Belle De Jew

2008-09-14T23:16:00.002+01:00

I'm back!
As the title says, after a break of several years, Belle is back.

Watch this space...

2005-09-12T10:23:00.000+01:00

Wow, has it really been nearly a year since the last update?

Well, the answer is yes and what has happened since then?

Lots of work, travelling for work, meeting people for work.

So, it's all work, work, work.

And in between that managed to date two really great guys and still going out with one guy.

Going to the big JNF party on October 1 in Old Billingsgate. I think that used to be the fish market or meat market. If it is the old meat market, pretty apt for a Jewish singles type of event to be held there.

Here's a link to JNF. www.jnf.co.uk

Anyway... I might even do an update next month.

2004-09-27T23:15:00.000+01:00

Taking a blog break

Ok, so things are busy. Life is busy, work is busy and so something has to give. The result: This blog is going to take a break, maybe a month, maybe two months or maybe even longer.

It has been fun over the past few months, so thanks for all your emails. Keep them coming, I may even respond.

Love, hugs and happy shopping

Belle

2004-08-27T13:26:00.000+01:00

Updates or lack of them!

Ok, so i have not updated for nearly a month. No doubt you want to know why? As always, it is down to time.

This month, my exploits have included:

1. Travelling to Moscow (weekend), New York (long weekend) and Manchester (just a long week!).

2. Work is busy and responsible for the three trips as detailed in point 1.

3. Bought a bicycle, then sold it to my cousin two weeks later as realised I didn't really want it.

4. Meet a lovely new man.

5. Meet the lovely new man's mother and father.

6. Invited to Shabbos meal with lovely new man's family.

7. Saw i-Robot in the West End. Came away feeling, what was it trying to achieve. Poor intro, great middle, pathetic ending. No real twists. Great special effects. But of a let down.

8. Bought Planet Funk debut album. Even though it came out last year, great album. Also, car advert on TV uses their song.

Belle

2004-08-27T13:19:00.001+01:00

New update - official British weather sucks

Well, it has been nearly a month since my last posting and been getting emails asking what I have been up to.

Well, here it is:

1. Been travelling for work to New York, Moscow and Berlin.
2. Weather in all three cities far better than London.
3. Caught in flooding in London.
4. Bought a bicycle and then sold it two weeks later to a cousin.

So nothing really exciting other than the usual day-to-day stuff. Wake up, go to work, stay at work, go home. Have fun at weekends.

Belle

2004-08-27T13:19:00.000+01:00

2004-07-26T23:42:00.000+01:00

Things Jews just don't talk about - but should...

On a girls night out we discussed some of these issues that Jews just seem to avoid talking about but really need to raise awareness about.

1. Haggling over the price of a bris with the Mohel.
2. Haggling over the price of a wedding with the Rabbi.
3. Haggling over the price of the suggested "donation" for an aliyah.
4. How many Jewish men use sex toys on themselves.
5. Is the Rabbi of the synagogue you belong to actually any good?
6. Why Grape Juice without a certificate is not kosher. There's nothing wrong with grape juice but we get all het up over it. Welch's Grape Juice is great, but why should Jews feel guilty drinking it?
7. What is the point of the UK chief rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks. Does he actually serve any purpose other than getting a well paid job of over £100,000 plus he gets lots of extras on the side including freelance writing, book deals etc.
8. Why the United Synagogue and Federation in the UK should merge.
9. How come the biggest anti-semites tend to be Jews?
10. How come some kosher places to eat are filthy dirty and the food is not not prepared in a hygenic way, yet people still eat in them.

2004-07-21T20:41:00.000+01:00

Day 3 into new job

Well, it is now day 3 of my new job working on a "top secret" new business to business magazine.

Working with the editor for our launch in early 2005. The mag is "hush hush" as they say but covers what I'm interested in: money, shopping and travel.

One nice perk of the job is quite a bit of travel. Should be going out to Berlin next month to write about a casino based there as part of a feature we are doing on gambling across Europe.

I quite like Berlin and have been there on quite a few occasions.

In September, there's a trip arranged to Monte Carlo looking at the impact of Formula 1 and how much money it brings to principality. Will London benefit from having Formula 1 in the West End?

When not travelling, edior and I will be busy planning issues and working on ideas. Even though the mag is months away, there's still plenty of work to be done.

Next week, editor is interviewing for a couple of staff writer jobs and he's asked me to join him at the interviews.

I like being thrown into the deep end and editor knows it. It brings out the best in me and more importantly, I'm working with someone who knows their staff which means I can actually learn a lot as well.

2004-07-20T22:52:00.000+01:00

JewGoo does the jewdo

I promised to give JewGoo a plug for its forthcoming party.

So here's the plug: If you are looking for a new friend, shag buddy or potential life long partner, the folks behind JewGoo are holding a bit of a Jewdo in London at Potion, 28 Maple Street W1 on August 7th from 8pm - 1am. Admission is £5.

More info: JewGoo

2004-07-13T22:31:00.000+01:00

Work and life updates

As we are now in the 3 weeks, certain things one does not do.

1. No music at weddings
2. No music apart from acapella
3. Some of my family are avoiding eating meat unless it is shabbos

So what does it mean for me.

1. No weddings for me to go to anyway, so not much of an issue
2. Looks like I'll be listening to the famous acapella group Flying Pickets - remember their cover of the Yazoo classic Only You?
3. As I am now becoming a vege, meat is not an issue anymore anyway for me.

The 3 weeks does give time to reflect on life and stuff in general.

And that also means reflecting on work as well.

I have finally decided to hand in my notice at work. While the money is great and some of the perks excellent, the sheer pressue of working almost 24/7 over the past six months is too much.

So the good news is that I am getting out of the world of accounting and entering that other most noble profession - journalism.

At Uni, I was the editor of the student newspaper and enjoyed it a lot.

Now I've got the chance to get back into it.

A client at my firm is the publisher of a number of business to business publications and let it be known that he is launching a new title later this year.

We meet up for a coffee. Then we meet up for lunch and then he made an offer. I'm going to be Assistant editor on the title working with an editor. There's a pay cut, well like half of what I am earning at present, but the opportunity is too good to pass up.

Wish me luck!

I start July 26.

2004-07-13T22:24:00.000+01:00

Nice Jewish girls like sex - part 43

Contributions are still coming in for the great debate topic

"Nice Jewish girls like sex"

Here's a response from Steven I. Weiss of the wonderful Forward

Nice Jewish girls like sex, especially after marriage, so long as it doesn't happen too often, and is always for reproductive purposes.
Nice Jewish girls like sex, except when it involves intercourse, or any oral or manual stimulation.
Nice Jewish girls like sex, so long as they're not Jewish.
Nice Jewish girls like sex, or at least the ones who'd wince at being referred to as "nice Jewish girls" do.
Nice Jewish girls like sex, if by "sex" you mean: diamond rings they can be seen with and tell their friends about; flowers; candies; babies; fluffy pillows; teddy bears.
Nice Jewish girls like sex, except they don't.

2004-07-13T22:20:00.000+01:00

Another email from "Mark"

Oh dear, "Mark" has emailed me again, why does he bother????

Anyway, here is my response to "Mark".

Mark

thanks for your email. Are you on some sort of commission to recommend that link?
Let me say, thanks for the link and indeed making me aware of it and how as you say "it will sort you out".

Not sure what you mean by "sort me out" but having seen the site in question, I think I will stick with Aish.com.

In fact, it is quite worrying for you to start making recommendations when I don't even know you.

Have you been to Neve yourself? Not really my scene as I have no wish to be anything more than a middle of the range Jew.

I enjoy life to the full and the people around me seem to also enjoy life to the full.

best wishes

Belle

>From: "iii iii" <>
>To: belledejew@hotmail.com
>Subject: Why not go to Neve
>Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 17:51:15 +0000
>
>Hey Belledejew,
>
>Instead of telling the world how Judaism mainly consists of smoked
>salmon, top yiddish words, cheesecake, and not much else, why don't
>you consider making a real and positive impact on your life and
>other Jewish people lives by considering going to Neve
>(www.nevey.org).
>
>I am sure it will sort you out. Educate yourself about Judaism
>before you educate the entire web world, especially when your blogs
>main purpose is to draw attention to you.
>
>You seemed to call me crude, why post a crude article about sex at
>the top of your blog, do something positive, and apply your
>professional acute personality to Torah study at somewhere like
>Neve.
>
>Mark
>

2004-07-06T22:56:00.000+01:00

Sex, Sex, Sex and finish that headline for me

Menachem Wecker who runs his own blog at http://wecker.blogspot.com writes in response to my recent posting where you get to finish the headline:

Nice Jewish girls like sex...

So do you think Menachem is being a Mean-a-chem?

I saw a post on your blog about Nice Jewish girls like sex... I tend
to think you meant the sentence to end as follows:

Nice Jewish girls like sexLESS lives, and husbands who have
mysogonistic views--whether overt or veiled--and both spend their
whole lives feeling that nature is evil and dirty and cootie-infected,
and if they even entertained the possibility of questioning their
rabbis, they might employ a more healthy approach. :)

Best,
M

2004-07-06T22:37:00.000+01:00

Why Mark wants his name off the blog

A while back, "Mark" emailed me and tried to "hit on me" in a very crude naff way.

Now, "Mark" has asked for his name to be removed as he says: "Please take my name off your blog, people will know who I am.".

Anyway, here's his email and my response to him. A word to anyone, before emailing someone you don't know, think carefully about what you say. Like in real life, a wierdo can be spotted quite easily, the same can be said for email. If you don't want to be seens as a weirdo, don't do wierd things.

>From: belledejew@hotmail.com
>To: "Mark"
>Subject: Remove me from your blog please
>Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004

Mark

As you can appreciate, a blog such as mine is public and it should be apparent that it is based on my life and as such, real things in my life are featured.

You sent an email, knowing full well that other emails have been published - why would I make an exception to yours especially when you were trying it "hit on me" in such a crude naff way.

Why anyone would think it is you given that Mark David is a generic name, I don't know. Unless of course, this is your style of trying to strike up an online liaison and you are well known for this.

In future, you really should think carefully before emailing someone you don't know, especially when you try to "hit on them".

Anyway, your full name will now be removed to be replaced with just "Mark".

yours sincerely

Belle

-----------------------------------------------------------
When not shopping, Belle De Jew can be found at:

http://belledejew.blogspot.com

>From: "Mark"
>To: belledejew@hotmail.com
>Subject: Remove me from your blog please
>Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 18:16:47 +0000
>
>Hey Belle,
>
>Please take my name off your blog, people will know who I am. Please
>much appreciated. Don't know why my email didn't work.
>
>Do it pronto please.
>
>Mark
>

2004-07-02T22:32:00.000+01:00

Top Yiddish words of the week

It was one of those weeks at work when you just end up swearing in Yiddish, or atleast in your own form of Yiddish.

So the words of the week were "schmuck" as in "Look stop being such a schmuck, you agreed to the deal, so do it"

The other word was "tsoris" (well, sounds better than the way I have spelt it).

Anyway, "tsoris" as in "Look you schmuck, you are giving me a whole heap of tsoris which i could do without"

What are your Yiddish words of the week?

2004-07-02T22:08:00.000+01:00

Nice Jewish girls like sex...

Just a random headline. Send me an email based on that headline.

Each week I'll have a headline that you can add to.

2004-07-02T21:55:00.000+01:00

New blog friend

As the various pirate radio DJs would say in north west London, it's time for me to do some "big shouts".

So giving a big shout out to Joanna Honikman who is a Brit girl living in the Big Apple and writing for Heeb.

Joanna has her own blog which you can check out via this link -

http://www.honikman.com/blog

Anyway... if you want to be a new blog friend of mine, then keep those emails coming...

2004-07-02T21:41:00.000+01:00

Another year, another Wimbledon failure

Ok, so what is up with English people playing tennis at Wimbledon. Tim Henman (Jewish sounding name, but thankfully Mr Henman is not a heeb, atleast we can't be blamed for his failure).

Like, Wimbledon is in England, but no-one English ever seems to win anything.

Or for that matter, anyone Jewish...

New rant - Jews are crap at sport, face up to this folks. While Jews are great at being managers and agents, when it comes to being world class sport champions, we really do suck big time.

I asked some friends to name great sporting heroes. The answer among three people was the same:

That guy with the moustache.

For those who don't know who that guy with the moustache is, it is the one and olny Mark Spitz.

Somehow he managed to win something like 6 gold medals at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

So who really are the modern day Mark Spitzs'?

Also, while I am in a slagging off mood, how can Tim Henman be allowed to represent Great Britain at the Greek Olympics. I always thought it was only for amateurs. Actually, that really sums up Henman. So yes, he is well suited. But seriously, the guy makes money from tennis, he shouldn't be allowed to play at the Olympics.

2004-06-25T00:12:00.000+01:00

Troll alert...

Got this message in my email box

>From: "Brian Clacey" <>
>To: belledejew@hotmail.com
>Subject: Professional minority?
>Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 22:43:26 +0000
>
>One question: why do you people spend so much time, money, and
>energy on showing how different you are as part of your agenda of
>being what I call a ‘professional minority’, then squeal
>‘anti-Semitism’ as soon as anyone actually treats you as different?
>Why don’t you just get a life? …Or, of course, simply go to Israel
>if being Jewish so important to you.
> Yours,
> Brian
>

My oh my. Have no idea what I have done to get a warm email from Brian. Have no idea what he is on about, but nice to hear from him.

Of course, I replied pointing out that I don't see how he thinks he can get a reply when he is already quite biased by using terms like "you people" and "your agenda".

And as far as spending money, Brian, I have not spent a single penny on any agenda.

I think all that was missing was a reference to a worldwide conspiracy to take over everything.

Of course, Brian sounds like a "troll", surely there can't be such people who are really like this?

Anyway...

Isn't it time David Beckham stopped being captain of England? Once again he couldn't shot a penalty and once again England lost as a result of his bad playing.

I know David is 25% Jewish, but please David next time you are playing, don't use your Jewish talent when taking a penalty.

2004-06-18T19:53:00.000+01:00

Want to be on television? - with your mum or dad!

The BBC recently invited me to take part in a new programme called Parent Trap, in which parents get to live with their children.

Alas, despite the kind offer, on this occasion, I couldn't take part but maybe dear readers of Belle De Jew, you want to take part.

Ben, who is making the show, says get in touch if you are interested.

Here's the details...

'Parent Trap' is a new documentary series for BBC 2. We aim to highlight free-will and individuality in adult children (20-35) who've moved out of the family home and begun a life of their own. The documentary will also explore the difference in the generations and how this can result in a lack of understanding between the parent(s) and their child.

Willing and suitable participants will invite their parents to stay with them for one week in order to experience their home-life, workplace and social environments.

The most important thing is that the audience will be able to relate to certain aspects of all of the stories that will feature during the series.

We are looking for participants who’ll be willing to use the week as a platform to discuss absolutely anything with their loved-ones, from positive feelings, to unresolved issues.

If you’re interested please give me a call.

Kindest regards,

Ben Cooper

Assistant Producer
tel: 0207 239 8222

2004-06-17T20:59:00.000+01:00

Talk about taking the piss

The boys behind Jewgoo, which used to be Lychi, have now put up a top 10 chart of toilets in use in Jewish restaurants.

The boys call it the "top 10 kosher toilets", of course, the boys should realise that in the top 10, two of them are not actually "kosher". Mind, you it seems that these ones are probably alot cleaner than the kosher ones.

Anyway, Jewgoo appears to have only looked and photographed the men's urinals. What about something for us ladies?

Anyway, is Blooms the worst? Click here for a pic.

2004-06-17T10:03:00.000+01:00

Lychi is no more, long live JewGoo

London's Lychi is no more and has now become Jewgoo.

Always good to see another Jewish 20-something site around. Of course, Jewgoo has the potential to be the bunt of many a joke.

For the life of me, can't think of any at the moment, other than things to do with spunk and wankers.

2004-06-17T09:57:00.000+01:00

Even in cyberspace, guys try to hit on you

Most the guys (and for the matter girls) who email me seem very nice and generally email interesting things about them or life in general. They know that through this blog, what sort of goes on in my life and in fact what I want to talk about. But from time to time, you do get someone who tries to hit on you.

Normally I don't post the messages, but sometimes it does deserve a posting.
Of course, i have taken out this person's email address. In fact, when i tried to respond back to this "Mark" via Hotmail to his Hotmail account, Hotmail couldn't send the message as it said his email didn't exisit anymore. Interesting.

Anyway.. here's "Mark"

You will need to read this posting from last to first...
Note: the below posting I tried to respond but as explained above looks like "mark david" is no longer using the same email account.

>From: belledejew@hotmail.com
>To: "Mark"

>Not sure what you mean. You asked a question. you got an answer plus you got best >wishes.

>What more do you want.

>Oh, I see now a reference on the blog.

>In which case, welcome to the Belle blog.

>best wishes

>Belle

>From: "Mark"
>To: belledejew@hotmail.com
>Subject: RE: Hi
>Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 20:16:35 +0000
>
>Hey,
>
>Its too early to meet your mother, but maybe one day.
>
>Why so cold in your response to my mail? There has got to be more to
>you than work, what you looking for in life? etc.
>
>Mark
>
>>From: "belle dejew"
>>To: "Mark"
>>Subject: RE: Hi
>>Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 14:53:02 +0000
>>
>>hi there
>>
>>everything i want you to know is on the blog.
>>
>>everything i don't want you to know is with my mother.
>>
>>best wishes
>>
>>Belle
>>
>>
>>
>>>From: "Mark"
>>>To: belledejew@hotmail.com
>>>Subject: Hi
>>>Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 19:46:47 +0000
>>>
>>>Hey,
>>>
>>>I have been reading your posts for a while. Am a 25 male, yid,
>>>studying in Israel at the moment, originally South African, lived
>>>in London for 7 years, and am returning to London in 2 days for 2
>>>months to work before coming back to Israel to study.
>>>
>>>You seem pretty interesting and I would like to know more about
>>>you, call me crazy, but would be great to hear from you and find
>>>out more about your life.
>>>
>>>Mark
>>>
>>
>

2004-06-15T19:26:00.000+01:00

Less posts, mean one thing...

OK, here's the deal, it can be a real bum to try and keep a blog up to date for a number of reasons and like others, here are my reasons.

1. Work is busy
2. Work is busy
3. Work is busy

So that's pretty much what is going on.

I got a promotion a few months back. The bitch from hell who was my boss got fired. Her boss then thought it would be a good idea to give me a new job title. I said, "yes, that would be good, but of course, where's the extra money?". He then offered more money and with more money, more work!

Anyway.. here's a re-cap of the last month.

1. Get ready for the Euro Football Championship. Got really pissed off when England captain David Beckham missed the penalty and we ended up losing to France. Of course, Beckham being 25% Jewish can always blame his "Jewish" foot for the missed penalty.

2. Shavuot came and went. The festival of all things diary happened and as always ended up eating lots of cheesecake. Uncle Dave got carried away and he got his usual bout of gout.

3. Work - for work read the above. it has been busy, but hey more money made means more things to spend it on.

4. Bought a plasma TV. Spent £2,500 on a Sony and then when they came to deliver it, the space I had allocated wasn't big enough. So I did a spot of extra spring cleaning to make room for it. And yes, plasma does rock.

5. Cybercandy. Awesome site www.cybercandy.co.uk but more importantly, they have a shop in central London where you can buy your American sweets, or for my US cousins, candy. Bought some almond M&M's and some cans of Mountain Dew, which when I told my mother, she thought I said Mounting Jew.

Hopefully next update will be in less than a month.

2004-05-15T18:02:00.000+01:00

Another month, more work

Well doesn't time fly? One minute it was March, then it was April and now it is May and I must say sorry for the lack of updates. But when work is busy and when work pays your bills and gives you a bit left over for the nice things in life, then the blog musty come second, or even third to everything else.

So why has the blog come second?

Quite simply, been busy working on two deals. The first of course is the German deal and the fact the the planned buyout just didn't happen. Still, that's life. Some deals happen and some deals don't. Atleast we got paid our fees for our work.

The second deal involved setting up a new UK adult magazine and website. Many people think there is no future with adult magazines due to the growth of the web. But our client has a good proposition to make it work. So been busy with setting up the business and working out the best way for it to operate in an effective tax way.

Client is based in New York, so that involved a few trips out there and of course plenty of eating out at the 2d Avenue Deli.

Until next time...

Remember, the more giggles in the life, the better your life.