Tuesday, 4 June 2013

SECRET CINEMA 020

My first Secret Cinema experience!
After having my initial date on opening weekend cancelled, we were allocated new dates, hence began my 'first day of work' as a G.O.O.D. employee on Sunday 2nd June.
My dress code had changed from my previous notice of transfer - I didn't quite follow the exact specifications, but I guess everyone else did the same! It's not very often that I dress up in office wear...


We got the direct train from London Bridge to West Croydon. 
G.O.O.D. employees checking train times at London Bridge!



We arrived earlier before anyone else - punctuality is after all a trait of a G.O.O.D. employee! 

As the time got closer to 6.30pm, other G.O.O.D. employees started turning up at the entrances - rather hard to miss considering we were all in suits and blazers on a Sunday! 

Lining up for inspection at the entrance before entering G.O.O.D. H.Q.


Prior to entering the vicinity, the security guards carried out individual searches on us.
Me and Lili were split up as we had been given different instructions.

View from the 4th floor - waiting for the arrival of the other employees
As part of the Committee for Credit Creation, I was given instructions to report to Mr Spencer-Brook Clark on the 4th floor.
Some of the other 'committee members' were running a bit late so I grabbed a (plastic) glass of red wine (from a plastic bottle) and started chatting with a fellow employee. Alcoholic drinks on the first day of work - could this dream job get any better?
Thinking that I would have to search for Lili after my 'meeting', she then surprisingly turned up, having been told that she could find a job in any department she desired - we were together again!
We soon entered the boardroom, with Mr Spencer himself sat at the head of the table. Due to the 'financial crisis', they had to cut back on chairs, hence encouraging the sharing of chairs - I obviously shared mine with Lili!
We started off by introducing ourselves and our 'previous employment history' prior to becoming a G.O.O.D. employee - physicians, lawyers, pharmacists (moi!), bankers...a diverse background indeed! After telling about what skills we could bring to the company, we then held hands and did some chants whilst closing our eyes...
Each of us was instructed to contribute a proposed solution to the financial crisis, for which the one with the majority of votes would be the solution to go with. And the winning solution was...MORE HOLIDAYS! Haha, if only that was possible in reality. 
Oh well, one can only dream. 




When the meeting ended, we spent a brief moment at the computer section, before going for the Health & Wellbeing session, having heard it on the loud speakers.
For those of you unaware, the health and wellbeing of G.O.O.D. employees are of great importance. They started playing some strange music as we followed our instructors, dancing away like zombies high on drugs (if there was such of way of explaining it!). Guess that sorts out my exercise routine for the day! But, shhh don't tell my 'employers' that!

Not quite knowing what we were supposed to do next, we just started exploring the different levels and departments...

Claims Reception Desk - where employees can fill out complaint forms!

Employees getting manicures

A massage for 10 pounds anyone?




Level 2 - the Fashion Department...










We popped our curious heads into one of the rooms, where they were preparing topics for the news broadcast, so we decided to sit in. Some of the participants were really loud (and personally rather annoying), one of those situations where I would rather be an observer. Politics, controversial statements, random ideas...
 Definitely not my cup of tea, but I tagged along to the newsroom to watch anyway, where the 'face of G.O.O.D.', Mr Tibbs was present.




There was a party on the 7th floor which we decided to check out...




And a cocktail bar on the 13th floor - we were already aware of the high prices of alcohol here, so what better things to do than...take more pictures!


Like a boss!


We also attended the dance class - the waltz. I was clearly the most graceful amongst fellow employees...well, at least I'm good at something!

Then back down to Level 2 for speed-dating! We probably arrived a bit too late and all the seats were filled (drats!). But we were allowed to make an extended line at the back where we stood and paired up. There were more females and males participating - G.O.O.D. does after all encourage same-sex relationships! Haha.
 At the end, a couple was chosen - two males! And we attended their wedding ceremony...


A match made in heaven!
The finale performance was pretty spectacular - everyone started looking out the windows as an angel glided down from the sky.
Fancy stuff!


As it was getting quite late, we started making our way back to the station, receiving some sort of wage slip on the way out - another hours long journey home...tired with aching feet. 
On the whole I would say that it was a really enjoyable experience. However, you can tell that we didn't really organize our exploration routes very well - hopping around from one floor to another! I hadn't watched the movie before (I won't reveal the title just in case some of you are due to go for it!), nor did I watch it during the entire evening. Guess that's something on my to-do list.
 On a random note...I'm pretty sure I recognised one of the actors (who whizzed by super fast) from my previous Spanish class...

 There's been a lot of mixed opinions about this current production. But I'm sure that Secret Cinema have put in a lot of hard work and should be praised for their efforts nonetheless.
And as a new follower of Secret Cinema, things can only get better from here. 
Next on the agenda...Secret Cinema presents Laura Marling - hope it's good!

Til then, keep following your dreams...




G.O.O.D. employee, KYDnH, signing off x


Monday, 3 June 2013

BFF'S REUNITED: CANADA DAY 9+10

And then it was Sunday...our last adventure was a trip back to Toronto city where we took the ferry to Center Island.



Oh if you insist!
 

Took some photos at the petting zoo rather quickly - the stench was pretty strong, I wouldn't really advise to pet them if I were you...




 We then spotted some other people cycling on some fun-looking quadricycles, and decided to rent one of our own for an hour!
They also rented out tandem bikes, but I'm not too sure that that would have ended very well with my poor lack of balance...



Harpreet started off as the driver, but then she decided to hand over to me...and I never let her have the seat back teehee. I was steering like a proper trishaw peddler - free and reckless!


A nice lady who claimed to be a photographer helped us to take this photo. Although I would really question her skills based on the quality of the photos she took! 
I do hope that she found her missing glasses...



Here's a few more snap-happy photos we took along the way...







Lovely skyline of Toronto

We were STARVING by the time we got on the bus, having to endure an hours long journey before we finally made it back to the car and sped off to Chucks to stuff ourselves silly!





We ordered a portion of sweet potato fries and poutine to share. As mains, I opted for the slider sampler whilst Harpreet customized her own burger. 




I only really liked one out of three of the slider samplers, probably the pulled pork one. The other two were a bit dry and uninspiring...
The burgers aren't the best that I've had, but I think I filled up with loads of fries. You can never go wrong with sweet potato fries...

The rest of the night was spent doing some last minute packing, and a late night movie in the living room - Legend of the Guardians. Although I never did finish watching it as it was getting late - I'll have to catch up on it sometime...

We had to leave super early the next morning for me to catch my flight. And once again had to bid farewell to my BFF - sad times. 
Harpreet, I miss you so...looking forward to our next reunion!

The meals served on the flight back home was the exact same food as the last flight. Seriously, what is wrong with you Air Canada (?!)

And that's finally the end of my Canada posts.
Procrastination is never a good thing!

For those of you who missed out on previous posts, click on the relevant links below:

Canada Day 1+2

Canada Day 3+4

Canada Day 5+6

Canada Day 7+8


Back to reality, and can't wait for my next getaway already...
The Cheekster, signing off x

 


Sunday, 2 June 2013

BFF'S REUNITED: CANADA DAY 7+8

Day trip to Toronto - woohoo!
We took a bus to Toronto and had the lovely Sarah as our tour guide for the day!

First stop was CN Tower. The entry fee was quite pricey so we just took some photos from outside - I'm pretty sure that it can't have been any better than the view form Skylon anyway.

 

 

 Hungry as always, we went to Spring Sushi - my happy place!
Once again made multiple orders of my favourite dishes.

 

Japanese buffet mmm...I just can't get enough of it!

We then went to get some bubbletea - Chatime Toronto, another one of my happy places!

Hear, hear
 

And then had a walk down Chinatown and the University of Toronto campus...

 

We had dinner at one of Harpreet's favourite Indian restaurant before heading back home on the bus. Goodbye civilization, and back to the countryside, teehee.

The next day, we drove to Kitchener to meet up with Shiv.

First stop was St Jacobs Farmers Market, where I had my first taste of THE awesome apple fritters from The Fritter Co... 
There was even a long queue for it, so it must be good!

 

*drools*

Happy bunny

Maple syrup
Mountain of cherries!

For lunch, we rushed to devour our burgers at The Works as we were running short of time before our kayaking appointment!
But as you can see from the menu, they have a huge list of different options to choose from...
They also served water in quirky measuring jugs - I like.

 

Quirky concept

Shiv's poutine mmm...

Kamikaze!


We had a good time kayaking at Canoeing the Grand, renting individual kayaks for our 2.5hour adventure.
The last time I tried kayaking was probably during my national service days, which I don't think counted as it was only in a small lake. This time I actually kayaked along a proper river which was really fun, and the weather was much hotter than I expected - it was only in the shower that I noticed the tan lines on my legs!
Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures as I didn't want to risk dropping anything in the river, but it was a great experience.

As Harpreet had plans that evening, her super sweet mum brought me out for dinner and some shopping! And we ended the day with a naughty little treat of Ben & Jerry's.

Click the links below for my earlier posts x

Canada Day 1+2

Canada Day 3+4

Canada Day 5+6

One more post to go!