Blackberry a convenience, or is it?

If you own a Blackberry and you have it for personal use rather than for corporate use, then you probably had the same issues as I did. This article does not tell you how to crack your BB.

I got a BB Pearl 8100 from a provider and I use it without a data plan only for voice and SMS. That really sucks because that wasnt my reason for getting it in the first place. As per submitting to a data plan, I dont want it because I dont want the emails, corporate data, corporate applications etc. I just want to use the internet for web surfing, checking my email as I have been doing even with my old Sony Ericsson.

Every BB HAS TO HAVE A LICENSE. And the primary reasons they sell BlackBerries is to increase the usage and GSM Operators plus RIM (Research In Motion) push people to sign up for a data plan if they want to use a BlackBerry. This is one of the problems you have to be aware of if you are planning to buy one.

Cloudy and Cold Weekend

Past two weeks have been busy with visitors at home, having to take on extra work-especially after the leave of a colleague-and having a cold, still not fully recovered. Plus on top of these, what they call the spring depression took over my mood. Well, know that I have it, I can give advice. Spring fatigue or spring depression is described as changes in the metabolism due to climate change, affecting human body and psychology, resulting in lack of enthusiasm, tiredness, drowsiness. Plus taking the clocks one hour forward has an affect on our body rithm. They say the best ways to get over the spring depression you should:-

-go and see friends, socialise

-take vitamins and lots of liquid

-get enough sleep

-physical exercise

For the sake of coping with this I tried to do all above and went to see friends last night, and we decided to have an early Sunday to go and have breakfast by the Bosphorus. So woke up early, they collected me and took to this cute place. Now, a great cafe that I will recommend: Nar Cafe (http://www.cafenar.com/). It's a very small cafe and has a cute design - reminded me of the cafe Effie took me by the flee market in Tel Aviv, they have mismatching elements- but better with the view of the bridge and water. Then we went another, this time very big place right by the water. It is amazing how crowded the coast line cafes and restaurants can be on a cloudy and cold Sunday morning.. Hope the clouds disappear soon.

Oblomov Syndrome

A friend of mine recently told me he is reading a book from the Russian writer Ivan Goncharov, and the main character of the book is a guy called Oblomov. This character is always creating new projects in his mind but never putting any of them in action. He is creating a world for himself, he is always busy, doing nothing...

This character reminded me of a situation I had with a friend recently who has been constantly telling me that they will do a certain thing for the last 3 weeks and not doing it. The intention is there. But it's not enough. Well, I have an intention to buy a house, I have an intention to learn flamenco dance, I have an intention to move to Caribbbean.
Does that mean I am going to do these in the near future? No way! Everybody has an intention to do something; the thing is to put it into action and do it.
Intention is just a starting point, it's the trigger, but it means nothing unless you put it into action. So, do what you say. Because next time you say something, people will not believe you. You loose from your credibility if not already have...

A good English saying for this is: "Walk the walk not just talk the talk."

Uludağ- Skiing Holiday- Day 2

So peaceful and quiet was Uludağ....

And then it started....

And then this happened... So this is in short how we got stuck in the mountains. At least we were warm and nice only bored a bit but had lots of fun. Looking forward to do it again...

Uludağ- Skiing Holiday-Day 1

Took off Friday, 15th of Feb, to Uludağ, Bursa, the most popular skiing site in Turkey, with a
group of colleagues from work, as they organised it, and two of my friends, Halil and Hatice. Bursa is only 4 hours driving distance from Istanbul, so it is a great place for a weekend get away. (or is it?)

We arrived there Friday night, the temperature difference up in Uludağ Mountain was huge for us, we were all tired, so went to sleep early to start an early day Saturday.

Started an early Saturday morning, earger to start our skiing journey, beginning with renting skii equipment, finding the proper gears, getting our chair lift pass, and getting ready for a restless day. We also arranged a private lesson with a trainer at 11am, but we were ready and steady at 10.00 to start, so what do we do? We though we would do some practice before the trainer meets us. Good idea? No way!

The ski blades are sharp like a hot knife through butter and if you don't know how to stop, you better not stand on them. Ofcourse how do we know that? So thats how I ran into an equipment store with all my speed! Poor people they could only see something coming towards them and before they know, I bumped in!
After the discouraging start, we got our trainer and learned how to do it properly, as we should all do. He gave us the basics and took us to the top of the hill and we could ski! It was ever so easy and effortless, except for the moments we fall, as it is so difficult to get up again. The ski boots are so heavy and hard that you can not move when you fall.

The rest of the day was just practising and enjoying the skiing experience, going up and down the slopes. We had the famous hot wine, tasting like punch, and also had a detour to the military area, thanks to a bright (!) friend of mine. By the time we climbed back from the military area, we were way too tired and it was time to go back to our hotel. What a day it was... to be continued...

Valentines Day

Snowing softly in St Valentine’s Day, still got the hangover from last night's entertainment in Greek Tavern for all HR team, with plate breaking, belly dancer, Greek music, Turkish music, dancing...
Lot's to do, work to finish, organising for trip, acting class, tv work, but no time... No panic, watching the snow fall so slowly can almost slow time for me...

And then I was called down the reception to my surprise as I received these lovely bunch of flowers. I made them check twice if It was me, ho ho. It was a complete surprise to me but they made my day, thank you.

Did I say last week was crazy? No, I was wrong, this week is even crazier. It is like in Britney's song, everybody wants a piece of me! So, It's a good job, I am taking this skiing holiday for the weekend to Uludağ! I'm so loooking forward to it (http://www.agaoglumyresort.com.tr/).

Recap of last 3 weeks

Woke up to a rainy Istanbul morning, lots of the dreams I was having still fresh in my mind. Indeed the last one was a pure nightmare, left me with horibble feelings, I think I was influenced by someone. Then I woke up, saw the horrible dark weather, remembered it is my weekend, time to rest after all that rush, which left me with no time to write on my blog...

After I had breakfast and become fully awake, I was ready to put all that happened during last 3 weeks during which I did not write. (has it been that long?) First I have to start with flatmate coming to visit me for a week. It was a crazy week althogether. We had many friends visiting home, which kind of reminded me of the university time again. Then another visitor came which made it even crazier and complicated. I was promised and contracted for things but let down by certain people. Sure It's their loss, but what goes around comes around.

After two crazy weeks, last week was a total busy week at work! On top of that I enrolled to an acting class given by a well known actor, with many awards. Happy about that as the classes are really fun... Finally time to relax and unwind at the weekend. Oh, at least I have my weekend... I even cook, ho ho...