Is summer again!

If you are not living in UK, Belgium or Netherlands, you might not get the point..
But, yes it’s summer again!!!
Brussels has been bathing in sun for the last 2 days, and I enjoyed every moment of it!! Ok, more in the evening or during my lunch while walking around the nice area of Sablon, but I did!!!
I am happy, for reason even unknown to me..It’s surprising what a ray of sunahine can do to ones mood:)
And in a different order of ideas..Saturday I am going to a Bon Jovi concert!!! Yipppeeee!!! After seeing his show only 2 weeks ago in Lisbon, is time for a bit more of “Always” and “ In these arms”…
Yes, summer has arrived!!!

posted by Nico(leta) @ 21:22, ,

Rock in Rio and Lisbon…

4 days which I wished would last forever!!!!!!!
One of the best holidays I've had..The purpose of our (by our I mean Anamaria, Irina and me) holiday was Rock in Rio and Ivete Sangalo..I have to say that was worth it every penny and even more..we went there for Ivete but we come back with 2 more passions..Bon Jovi and Lisbon!

To understand why Lisbon, you have to go and visit the city..From the amazing food (The pudim flan or for the romanians "crema de zahar ars" has really been the cherry on the cake for me..), the smiling people and the great weather to the journey in tram 28, the Place de Comercio and Place Rosio…from the shoes shops (yes, you didn't thought will miss the shopping, did you? :)) to the parks and handsome guys on the streets…all was just AWESOME!

I know I can't convince you, but still you have some proofs below…

Lisbon is beautiful! Beautiful in the true sense, with its small streets, old buildings and palm trees everywhere..it's a place where you can easily get lost and forget about any worry you might have..

And then we have Ivete and Bon Jovi..and if you also add Alejandro Sanz then you have the best combination ever!!!

Ivete is amazing..this brazilian singer, who I've discovered recently, has the power to make thousands of people dance with her..The rhythm of the music, the show..all blended together in a perfect result!!!

And then we go to Saturday..not with a " Corazon partio" but with a big smile to see the duo Alejandro and Ivete singing one of my favourite songs…

Saturday night continued with the one and only Bon Jovi!

My English is too poor to describe the show he offered..After Ivete I thought

"that was the best show I've seen"..but that was until Bon Jovi came on the stage..he sang for 2 hours continuously, engaging the people and creating the most wonderful atmosphere I've ever seen!!!

And then "Always" popped up..AMAZING! Yes, I am in love:)..of his blue eyes, his great body (OMG..those muscles and the way he moved his hips:):):))…You can imagine what my next CD acquisition will be, no?

The pictures and the videos, the fun and the great moments I've spent in Lisbon, will keep Portugal close for a long time..until I will go back again:)

posted by Nico(leta) @ 20:42, ,

Flowers here, flowers there, flowers everywhere!!!

I think this will describe the best my last weeks..I've been surrounded by flowers that came in different shapes and colours...

Irina has been home as well..A bit more info on this topic, Irina is my flatmate, a very good friend of mine who is moving back to Belgium to work for Inbev..


Meanwhile I am sharing the apartment with Ana, another friend of mine, while she is waiting for her papers in order to start the new job in Uk. And yes, both of them are Romanians:)



Going back to the flowers..2 weekends ago I experienced Keukenhof, the biggest flower garden in the world..It was just PERFECT!! Keukenhof is a small paradise where you really can get lost in the beauty of the surroundings..


"For a place that really is only open for about 8 weeks a year and especially if you love spring flowers, and more especially tulips, there's no place better than De Keukenhof not far from the village of Lisse, The Netherlands, southwest of Amsterdam.


This remarkable park is transformed every spring into a dazzling, ever-changing display of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, lilies, amaryllis, and many other flowers. There are also flowering shrubs, ancient trees and countless natural surprises, as well as themed gardens to explore and pavilions filled with displays, and of course, a windmill.


A number of sculptures and other objects d'art can be viewed on a sculpture trail among the flowers throughout the park. The park has somewhere near 10 miles of trails and walkways among its 70 acres for you to view this remarkable site of beautiful flowers and shrubs. "


Last weekend I've entered the world of flowers again, this time in Belgium, while visiting the Royal gardens. My friend Dana was the one with this great idea:)..As teh gardens are open in the evenings, you can imagine how beautiful can be to walk in the middle of nature and admire the perfection of each petal and leaves ..The Royal gardens are open only 2-3 weeks/year and they have lots of visitors..After being there, I can understand why.. Pictures to come soon, I promise!!


Actually the last weekend has been quite full as it was Easter as well for me..And although far from the pasca, lamb steak and cozonac, we've managed to bring a bit of the Easter spirit in Brussels as well..We started with a brunch in Norica's place on Sunday (Thank you Norica!) and me and Ana continued with the Easter event in Pl. St Catherine..There were mici and drob, cozonac and pasca.. I think I've never been so happy to hear so much romanian and to see our tarditional food...


A! And this year I made my first coloured eggs..I am challneging myself, no? Maybe next time I will make some drob as well :)

posted by Nico(leta) @ 09:23, ,

A new start...

For those wondering why I didn't give any sign of life lately, well, lack of time can do that to you..But, from last month some updates are needed...
I am now almost for one month in my new work place..Aspect Consulting http://www.aspectconsulting.eu/ and I like it. Of course it's different from what I had in Inbev and there are times when i miss the life I had there, but I like the challenge that come with my new job, and even more the learning curve I will be part off...

Also, a new job means a new place..As of 29th of March I have a new house and this time in Brussels. I didn't like Brussels, but being here alrady for 1 week I am starting to really fall for it. It's a nice place and has a bunch of great places where you can go for walks, parties etc...
I also feel my social life is being revitalised as due to all the travelling in Inbev, I didn't have so much time for it..
My life is good..Soon my flatmate Irina will also move for good in Belgium and that only can make me happy..We've already planned our trip to Lisbon to see Ivett Sangalo and I amlooking fwd to that..

Meanwhile, old friends and new friends are taking the majority of my time..Is good to be here!

posted by Nico(leta) @ 18:40, ,

Holidays in London

Finding myself in between jobs, I decided to go and be spoiled by my sister in London...
So, for 3 days I've experienced again a bit of that british culture which I learned to like and enjoy..

From Tate Modern to drinking cider in some typical pubs, from dancing with my friends to watching the musical "Chicago" with Coco and Ola, everything has been great!

I even managed on Monday to meet with Mike and Paul, 2 of my friends from Luton, to have lunch...
It was just what I needed before starting a new chapter of my life...

Also as of 6th of March I have a new employer, Aspect Consulting.. Two days on the pipe and I can say that, at a first glance, I will enjoy working here...

And as this is not enough change, with a bit of luck, in April I will be moving to Brussels:)...

New life, new challenges..hopefully old and new friends to be around to hear my stories...

posted by Nico(leta) @ 15:41, ,

Random thoughts..

Lately I have spent a lot of time reading, watching movies and listening to Brazilian music..3 things that I love, but which I have neglected for some time because of work..I am in the middle of a big change right now and all the above are bringing a bit of peace in my life..

In one week I will be leaving a company I love, a group of people that become my friends and that helped me grow a lot..I am heading for something new, exciting and challenging, and although I know all this, it's not easy to say good bye..
I've never been good in saying good bye and I am a mess when the moment comes..I am easily getting attached of people and because of that I also suffer when a change appears, but I guess is high time to grow up…

Without changes we can never grow and evolve..and I should know that, I am working on Change Management…Well, it’s always much easier in theory than in practice!..

But I will give it a shot...

PS: Below, one of my favourite songs

posted by Nico(leta) @ 13:48, ,

How good your communication skills are?

Communication is the strongest point of any relation, it doesn't matter if we talk about people or professional relations...Heading now for a world where communication will be my daily work, I am even more excited and intrigued of the successes that a good communication can bring...

Ok..so, of course will differ according to the stakeholders you will have to manage, but the outcome is the same: you need to make sure that you communicate the right message at the right time and to the right stakeholders...
Now, if it's to take in consideration also the different cultural background of the people you are interacting with, I can easily say that doing communication is not an easy job!..

We all think we are good communicators...I know I do!! Don't you?
So, why then to start thinking about communication...well, because if is too look around you, you will be surprised to find out how many people think that communication is one of the issue they face..And I am not talking here about over communicating things, but about lack of communication...

Don't take anything for granted...It might come as a surprise, but PEOPLE DON'T READ MINDS! ( and I guess here the guys will sustain me 100% especially if is to apply it to communication in relationships)..Ok, so, yes, I discovered that the people around me don’t know my concerns, my frustrations or my ideas and the reason is very simple: I didn't tell them!!!( I am referring here at communicating clearly and specifically the main topics) I thought: " ok, so if we talk about this and I can through in some hints, they will get it.."

Well, the world is not moving only around me and my concerns…Each person has at least 10-20 areas they need to concentrate and if we don't clearly tell them what we feel, think and need, things will not change...

So, do you know how good your communication skills are?

posted by Nico(leta) @ 11:21, ,