Saturday, May 30, 2009

Werewolf in Paris

Paris is BEAUTIFUL!
There must be a million better words to describe Paris,but it actually leaves you speachless.
Walking through the streets of Paris I got this buzzing feeling inside.This has been the set of so many historical stories. The great artists worked and lived here,the Moulin Rouge was alive here, Carrie Bradshaw finally got Big here! All the important things!
You cant help but feel like you are part of something greater while walking in Paris.
Yes of course,it is crawling with tourists,more than I imagined,and its rather holiday maker touristy,but its PARIS! Everything is an artwork,the awning of a building,the glass window panes.each cobble laid in the streets.
Seeing the Iffel Tower is a strange experiance. You walk and walk and walk and then suddenly there it is,and its like,oh ok,now what. Its just there. So u look up at it in the glaring light.......and then............................And then what? Nothing,you buy and ice-cream or chocolate crepes,take a few photies and move on. An all together very anti-climatic experiance!
Stunning tho.
I now know why the french are so arrogant, its because they have the goods to back it up!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Electric Toothbrush!

I went grocery shopping on Saturday and landed taking a turn to the household appliances section. Browsing up and down the aisles looking at all the things it takes to furnish a home, flat screen TV and silver fridges to the not so essential coffee grinders,yoghurt makers, heated towel rails and electric flour scales.
This all got me thinking about what an about turn I've made in my life.
2 years ago I was all for buying things for my "home",need we forget the joy I felt at finding my favourite knives and forks at Mr P home one fine Saturday morning. Those knives and forks single handedly created a vision in my head of a Lunch at my "house" in the summer with all my friends and their families(in my vision they all have kids!) running around,theres a large table set up in the garden with what look like grannies bed sheets as a table cloth,Im sure they not actually sheets,bet its some fab vintage tablecloth Im still going to find, and there are mismatched vases of flowers picked from my garden. On this table are the knives and forks and they are just perfect!
There were also blue drinking glasses.Dark ocean blue. I searched for these glasses for years,I still have not found them,but I will.
I get sidetracked.
So while walking around the household appliance department I realised that Im very far from the table in the garden. Im more of solitary knife with no fork to tie my future together with.
But this does not get me down,instead I find myself purchasing an electric toothbrush.
This is my first electric toothbrush ever.
Why has it taken me so long to buy one you may wonder,well toothbrushes(much like the rest of my life) are disposable so the thought of having to look after one for months if not years is a bit daunting. No longer leaving them in hotel rooms for poor cleaners to dispose of( horrid thought-what if they dont dispose of them-yuk!!!! Someone could be using my old toothbrush right now!!!!) or buying new ones when I do grocery shopping-just because I like the colour!
No,buying an electric toothbrush is a commitment.Its taking a stand and saying,I will be responsible and look after this toothbrush through good times and bad,in plaque and tooth decay forever and ever as long as we both shall brush!
I actually felt really grown up paying for my brush,I felt as if the counter lady looked at me as more of a serious customer than she would at say me last month buying a pink and silver disposable brush with glitter bristles(that was a classic that found itself all alone in a hotel room in Sydey-hope a good person found him and took him sight seeing-maybe they giving him a better life than I ever could!)
So it was with my shoulders back I walked home to charge my brush.The symbolism of my purchase obvious only to me. I even bought new toothpaste for the occasion.No good having old paste for a new brush,its like wearing a new fitout over old grey knickers with broken elastic-just not right!!!!
It took me ages to open the box,the plastic so thick I had to use the kitchen scissors to pry my purchase from its clinging clutches,not like the cheap brushes that are in a cardboard casing.
Finally its free and Im desperate to use it straight away but I plug it in to charge.
I brush my teeth for the last time with my old brush before going to bed,knowing that in the morning I get to use my new super sonic one.
I go to sleep with it charging next to my bed-very ominous!
Finally the day breaks and I hop up to clean to my teeth.
iIput the new toothpaste on and take a long look at myself in the mirror.This is it,Im all grown up. On I push it.................and nothing! NOTHING!!!! there is no glimmer of life,just a dead piece of plastic in my hand with a round head of bristles.
The tears in my eyes are real!
Maybe this is the universes way of telling me Im not grown up enough yet for this symbol of womenhood.
No Im destined to be a disposable brush girl.
The electric toothbrush now sits on my desk staring at me and gathering dust a constant reminder of my not readiness to be a grown-up!!!!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

I have spent the day driving from one side of Dubai to the other looking for a new apartment and I have found my new home. A lovely little apartment at Al Barsha.Actually cant wait to get out of this shitty White Building.Things are falling to pieces,including me!!!!!
Have some sort of tummy bug. Whenever I eat my tummy gets sore.you would think I would just stop eating,but noooooo,I carry on!!!!
I better move soon or I wont actually fit out the door!!!!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

What to do....What to do????
We have to move!!!!Thats right the lease for my building is not being renewed and that therefore put me out on my arse! I have 6 weeks to get my mounds of shit into boxes and get out of here. And where to you ask? Well I have the option of moving to a complew near the Mall of the Emirates-miles away from here,or to an apartment in Sharjha-the neighbouring emirate-also fuk off far!
That of course is not the only issue,we live in a three bedroom apartment and we want to stay together but of course there are more two bedroom ones avaliable.So now who stays together who moves apart!
Oh for shits sake,I just want to work for 6 more months and go home-does it have to be this hard!
I dont mind moving,but I do mind packing and transporting and re-packing!!!! AAGGGHHH!!!!
I want to resign just thinking about it!!!!
And top of that I have a flight in the morning my alarm is going off at 04:30 and its 23:00 now!
I should be sleeping!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Oh Wow!!!
The reason I have been so scarce is that when opening this page in Dubai,it comes up in Arabic,and although I have lived in this country for a year I do not read or speak or understand any of it! But this evening as my desire to put my thoughts onto "paper" grew from an urge to a neccesatity I played around and figured it out myself! I've been figuring alot out on my own lately.Just yesterday I managed to connect my new printer,upload the software and load the ink.All Alone. Very proud of myself.
Last night I did a turnaround flight to Kartoum.Its my first turnaround in AGES,I usually do long trips so it was quiet a novelty to me.I was so nice to all the passengers,chatty and jokey and soooooooo helpful.I really gave myself a mental high five.Then on the way back while Im doing the service,Im pushing the bar along giving out luke warm plastic cups of orange juice and swollen cans of beer when suddenly there is a tap on my shoulder.I turn aaround and find myself face to face with an Indian man. He promptly begins to tell me his woes of ringing the call bell for 20 minutes.20 minutes I say????? Well if thats true you pressed it 2 minutes before I even got to your seat with the bar and since when I was there and all you asked for was a beer(which I gave u) why didnt you ask me for what you wanted?
What does he want? Hisd meal tray.You see this charming man has decided that when Anna came past with the meal cart he wasn't ready for his meal.No,what he wanted was a pre dinner drink-a beer.Which she gave him and carried on.When I got to him with the bar he asked me for another beer-which I gave him. And I carried on,you know giving the rest of the 200 people on board their drinks. So now Mr.Indian decides that he is now ready for his meal and begins pushing the call bell.Which no-one even hears as we all busy doin the service. So when I ask him what it is he wants and he tell me his meal and I ask him to please let me finish this then I will get to him.I only have 3 more rows to go after all.He takes it apoun himself at this point to start shouting at me! "Sir theres no need to shout I say"
"Im NOT SHOUTING" he says. Oh really,so why is your voice so loud and your eyes are all big and wild???? Is that just the way you look ? shame!
My poor senior on board had to come and diffuse the situation as I was getting really upset and I looked as if I was about to hit him,which maybe I was.
If you want the dine on demand service pay the extra money and fly first class,but if you going to fly in economy please understand that it isnt about you,its about serving 200 people,400 on bigger planes.
Now the thing is,do you think its the best idea to piss off the people who are in charge of your safety on board this flying piece of metal?If,God forbid something should happen,I am ultimately in charge of your safety.I am the one who has to open the doors and direct you out(far more responsible than it sounds)I have to administer CPR,I have to erect the satelite transmiter,I have to operate the reverse osmosis pump and provide the masses with water.
Believe me I am one of the few people you dont want to piss off on a plane!
Just sit down and shut-up!

Friday, February 20, 2009

27 years pickeled,pulled down, praised and proud!!!!

27!
Its an age that for years seemed so far in my future it didnt even warrant thinking about.I thought about 30 more than 27 which it quiet silly since you cant get to 30 without 27.
So here I sit in a hotel room in Singapore with a glass of wine and nothing but myself and my thoughts,and there are plenty of thoughts.
I've decided not to go out tonight,Im very tired but also I really want to celebrate with someone very special to me-me.
Who is Kate Schroeter?
She is a daughter and grandchild,a neice and a cousin.A sister a friend. Someone to love and someone to be wary of.
I have swam naked in the ocean and clothed in a pool.I have jumped over the Joan harrison pool wall in the middle of the night and skinny dipped with friends.I have lied to my mother.I have helped a stranger.I can listen.When Im alone I play music very loud and dance.I sing too!
I cry for things that happened ages ago because I remember so clearly how they made me feel.
I walk on the beach alone and close my eyes and say thank you for the day.
I love snack platters,I can eat all the cheesy poefs and mini quiches. I have an unhealthy obsession with sundried tomatoes.
I have lied to get what I want. I have used someone's weakness against them.I have been there for someone unconditionally.I've planned a wedding in my head. I have had my heart broken more than twice.I have allowed someone to treat me badly and not left.
I have gone to weddings and danced at others joy.I have gone to funerals and been overwhealmed by the finality of it all. I remember my 4th birthday party with my house cake made of biscuits.
I have acted in a play in a theatre.I have marched in a drummie squad.I have done hurdels and butterfly race.I have stolen sweets from a tuckshop.I have taken sides in a fight just so that the mob wouldn't turn on me next.I have gone to discos in garages and kissed a boy to Bon Jovi songs. I have bought coloured jeans and chealsea boots because everyone else did. I have sailed in a regatta. I have built forts in a veld and played princcesses and fairys. I have wished to grow up and be older.I have pretended to be something Im not to get people to like me. I have caused people to pretend to be something they're not to get me to like them.
I have taken part in a fashion show.I have entered a modelling contest and won.I have gone to parties that were to old for me.I have got drunk at 15 and kissed a boy in a pool. I have peirced my belly button and dyed my hair.I have chosen a boy over my friend.I have chosen a friend over a boy. I have had sex for the first time and remebered it. I have stood on a hill in the transkei and been awed by the sheer mass of the world.I have walked in mud and let it squish between my toes.I have been a secretary and a boss.I have spent a day around the pool with my best friends laughing.I have lived with a friend.I have shared my life with a man,every dream and fear. I have put someone before myself.I have lied to my parents.I have sometimes kept quiet when I should stand up and shout how I feel.I have been thin and fat and was shocked to discover which one Im happier being. I have faith in people.I want someone to be the best version of themselves.I have been tattooed.I have run on the beach in the rain. I keep old e-mails from lovers I once thought would last forever.
Sometimes I want to have children sometimes I dont. I have travelled all over the world.I have met famous people and street people.I have eaten in 5 star restaurants and over a campfire. I have made some amazing friends and try to look after them.I sometimes drop the ball,but thankfully they dont drop me. I have been a vegetarian and I have worn fur. I have fallen in love with the wrong man and even though its over still love him,and wont be sorry for it.Im proud im capable of such feelings.
I love Christmas and tradition.I love the farm in the Drakensburg.I love so many people and I dont tell them enough.I love you.

And so as I let my memories of the last 27years flow out of me and I realise that I am a work in progress.I am not yet done.I will continue to try new things and do things that scare me.I will continue to grow and share.I will try not let the heartaches and breaks ruin me,I will embrace all situations and learn what I can from them. I will not tell myself to always be strong,I will allow myself to cry and scream,to laugh and to sing.
I will allow myself to be me!
Thank you to all of you who help me to do that!!!!
I am Kate Schroeter

Friday, February 13, 2009

Passenger drive me mad!!!!

The thought of getting on a flight to Toronto was sending me into mild hysteria! Its 14hrs with 250 people!But I couldnt swop it so I had to go.
To say it was a demanding flight is a hideous understatment.Lets start with the family from Burma who cant speak any,I repeat ANY english and ar travelling with their 8 children all of them on a plane for the first time.Try serving them a meal or trying to find out if they want anything to drink,they cant even say water. Then try getting them to use the toilet and flush-near impossible.Not to mention the mess they made,I've never seen such a filthy plane.Food,papers,old socks you name it,it was beneath their seats!
Then the family with 2 sick children.Before we've even taken off I see the son throwing up into the sick bag.Why would you fly when you ill?especially 14hrs,what if you get worse? Do passengers actually think that we have an entire hospital on board?That Im qualified to identify your symptoms and perscribe you the correct medication? That would make me a doctor and in that case do you think I would choose the glamarous job of an air steward????
Now my favourite family on the flight,the one with 2 sick children.Not only sick but severely sick.Both children vomitting and shitting everywhere.And yes everywhere means in the aisle of the plane. Now as previously mentioned Im no doctor but even I know that a stomach bug is catchy.If even tiny particles of poo get on your hands and you touch your food or mouth that you can get it.So it was really fun having to clean up runny baby poo at 39 000 feet!
So besides the sick passengers what about the rude demanding ones.
Doing a meal service and the options are chicken or beef but I've run out of beef so you only left with chicken.
On the menu it says we cant guarantee your meal choice but still you've never seen people get so angry.I just look at them and think you idiot! Do you realise that you are miles above the ground in a metal bullet flying through the air?That the fact that we will get you safely from A to B.That there are a hundred things I have to concentrate on to ensure the smooth running of the flight?
Im keeping and eye on the guy in the back who is drinking to much and is shouting for a ciggie? Do you realise that if he smoked in the bathroom and and the thousands of tissues in the waste bin catch on fire and we dont get to that fire in time we could crash?We have only 90secconds to put a fire out before its out of control.
Now does having to eat the beef sound so bad? And come on,it all tastes the same!!!!
What about the passenger who pushes the call bell a hundred times.You do realise that we are doing a million things in the back? And that yes,even I need to sit and eat at some point.If I dont eat and Im weak and something happens on board and I dont have the strength to do CPR on you or open the door in an emergency who you going to turn to? Are you trained to do that?
So when I drop everything and come to your call bell and you ask me for a glass of water or worse yet a cup of tea,you can be rest assured that the smile on my face is fake!
Get up and come to the back and ask for it yourself! Its good for you to walk around and it really makes the crew feel better and then they'll be so nice to you.
And my personal mission is to teach people to bring their own water onto the plane.You can buy it from duty free! That way you have water with you at all times and you dont have to ring for it!
It makes sense,I would never travel without water!
So straight after take off I handed out customs cards for Canada.13 hours later while we rushing around doing the thousand things that need to be done just before landing and you ring the call bell and I dont come,and you have to come to the back and get angry with me that Im not answering your call and then ask me for a customs form Im going to get mad! You've had 13 hours to realsie that you've lost yours,13 hours!But you wait for 5 minutes before touch down!
You drive me mad!!!!!!
We about to land everyone is sitting,including the crew.We've come around and collected all your blankets and headsets,we've told you to put your seat up,seatbelt on and window blind up.Only an idiot would not know we about to land. So why.Why oh why oh why do you stand up and try and go to the toilet?
Everyone is sitting down,the crew are in the jumpseats! SIT DOWN!!!!!!
Then we land and the captain says please remain in your seat till the plane has come to a COMPLETE stop.Theres no rush,you cant get out of the plane till we open the doors,theres no where for you to go!
SIT DOWN!!!!
Ah yes girls,this is the glamarous life I lead!!!!