, shocking seeing that I've lived in London my whole life) so I've decided to rectify this.
This week my work has taken me to a client down in Kent. Quite a nice place although the clients offices were in a business park and far away from any town so it felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. Plus the 2 hour journey was quite a killer by the end of the week. Perhaps I should have stayed in a hotel for the week but I didn't fancy having to hang around in Kent by myself.
I finally managed to meet up with a few friends last month for dinner which was fun. Didn't realise how difficult it would become to meet up once we all started working.
Am planning to organise a big meet up over next few weeks for lunch and a trip to the theatre. I haven't been to see any big productions in the West End before ( I know, shocking seeing that I've lived in London my whole life) so I've decided to rectify this.
Been on holiday for two weeks now. I really needed some time at home lazing around over Christmas just to do nothing.
Hopefully, this will keep me going through the long hours I face as I plunge into The Busy Season upon my return to work. I've heard many a story about late nights, long hours and basically absence of any life during January-March every year.
Well, Christmas as went mostly as planned. Went to a party on Christmas Eve which went quite well, met some new people and had a good game of poker to end the evening.
Christmas day itself involved eating a large meal for lunch, me handing out surprise presents to my family (we haven't really done the present-giving thing for a few years now since went aren't Christian. But this year I saw the tree we had up looking pretty empty and it was the first year that I actually had a job so I thought I should treat everyone to a little something). Oh and in the evening we had to drive to the airport to drop off my Grandma who was traveling to India to escape the British weather for a few months.
Boxing Day was celebrated in typical fashin - going to the sales. We actually manged to find a few items in the crowded shops. However, our main focus was on getting a new wardrobe for my Dad in a last ditch attempt to make him appear trendy. I must say, we've done a pretty good job. More shopping followed on Wednesday also.
Thursday through to Sunday was spent visiting family in various parts of London. Cue more huge meals, lots of board games, laughs and, what seems to have become a compulsory for all family gatherings, a friendly game of poker (no money mind you!).
All in all, a great week.
This week on the other hand has been pretty uneventful and I've been feeling very bored. On New Year's Day, I killed some time by rambling around IKEA (just found out I was spotted there by an old acquaintance - it always feels strange to me when I meet/see people I know from somewhere in places I wouldn't expect ...anyway i'm going off-topic...) and since then I've been reduced to watching telly most of the day and playing xbx360 with my brother. A shame that I didn't manage to arrange a meet up with my Uni friends and now most of then are back at work. At some points I was even considering going back to work this week myself, and saving some of these holidays for later.
Oh well, I did manage to catch up on Lost, Prison Break and The OC this week so it hasn't been that pointless!
Hopefully, this will keep me going through the long hours I face as I plunge into The Busy Season upon my return to work. I've heard many a story about late nights, long hours and basically absence of any life during January-March every year.
Well, Christmas as went mostly as planned. Went to a party on Christmas Eve which went quite well, met some new people and had a good game of poker to end the evening.
Christmas day itself involved eating a large meal for lunch, me handing out surprise presents to my family (we haven't really done the present-giving thing for a few years now since went aren't Christian. But this year I saw the tree we had up looking pretty empty and it was the first year that I actually had a job so I thought I should treat everyone to a little something). Oh and in the evening we had to drive to the airport to drop off my Grandma who was traveling to India to escape the British weather for a few months.
Boxing Day was celebrated in typical fashin - going to the sales. We actually manged to find a few items in the crowded shops. However, our main focus was on getting a new wardrobe for my Dad in a last ditch attempt to make him appear trendy. I must say, we've done a pretty good job. More shopping followed on Wednesday also.
Thursday through to Sunday was spent visiting family in various parts of London. Cue more huge meals, lots of board games, laughs and, what seems to have become a compulsory for all family gatherings, a friendly game of poker (no money mind you!).
All in all, a great week.
This week on the other hand has been pretty uneventful and I've been feeling very bored. On New Year's Day, I killed some time by rambling around IKEA (just found out I was spotted there by an old acquaintance - it always feels strange to me when I meet/see people I know from somewhere in places I wouldn't expect ...anyway i'm going off-topic...) and since then I've been reduced to watching telly most of the day and playing xbx360 with my brother. A shame that I didn't manage to arrange a meet up with my Uni friends and now most of then are back at work. At some points I was even considering going back to work this week myself, and saving some of these holidays for later.
Oh well, I did manage to catch up on Lost, Prison Break and The OC this week so it hasn't been that pointless!
The first week was mostly an Induction to working at PwC and was a chance to get to know the rest of the London intake a bit better. Cue lots of talks, lunches, dinners, business games and a welcome event on the London Eye (after 3 years of going to university a stone's throw from the attraction....oh, the irony.). By the time we received our laptops at the end of the week and had our photos taken for ID, it was really starting to sink in that we were now members of the firm. However, I was still relieved when the weekend rolled over and soaked in the sun whilst watching a friendly game of family cricket.
The second week signalled the start of my ACA course, with the whole week spent in college on a crash course in Accounting. The week was execptionally busy and we were given lots of homework to complete outside of class too. Since I was going out for my friend's 22nd, I got slightly behind schedule and had to spend the weekend catching up on homework as well as revising for an exam on Monday.
The third week followed a similar vein but was slightly more chilled. On Monday had Accounting exam - did reasonably well on it. Tuesday was a 'business board game', the aim of which was to bring bookkeeping alive :P, in any case, it was a welcome break from college work. Wednesday and Friday were spent learning the fundamentals of Audit and Assurance for my second exam subject. Thursday was the designated PwC Day, and was meant to be a chance to learn more about the IT systems but ended up being more about socialising and having jokes with our team.
All in all, it's been quite good so far. Another test tomorrow and then more learning at college. Although I'm having a good time and it is making the transition from uni to work a bit easier (though still missing my friends), I can't wait till I actually start going out on client work.
The second week signalled the start of my ACA course, with the whole week spent in college on a crash course in Accounting. The week was execptionally busy and we were given lots of homework to complete outside of class too. Since I was going out for my friend's 22nd, I got slightly behind schedule and had to spend the weekend catching up on homework as well as revising for an exam on Monday.
The third week followed a similar vein but was slightly more chilled. On Monday had Accounting exam - did reasonably well on it. Tuesday was a 'business board game', the aim of which was to bring bookkeeping alive :P, in any case, it was a welcome break from college work. Wednesday and Friday were spent learning the fundamentals of Audit and Assurance for my second exam subject. Thursday was the designated PwC Day, and was meant to be a chance to learn more about the IT systems but ended up being more about socialising and having jokes with our team.
All in all, it's been quite good so far. Another test tomorrow and then more learning at college. Although I'm having a good time and it is making the transition from uni to work a bit easier (though still missing my friends), I can't wait till I actually start going out on client work.
So after spending a few days trying to figure out the differences between Business Casual and Smart Casual I've finally started to pack my suitcase for my Induction Welcome Event.
I can't believe that I'm actually starting work. The summer holidays has flown by, who knew 3 months wasn't really that long.
This week i've been doing last minute preperations, filling out forms, photocopying passports and attempting the stack of pre-reading material.
Woke up extremely early this morning, I guess due to the mix of nerves and excitment. Hopefully, this first week will go smoothly and i'll be part of a nice team.
Well, fingers-crossed...
I can't believe that I'm actually starting work. The summer holidays has flown by, who knew 3 months wasn't really that long.
This week i've been doing last minute preperations, filling out forms, photocopying passports and attempting the stack of pre-reading material.
Woke up extremely early this morning, I guess due to the mix of nerves and excitment. Hopefully, this first week will go smoothly and i'll be part of a nice team.
Well, fingers-crossed...
I've now had about 12 hours of driving lessons and booked another 10 hours this morning. So far I've learnt clutch control, moving off and steering and hoave had some experience of roundabouts. Hopefully I'll start learning more manovers now. I feel like i'm taking quite long to learn the basics - well actually, I feel i'm doing okay but I think the instructor is taking me quite slow. However, he keeps telling me that he wants me to know how to do everything perfectly before I get started on manovers. Hopefully, I'll not have any more 'off-days' from now on.
Spent the last two weeks with my cousins, mostly playing video games, board games and watching movies. It was a fun time and I tried to make the most of it seeing as I won't be able to stay over as often once I start working. Now I'm back I find it extremely quiet at home and a bit weird.
I've been busy this morning sorting through all the forms I need to fill in and send off before I start work. I should also start on the pre-reading material about Assurance and Accounting this week. I have to admit that I'm feeling nervous already, but I always feel this way when I know a huge change is about to happen.
Will try to meet up with my friends sometime this week or next - we still need to celebrate both mine and F's birthday.
Spent the last two weeks with my cousins, mostly playing video games, board games and watching movies. It was a fun time and I tried to make the most of it seeing as I won't be able to stay over as often once I start working. Now I'm back I find it extremely quiet at home and a bit weird.
I've been busy this morning sorting through all the forms I need to fill in and send off before I start work. I should also start on the pre-reading material about Assurance and Accounting this week. I have to admit that I'm feeling nervous already, but I always feel this way when I know a huge change is about to happen.
Will try to meet up with my friends sometime this week or next - we still need to celebrate both mine and F's birthday.
After three years of hard work and fun university is finally over. My reward for all those long days spent revising during the holidays and working diligently on courseworks: a first! (YAY - 1st). I glad to say it wasn't just all work, in fact, I think I had the most fun in my 3rd year of university - going out for long lunches and dinners, movies, bowling, theme parks, random conversations on the 'red' chairs, freaky Fridays with my friends....
I had my graduation ceremony on Tuesday 18th July. It took place at the Barbican on what must have been one of the most hottest days of the year. My family took the train into central London and the heat was unbearable. Also, there was no air-con in the Barbican Centre which made lining up for photographs and tickets quite exhausting.
However, once we put on our cape and gowns, it really started to feel like we were graduating. The ceremony was quite long but it was good to hear about all the achievements of King's and to see so many of my friends and classmates graduating. When it was finally my turn I walked up onto the stage and felt a great sense of acomplishment, especially when I saw the faces of my parents and brother smiling in the audience.
I managed to take some photos during the reception with my friends and finally had a chance to chat to them and their families. We even took photos of throwing our hats in the air - US TV Stylee!
I had my graduation ceremony on Tuesday 18th July. It took place at the Barbican on what must have been one of the most hottest days of the year. My family took the train into central London and the heat was unbearable. Also, there was no air-con in the Barbican Centre which made lining up for photographs and tickets quite exhausting.
However, once we put on our cape and gowns, it really started to feel like we were graduating. The ceremony was quite long but it was good to hear about all the achievements of King's and to see so many of my friends and classmates graduating. When it was finally my turn I walked up onto the stage and felt a great sense of acomplishment, especially when I saw the faces of my parents and brother smiling in the audience.
I managed to take some photos during the reception with my friends and finally had a chance to chat to them and their families. We even took photos of throwing our hats in the air - US TV Stylee!
Came back yesterday afternoon from a very long holiday visiting the West coast of the US. Here is an outline of what I got up to during my 2 1/2weeks abroad:
Day 1: Arrived in San Francisco in the afternoon and was picked up by my uncle and his brothers. Went to his house in Fremont and met his family. Then was taken on a long drive around the area and saw where the Millionaires lived - basically on every street. Took a 2 mile walk around Central Park in an attempt to keep us all awake (by now it was early morning UK time). Met the rest of the family in the evening in a party organised for us though I was quite out of it for the most part - being jetlagged and very sleepy = extremely light-headed too!
Day 2: No rest for us..my uncle's bro took all of us on a trip Downtown to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and wow did the temperature drop. We had ignored his advice to bring our jackets along and boy did I regret it - there was a strong biting wind Downtown which gave me goosebumps, in contrast to the sheer heat in Fremont. The view though was breathtaking, we went higher up a mountain for an even better view and for a picnic for lunch.
Day 3: Time for a day at the beach. We drove for two hours to XXX beach (can't remeber the name). But it was very cold there and I saw a dead sea lion washed up onshore (aww so sad). Went shopping for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 4: We were finally let loose on our own and travelled on the train to Downtown to visit Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf,see the sealions, go on the cable cars and other touristy things. Had a fun time and heapings of icecream, chocolate dipped giant strawberrys and other sweet stuff. Also more shopping - Rishi wanted to buy everything in the American Eagle Outfitters store but settled on a few tees and some jeans :P.
Day 5: Took a rest in the morning and then went on a drive to see Stanford Uni - wow it was big! Had lunch in one of the best Indian Restaurants in the area.
Day 6: Last day so did more shopping and relaxed.
Day 7: Flight to Vegas. Toured some of the hotels in the evening.
Day 8-10: Touring the Hotels and Casinos. Saw a magic show (Rick Thomas?). Didn't get a chance to visit Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon though.
Day 11: Drove for 5 hours to LA. Went to visit some family in the evening.
Day 12: Disneyland all day.
Day 13: Disneyland California Adventure Park and visited some other relations.
Day 14: Were tired of themparks so went on a tour of the beaches of Orange County (the OC!). Starting at Dana Point Harbour, onto Laguna Beach (fantastic beach with great views and well manicured gardens, not to mention huge houses), Balboa Island, Newport (including Fashion Island Shopping Mall) and Huntington.
Day 15: Drove to San Diego and went to see the world famous San Diego Zoo.
Day 16: Watched the shows at Seaworld - the dolphins and sea lions were amazing. Drove back to LA.
Day 17: Took a drive around Downtown to see Hollywood Blvd, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Drive etc.
Day 18: Universal Studios and more shopping.
Day 19: Some more last minute shopping before a rush to the airport and a Long flight home.
Day 1: Arrived in San Francisco in the afternoon and was picked up by my uncle and his brothers. Went to his house in Fremont and met his family. Then was taken on a long drive around the area and saw where the Millionaires lived - basically on every street. Took a 2 mile walk around Central Park in an attempt to keep us all awake (by now it was early morning UK time). Met the rest of the family in the evening in a party organised for us though I was quite out of it for the most part - being jetlagged and very sleepy = extremely light-headed too!
Day 2: No rest for us..my uncle's bro took all of us on a trip Downtown to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and wow did the temperature drop. We had ignored his advice to bring our jackets along and boy did I regret it - there was a strong biting wind Downtown which gave me goosebumps, in contrast to the sheer heat in Fremont. The view though was breathtaking, we went higher up a mountain for an even better view and for a picnic for lunch.
Day 3: Time for a day at the beach. We drove for two hours to XXX beach (can't remeber the name). But it was very cold there and I saw a dead sea lion washed up onshore (aww so sad). Went shopping for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 4: We were finally let loose on our own and travelled on the train to Downtown to visit Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf,see the sealions, go on the cable cars and other touristy things. Had a fun time and heapings of icecream, chocolate dipped giant strawberrys and other sweet stuff. Also more shopping - Rishi wanted to buy everything in the American Eagle Outfitters store but settled on a few tees and some jeans :P.
Day 5: Took a rest in the morning and then went on a drive to see Stanford Uni - wow it was big! Had lunch in one of the best Indian Restaurants in the area.
Day 6: Last day so did more shopping and relaxed.
Day 7: Flight to Vegas. Toured some of the hotels in the evening.
Day 8-10: Touring the Hotels and Casinos. Saw a magic show (Rick Thomas?). Didn't get a chance to visit Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon though.
Day 11: Drove for 5 hours to LA. Went to visit some family in the evening.
Day 12: Disneyland all day.
Day 13: Disneyland California Adventure Park and visited some other relations.
Day 14: Were tired of themparks so went on a tour of the beaches of Orange County (the OC!). Starting at Dana Point Harbour, onto Laguna Beach (fantastic beach with great views and well manicured gardens, not to mention huge houses), Balboa Island, Newport (including Fashion Island Shopping Mall) and Huntington.
Day 15: Drove to San Diego and went to see the world famous San Diego Zoo.
Day 16: Watched the shows at Seaworld - the dolphins and sea lions were amazing. Drove back to LA.
Day 17: Took a drive around Downtown to see Hollywood Blvd, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Drive etc.
Day 18: Universal Studios and more shopping.
Day 19: Some more last minute shopping before a rush to the airport and a Long flight home.
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