Well my dears,
I'VE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
A year ago at about this time (maybe actually around 10:30, come to think of it), I was being picked up by Danni at Gatwick and going through the day in a state of shock basically.
And so I am today as well. It seems so strange that the people who I know and adore here, I didn't know a year ago. People and places are starting to become very comfortable to me, and I'm really starting to feel settled - I am so glad I decided to come over for longer than a year. It just wouldn't have been enough.
I went hiking through East (or maybe it was West) Sussex for the day with some friends yesterday, and as we were marching across the fields I looked around and realised that I really do love it here, and I'm really starting to feel like I belong.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Friday, May 27, 2005
The time game
I can't believe that on Tuesday it will be my one-year anniversary of arriving here (although I guess technically I should count the time I went back to be in Ange's wedding, except that was such a whirlwind 4 days I don't really count it!) For the past couple of days I've been doing the "Last year at this time I was........" thing. We all do it I think, and I think we all sort of beat ourselves up for it. There's something almost magical about that one year bit. Last May 27th Andrea, John, Qu-Li, Chris, Cecelia, Meredith and I had one last dinner together at Ethiopia House (and one last coffee ceremony - Andrea's favourite!) It was a great night. I still have the card here with me!
It seems strange that in 4 short days when I think "Last year at this time I was..." I will have been in England. It's a funny feeling - it makes me unsure of whether I want to dance with joy for having made it this long, or cry...
It seems strange that in 4 short days when I think "Last year at this time I was..." I will have been in England. It's a funny feeling - it makes me unsure of whether I want to dance with joy for having made it this long, or cry...
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Back from my Polar Expedition
It was great! I saw lots of bears and other polar things.
Okay. You've caught me. There wasn't an expedition, but in the spirit of cheap ass games, it was fun to pretend I had been. The problem is that I didn't have the time to collect the relevent paraphenalia to be convincing about it. That reference will be completely lost on anybody but my brother and maybe my parental unit and sister (if they ever read this), but since this is my blog I can do what I want. Nya.
To be honest, I suppose I've been in a bit of a blogging slump. I've generally been feeling a big ho-hum about it lately (and let's be honest, work's been busy for the past couple of weeks and I've been trying to get out in the nice weather at lunch) I tried to update yesterday, but the computer seems to have eaten the page. I was pretty annoyed - it was a good one...
Let's see. Highlights: I discovered an amazing pub on Tuesday. It's called The Windmill and is in Brixton. I went to hear a Toronto Country band called Loomer because I had heard them on Radio 2 and they were fantastic. The problem is that I think we actually missed them - it seems the gig started earlier than it had said it would on the website (I was informed that before I got there some people sounding suspiciously Canadian were heard to be asking "Do you serve Canadian beeeer?"). Never mind though - it was still a great find. The poor soul that I dragged along to hear the band-that-wasn't-to-be described the pub as something you'd find in the outback. It had a dirty feel to it (dirty as in not-clean - not dirty as in what you'd find at the top of the magazine rack in Becker's) whereby although the couches were comfortable, you'd shudder to think of what had been spilled on them etc. The walls were a great combination of dirty orange and white paint with old smooshed posters all over them, and we were sitting beneath propellors, beer steins (with fake beer being poured out), tea pots and watering cans on the ceilings. I ended up sitting across the table from an ex-pat Newfie and had a brief conversation about Joey Smallwood and CN rail. Anyway, it did seem a bit of an oasis on a residential street in Brixton. I highly recommend it should you find yourselves in London. It's occured to me that frequenting such venues is probably a great way to find new bands...
My flatmate and I were witness to the BBC's 12:30 am"International" weather forecast that consisted of the weather in: Wyoming, Indiana, Buenos Airies and Lima, Peru. It really gave us a good giggle!
I've been continuing with my training (another 5K this weekend). My friend and I discovered that we can walk 10K in just over an hour, so even if we only run half of it, it won't be a disgrace! I'm feeling pretty confident about plugging my way through it though. I got slightly lost on a run this morning - these curvy London streets do my head in!
I'm going to my first Rugby game on Sunday (Rugby League) and am very excited! My summer camp friend Murmle is coming with Rich and I (you'll remember Rich from such blog entries as the London Racers experiences), and I'm really looking forward to it. It's supposed to rain on Sunday and that will make it that much more exciting!
Other than that, it's business as usual!
Okay. You've caught me. There wasn't an expedition, but in the spirit of cheap ass games, it was fun to pretend I had been. The problem is that I didn't have the time to collect the relevent paraphenalia to be convincing about it. That reference will be completely lost on anybody but my brother and maybe my parental unit and sister (if they ever read this), but since this is my blog I can do what I want. Nya.
To be honest, I suppose I've been in a bit of a blogging slump. I've generally been feeling a big ho-hum about it lately (and let's be honest, work's been busy for the past couple of weeks and I've been trying to get out in the nice weather at lunch) I tried to update yesterday, but the computer seems to have eaten the page. I was pretty annoyed - it was a good one...
Let's see. Highlights: I discovered an amazing pub on Tuesday. It's called The Windmill and is in Brixton. I went to hear a Toronto Country band called Loomer because I had heard them on Radio 2 and they were fantastic. The problem is that I think we actually missed them - it seems the gig started earlier than it had said it would on the website (I was informed that before I got there some people sounding suspiciously Canadian were heard to be asking "Do you serve Canadian beeeer?"). Never mind though - it was still a great find. The poor soul that I dragged along to hear the band-that-wasn't-to-be described the pub as something you'd find in the outback. It had a dirty feel to it (dirty as in not-clean - not dirty as in what you'd find at the top of the magazine rack in Becker's) whereby although the couches were comfortable, you'd shudder to think of what had been spilled on them etc. The walls were a great combination of dirty orange and white paint with old smooshed posters all over them, and we were sitting beneath propellors, beer steins (with fake beer being poured out), tea pots and watering cans on the ceilings. I ended up sitting across the table from an ex-pat Newfie and had a brief conversation about Joey Smallwood and CN rail. Anyway, it did seem a bit of an oasis on a residential street in Brixton. I highly recommend it should you find yourselves in London. It's occured to me that frequenting such venues is probably a great way to find new bands...
My flatmate and I were witness to the BBC's 12:30 am"International" weather forecast that consisted of the weather in: Wyoming, Indiana, Buenos Airies and Lima, Peru. It really gave us a good giggle!
I've been continuing with my training (another 5K this weekend). My friend and I discovered that we can walk 10K in just over an hour, so even if we only run half of it, it won't be a disgrace! I'm feeling pretty confident about plugging my way through it though. I got slightly lost on a run this morning - these curvy London streets do my head in!
I'm going to my first Rugby game on Sunday (Rugby League) and am very excited! My summer camp friend Murmle is coming with Rich and I (you'll remember Rich from such blog entries as the London Racers experiences), and I'm really looking forward to it. It's supposed to rain on Sunday and that will make it that much more exciting!
Other than that, it's business as usual!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Home for a Rest!
I've booked a ticket home. I'm so happy. Seee yooouuuu in September!
I ended up not voting in the election. I decided it was morally reprehensible. And I didn't remember until I got home. Tony Blair's won. Everyone seems quite blase about it. Including him. It's been interesting to be over here during an election.
I stayed up late to watch a BBC2 documentary about Conrad Black. It was very interesting to see him being shown over here. It was a joint BBC/TVO production - they tend to team up to do good things. It was also nice to see the Tim Hortons just south of Bay and Bloor and the TD Canada Trust on that corner in the background too. Home sweet home!
I've just finished work - I think it's a late record for me - 7:30 p.m. (except the nights once/3 months when I know I'll be working until 9:00). I can't imagine having a job where this is the norm. I find comfort in knowing that my manager will likely be very annoyed with me when she finds out I've worked so late and will demand I take time off in lieu. I wonder if late nights for lots of money is worth it. Somehow I doubt it.
I ended up not voting in the election. I decided it was morally reprehensible. And I didn't remember until I got home. Tony Blair's won. Everyone seems quite blase about it. Including him. It's been interesting to be over here during an election.
I stayed up late to watch a BBC2 documentary about Conrad Black. It was very interesting to see him being shown over here. It was a joint BBC/TVO production - they tend to team up to do good things. It was also nice to see the Tim Hortons just south of Bay and Bloor and the TD Canada Trust on that corner in the background too. Home sweet home!
I've just finished work - I think it's a late record for me - 7:30 p.m. (except the nights once/3 months when I know I'll be working until 9:00). I can't imagine having a job where this is the norm. I find comfort in knowing that my manager will likely be very annoyed with me when she finds out I've worked so late and will demand I take time off in lieu. I wonder if late nights for lots of money is worth it. Somehow I doubt it.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Is this legal?
Back when I first arrived here, some ex-pat Canadians suggested I get on the electoral role. So I went to my Borough office and said "I'd like to be on the electoral role please", fully expecting to be turned down because I'm not a citizen of this country. Imagine my surprise when the lady behind little intercom box said "OK. Give give me your name and address" as a hand shoved a piece of paper under the little slot in the wall. I filled it in, fully expecting to, at some point, receive a piece of paper in the mail saying "You can't vote, you idiot. You're not a citizen." When that didn't come, I finally decided there must be a loophole whereby perhaps one does not actually get to vote, but can still be on the role.
On Friday I got home and my electoral card was waiting for me. Wahoo! So, I guess for some reason I get to vote this Thursday. I'm not going to question it anymore. All I know is that for whatever reason, I can show up on Thursday and put my little x in the little ticky-box (in the space reserved for the **political opinion witheld** party and walk away knowing that it was at least partially legal, and that I can't be held responsible if the British Goverment doesn't do their homework (unless there is no law against non-citizens voting). Sometimes, my friends, political ignorance really can be quite blissy!
But just incase, please contribute to the "Post Joanna's Bail" envelope when it comes around.
Oh - and imagine how exciting it will be if the Liberal Minority in Canada is chucked out on its ear this summer and I get to vote in two countries' elections in a span of months!
On Friday I got home and my electoral card was waiting for me. Wahoo! So, I guess for some reason I get to vote this Thursday. I'm not going to question it anymore. All I know is that for whatever reason, I can show up on Thursday and put my little x in the little ticky-box (in the space reserved for the **political opinion witheld** party and walk away knowing that it was at least partially legal, and that I can't be held responsible if the British Goverment doesn't do their homework (unless there is no law against non-citizens voting). Sometimes, my friends, political ignorance really can be quite blissy!
But just incase, please contribute to the "Post Joanna's Bail" envelope when it comes around.
Oh - and imagine how exciting it will be if the Liberal Minority in Canada is chucked out on its ear this summer and I get to vote in two countries' elections in a span of months!
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