Pages

Wednesday 26 November 2014

É de ti!

É de ti que eu gosto. És só tu quem eu quero. E digo gosto porque não quero que me chames de louca, um dia mais tarde quando aprenderes a falar e a ler português e tenhas acesso a estas palavras. (sim, que eu sei que vais dominar a minha língua mãe com toda a pompa e circunstância). 
Hoje quado vieste falar cmg, dizer que fe sentias confuso com a chegada a casa depois de 2 semana de treino intenso estava numa reunião de trabalho. Apeteceu-me sair dali a correr. Apanhar o passaporte e meter-me num avião só com a roupa do corpo, só para te poder dar colo. Aninha-me em ti. Passar as mãos pelas tuas madeixas loiras. Abraçar-te como senão houvesse amanhã e adormecer nos teus braços. Gostava de ter coragem de te dizer o quanto te quero. Mas tenho medo de te assustar. As vezes sinto que te gosto tanto que era capaz de te engulir de uma lufada só. Tipo monstro das bolachas. Enfim.
Sabes, decidi que te vou visitar em Fevereiro. Encontrei um voo com um preço óptimo. Tiro 5 dias de férias. Apanho um feriado e fico contigo 10. Não me importo de não sair de Londres. Só o facto de pensar que vou estar aí em casa, a tua espera quando chegas do trabalho põe aquele sorriso idiota na minha cara. Acordar ao teu lado durante 10 dias deixa-me extasiada. Exactamente o mesmo que se cola no meu rosto sempre que penso em ti. 
Espero que te estejas a sentir melhor. Que a mão já não doa tanto. Que descanses bastante pois amanha voltas ao trabalho. 
Um beijo doce, de Boa Noite. Um não. Muitos. Quantos te conseguir de uma lufada só. E olha que sou beijoqueira. 
Saudade. Muita. Ate já. 


Tuesday 25 November 2014

Fado

I am not sure if you guys have ever been introduced to Fado, a Portuguese music genre born in the 1800's. It's a fairly simple form of singing about anything. The poems speak about difficulties in general, a broken heart or your love for a city. It's a beautiful to express the deepest feelings in our soul. It's majorly characterized by the sentiment of resignation, lost, fatefulness and melancholia. On 27 November 2011, Fado was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

As I child I used to hate it with all my heart. I was born and raised in a very humble family downtown Lisbon. My grandparents were born and raised in 2 of the most typical neighborhoods of Lisbon: Alfama and Graca. On that note, I am proudly what you would call "Alfacinha de Gema", a truth Lisboeta.
Over the course of the years I have been falling in love with Fado, and it's very hard for me to get teary eyes every time I list to a song. Last week, one of our oldest and most successful living Fado singers, Carlos do Carmo received a Grammy in Las Vegas. A once in a life time award to celebrate the years and success of his carrer. I will leave you guys with a tribute a Portuguese radio station (radio comercial) did to Carlos do Carmo.




The song "Lisboa Menina e Moça" is sang by 35 great Portuguese singers/artist. Enjoy!


Monday 24 November 2014

Little Red Riding Hood - Modern times


The other day I went for some drinks with Lynette and Russ in Gastown. Gastown is "Vancouver's hipsters paradise" and probably the only part of town with real history. Is reminds me a lot of London. 

Anyways, I saw this painting from a local Van artist and it made me think you - because of the riffle. 

Wednesday 19 November 2014

A Saudade...

Haven't heard from you since November 7th. I know you are in training "North of the Wall", no phone, no internet. I know you told me not to worry. But some days are harder than others. I just want you home on the 25th INTACT. Both arms and legs, all fingers and toes. Can't wait to hear about this new adventure. I have been crossing the days on my calendar. Silly right? I know. But I like you. I can't help it. Although my hearts sinks every time I am reminded that I won't be there to take care of you when you are back.
On a different note, I think these 13 days without any sort of communication has been great preparation training (for me) regarding your career path. Yes, I want to be part of that chapter in your life. Wait for you when you are back from mission in Cypress or God knows where. You know, I think my soul is a bit like Merlin's... an adventurous, fun and extremely loyal.

Anyways... I miss you. Terribly. And I know you are doing great in your training. I really want to be beside you to celebrate all your victories (cause it will be many). And I know I will be. It's just a matter of time, cause I am a firm believer that when we really love someone distance and time are just numbers. 

Beijos de Vancouver,

Your Portuguese nurse.

x

Monday 17 November 2014

Cardboard Adventures

Occasionally I babysit this little girl, Gabby. She just turned 3 and it's insane the amount of toys this little girl had. To the point that I though that Queen Elsa and Princess Ana from Frozen had twins! (Go figure). Today I came across this post that shows 31 Things You Can Make With A Cardboard Box That Will Blow Your Kids’ Minds 

Some of my favourites:

 The trailer from Breaking Bad.

 Grocery Store
Transformers 

Para recordar Lisboa

Today I came across this amazing tattoo:


From here

For more beautiful pictures and information about Lisbon, follow the Visit Lisbon Page on Facebook.



Friday 14 November 2014

Keep dreaming about...

...the day you will be waiting for me, outside my office building. And we walk home together, holding hands.
... Cold days. I get home and you are sitting on your chair, in front of the fireplace enjoying your British tea and reading your books. I am freezing and exhausted. Tiro o casaco, e aninho-me no teu colo. Aqueces-me e proteges-me enquanto me sussuras ao ouvido o que mais quero.
Miss you terribly. 

Thursday 13 November 2014

A Nossa Volta a Portugal #2


Gerês is one of the places I would love to discover with you. The Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, situaded in the northwest of Portugal, specifically in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, and Vila Real.About 4h drive from Lisbon, very close to Spain.



The video below will give you an over view of the area:

 

 Spend 2/3 nights at a rustic house at RH, Casas de Campo Design.





Or at a cozy private wooden cottage at Quinta da Lamosa:



Dinner at O Abocanhado. A restaurante close to the Aldeia de Brufe, one of the best preserved villages in the area and eat with this marvelous view. A great place for you to indulge in some of the most tasty cabrito assado. 


Go hiking at the park and see the amazing wild life, waterfalls and if the weather allows go for a swim. What do you think? 




Love, 

Seren Dipity


* Photographs taken from Maravilhas do Gerês.

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Find out the type of job that makes you happy.

The Guardian UK  has a quick and easy personality test to help you find the type of job that makes you happy. You can take the test here.
My results could not be more accurate.

1. Making new things happen: 20
Your ideal work is mainly about achieving things with and through other people. This may involve organisational change, planning, managing projects, leadership, creating a new business, shaping teams, getting results. Example jobs include: project manager, team leader, operations manager, sales manager, business developer.


2. Creative use of ideas, materials or situations: 19
Your ideal work is mainly about working imaginatively with ideas or designs. This includes jobs in the arts, performing, creative writing, and also visual design, lateral thinking, business creativity, adapting or coming up with new ideas, working in situations where no rulebook exists. Example jobs include: graphic designer, training consultant, wedding planner, public relations.

Supporting people: 19
Your ideal work is mainly about working with people, with their wellbeing and development as the main focus of your work. Example jobs include: teacher, life coach, therapist, nurse, learning and development, career coach.

How about you?

X

Monday 10 November 2014

Lasting relationships

Today, I came across this post: Science Says Lasting Relationships Come Down To 2 Basic Traits
And it's basically it: kindness and generosity are the 2 basic traits that will make you relationship last. But it cannot come only from one side, it needs to be a balance between you 2. When I look back and think about my 6 year relationship with Ed, I should have known that the fact that he is genuinely a selfish person was a recipe for disaster - in bed and in our daily life. I am a giver and he is a taker. It was what is was. I am extremely happy I packed and left him almost 3 years ago.

So, over all it's as simple as that: 

(...) People who give their partner the cold shoulder — deliberately ignoring the partner or responding minimally — damage the relationship by making their partner feel worthless and invisible, as if they’re not there, not valued. And people who treat their partners with contempt and criticize them not only kill the love in the relationship, but they also kill their partner's ability to fight off viruses and cancers. Being mean is the death knell of relationships.
Kindness, on the other hand, glues couples together. Research independent from theirs has shown that kindness (along with emotional stability) is the most important predictor of satisfaction and stability in a marriage. Kindness makes each partner feel cared for, understood, and validated—feel loved. “My bounty is as boundless as the sea,” says Shakespeare’s Juliet. “My love as deep; the more I give to thee, / The more I have, for both are infinite.” That’s how kindness works too: there’s a great deal of evidence showing the more someone receives or witnesses kindness, the more they will be kind themselves, which leads to upward spirals of love and generosity in a relationship."

Advice: Try to learn from others mistakes. Apologize. There is no need to selfish and stubborn, cause after all that person only wants to love you and be love by you.

X

Thursday 6 November 2014

Different cultures, different approaches

So, the other day I wrote this post about the sexual harassment video below:



Today I came across this page, Identities.Mic . The video below shows a model and actress in Auckland, New Zealand recreating the same catwalk video from New York.

 




As you know, I am currently residing in Vancouver, Canada. Although I grew up in Lisbon, Portugal. This summer, a very good friend of mine from Vancouver came to spend 2 weeks in Lisbon with me. In June we have the "Lisbon Parties" (Festas Populares) where the entire city celebrates Sto Antonio and Sao Joao. There is music on the street, people everywhere drinking and enjoying themselves. One June 13th, Santo Antonio's Day after a nice stroll through Alfama  we went to Bairro da Bica
and spend several hours there dancing. Hundreds of people around us. Man, women, gay, lesbian, drunk, friends, acquaintances, people I have never seen in my entire life. Although around us there was mostly man. Lots of men. At least 20, I swear. After a bit, T holds my hand and pulls me to the side and wipers in my ear:
- Seren Dipity, I am so impressed. Look at the amount of gorgeous man around us and none of them tried to hump us or grabbed our ass. If this was in Van, they would be trying to hump us by now. 

That made me think... So much cultural diversity in Vancouver. True. But overall, men suck. They are disrespectful, tacky and their #1 goal is to fuck you. Period. No conversation. No charm. Zero charisma. And that is why I choose to be single. And, this is why they say Vancouver women are bitches. Well, over all men tend to behave quite similar to the man in the NY video. And if that is how you approach me, once again, you will not give you a single minute of my attention. Why? Because it's very disrespectful to approach a women and make her fell like a piece of meat. And if she has any values and self respect, she will realize it and politely tell you to fuck off. At least I will!

A Nossa Volta a Portugal #1


Nesta rúbrica vou-te mostrar alguns dos locais que adoro e outros cujos quero conhecer contigo. A nossa volta a Portugal.  
 

Monte Velho, Equo-Resorte em Arraiolos. Uma pequena vila portuguesa situada no Distrito de Évora, região Alentejo e sub-região do Alentejo Central a cerca de 1h40m de Lisboa. 



"(...) O Monte Velho Equo-Resort é um boutique hotel situado numa quinta de criação de cavalos da raça Lusitano. A propriedade funde-se com a paisagem rural envolvente e providencia aulas de adestramento e passeios de cavalo, mediante pedido. Cada quarto abre para uma varanda mobilada com vistas para a área rural e para a barragem. Os quartos incluem uma máquina de café Nespresso, uma base de ligação para iPod/iPhone e uma televisão multicanal. A casa de banho privativa está separada do quarto por uma parede em vidro e dispõe de uma moderna cabina de duche ao nível do chão."


Beautiful, right? 

Love,

Seren Dipity


Wednesday 5 November 2014

Tuesday 4 November 2014

The sexual harassement subject...

Over all, an interesting point of view.

I find the whole “man-yelling-or-trying-to-hit-on-women-on-the-streets” (aka street harassment) extremely distasteful. If you decided to comment on my figure or my style by yelling at me in public I can guaranteed you will not get a single second of my attention. Such action just yells PERVERT, FREAK, DISTASTEFUL and IGNORANT. And those are exactly the traits I am not looking for in a man, either as a partner or an acquaintance. Believe me! Name me a woman who finds it acceptable and I will provide you with a list of her issues. Maybe you “boys”- (yes boys!) who chose to engage in such reckless behavior should spend those precious moments of your life doing something more productive. Just remember, the female who received the  “what-you-call-a-complement” (aka the female who you just harassed in public) is not the only one listening. Maybe the girl at the coffee shop who you actually like is listening too. And, I am quite sure she is not interested in going out on a date with a distasteful, ignorant prick!

One TedTalk a day keeps insanity away #13

The Evolution of Language



British Columbia

The purest air and water. The Kingdom of abundance. A land of Giants. A mystical place.


BC is waiting for you. I am waiting for you. Are you ready?

X

Life and other change

I am so done with 2014, it's not even funny. I think I never wanted so badly for a year to end. Not because bad things happened, not at all. Don't get me wrong. I loved 2014. Got to travel a lot through Europe, (still have to make a post about it), met "the guy", made amazing friends. It's just that lately I am so exhausted. OMFG! Note to self: Never, ever, ever again enroll in 2 classes while you work full-time and still pick up some part-time jobs here and there. OK, maybe I don't want 2014 to end. I just want school to end for 2014 and start having time to read my books, go to the gym, watch movies and drink tons of pumpkin tea. I finally realized that Business Management is totally not an area that I am interested in - which is quite positive. Totally dreading this class. Teacher is amazing, but the content says nothing to me. On the other hand, Managing Performance through Training and Development - LOVE IT! It even made me thing of pursuing adult learning diploma. Will explore that a bit more in the beginning of next year.
But what is my goal with this post? Well, not quite sure. I think it's mostly venting. Well, gotta go help some more doctors becoming permanent residents in Canada. Talk to you pees later.

X

BTW - I miss my British boy. Sooooo bad! Snif!

DO NOT DISTURB!

This guy, Edoardo Flores collects DO NOT DISTURB signs from all over the world. Pretty Cool! He has over 8,000 pick on Flickr. Check him out
My favorite so far:

Monday 3 November 2014

Goal 1 - Read More

I am totally ready for 2015. Really. Quite excited. Completely done with 2014.
2014 is so last year, isn't it? : D
One of the goals is to read, at least one book per month. For that I have the following plan:
1. Make sure the book is always in my purse;
2. Every "empty moment" (waiting for the bus, traveling on the bus, etc...) read couple lines instead of going on ShitBook Facebook;
3. Read, every-sing-day, 30 minutes before going to sleep.

So far I have chosen the following 10. Lots are in Portuguese, specially because I never want to loose the ability to read in my own language. Still have space for 2 more. Any suggestions?

1. Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira, Saramago




2. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo, Saramago


3. Equador, Miguel Sousa Tavares




4. Como é Linda a Puta da Vida, Miguel Esteves Cardoso


5. A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess


6. Cem Anos de Solidão, Gabriel García Márquez

 

7. Travessuras da Menina Má, Mario Vargas Llosa




8. Catch 22, Joseph Heller










 10. The Color Purple, Alice Walker