Monday, December 10, 2007

Always on the Move

People are constantly moving, it's a trait of the fast pace world we live in. New jobs, new members to their family, new climate needed or just an urge to change something, all these can lead to a relocation. Most of the times, I think of moving to a different city in a very bohemian way: pack everything, strive hard to make it all fit in your car, then drive away in the sunset.

Well, it actually is a little more complicated than that! Relocation is not just another simple process for all those who have to do it. It sometimes involves mortgage refinancing, spending days looking for apartments to rent (I have quite a few horror stories to share with you on this matter) or keeping an eye on bank foreclosures and hoping to get a great deal.

It is amazing how, after one relocation of my own, another one that shook my world pretty bad and about 12 times moving around Bucharest, I still see the idyllic aspect of this sometimes painful process. And yes, I know my car is a Peugeot 107 and it will take at least 3 drives to move all my stuff :)

And because I know all of this, next time I relocate or have to move from one side of Bucharest to another (sometimes having movers help you with this might take less when relocating, thanks to our lovely traffic), I hope to see a service such as National Relocations. I'd like to see all my options in one place, one that is clear and simple to use and has all details close by. I am quite tired of real estate agencies that offer no additional information, although it would really help them get more clients. By the way, I've never heard of a moving company around here. Is it because there are none, or because they have no idea how to promote themselves?

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Oh no!

The other day I was in the opticians, getting fitted for some new contact lenses. I was sat at a little desk, in front of a mirror while I put the lenses in.

As I got up and smiled at the assistant, I caught sight of my reflection.

"Where did those come from?!"

By 'those', I mean heinous crow's feet. I looked at my face. I knew I had a mobile forehead, but I'd never noticed the agricultural scale furrows in it.

This is not good. I still get spots (sometimes), surely on the grounds of fairness, I should be spared wrinkles?

I repaired to the chemist, in order to purchase one of those overpriced beauty creams that the sensible adult in me doubts the effectiveness of.

It's either that or Botox and having an immobile face creeps me out more then wrinkles.

After wincing at the price of the indeed overpriced beauty cream and then being comforted by the free gift, I realised that showering and the occasional slathering with moisturiser does not really constitute a beauty routine. I consider applying hair conditioner to be the height of pampering. Laziness disguised as being low maintenance is a key trait of mine.

I also have a terrible habit of buying these beauty products and only using them a few times. There is not yet a product that works via osmosis, merely by being on your bathroom shelf. If such a product existed, I would be the first to buy it. The cosmetic companies should definitely work on that.