Three Feet from a Rat

Labour of love

2010-09-18T05:22:00.003+01:00

I'm making our wedding cake!

Tiers one and two are done (one and two being the top two) and tier three will be done on Sunday. We're freezing them and will take them out the week of the wedding to decorate, so the adventure will be finding somewhere to freeze it on Sunday. Our freezer isn't big enough for a 12" square cake. Some would say that we ought to find somewhere big enough first, but that wouldn't be so much fun that driving around looking for friends or relatives who are better freezer endowed than we are.

We decided on carrot rather than fruit partially because of the house move and fruit cake baking all within a week was a bit much, and also because I don't want to be tired of fruit cake by the time Christmas comes around...

The ingredients:

We have a cake in the oven!

The finished top tier...

OK. So as it turns out I haven't done such a good job at documenting the baking of the cake. But actually, the photos of the bowls of mixed ingredients ended up looking like sick (and I didn't want to put the wedding guests off) and the photos of the baked second tier looked just like the photos of the baked first tier...

Perhaps the decoration photos will be much more amusing...

In with the new

2010-09-18T04:54:00.004+01:00

It is now the 7th week in the new home, but already it feels so much longer than that! The furniture has arrived, the unpacking is mostly done, the smells of the old people have dissapated (they weren't bad smells...just other people smells) and it is starting to feel like home.

At the door about to take our first steps inside...

Poking around (or actually, trying to figure out how to open the back door now that no one else was there to do it for us) and reading instructions left for us by our lovely vendors...

The truck and the moving mascot (I didn't have a hat box so the hedgehog had to wear it)

Popping the champagne (in the garden, so that we didn't break anything, obviously)

Oh yeah...we have to unpack all this....

Out with the old...

2010-09-15T06:08:00.008+01:00

Please excuse the lack of posts, however one will appreciate that the times, they are a changin'

Way back when I lived in London, on my last Sunday before moving away from said large inner city, Mr P and I went for a walk around his marathon training route (although we only walked about 14 km of it, not his whole 22 km training route...) because I hadn't ever walked along the entire South Bank from Greenwich to Tower Hill. I loved it (and I loved the assortment of random statues and sculptures along the way too). The idea was that P would run to Greenwich while I walked to Canary Wharf and took the DLR from there and meet him on the other side of the river. However, I was rather enjoying the walk and so I decided to walk to Greenwich so poor Mr P had to jog laps back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth to wait for me. So while I walked about three miles he ran about 12. Bless him.

Photos:

Mr P running along the North side across from Greenwich approaching the Greenwich Tunnel (he ran back and forth along the North Bank between Canary Wharf and Greenwich to accommodate the fact that I walk about 1/10 of the speed he runs)

Following the walk through the rather dodgy estates that surely would frighten any tourist, but are rather endearing to me as I have lived on one myself, we once again emerged into trendy territory where we found a lovely set of stairs in the middle of the path just so...

And the ship repair yard...

One of the things I liked about this area is that they have kept the old docks largely intact whereas they have been changed quite significantly on the North Side...

And some men just "sitting of the dock of the..." oh, just sitting on the dock...

Another random sculpture across from Canary Wharf:

A City Farm (with pigs, if you look really hard...)

We had a stop at a lovely pub that served some of the best Thai Food I've had in ages..

...and we befriended a ladybug...

Represent!

The Anchor is here, but the boat appears to have got away!

Phil checking out what they read just before they boarded the Mayflower...

The Mayflower Pub...at the site (or thereabouts) of where the Mayflower left from. Not sure the Puritans stopped in for a pint first though...

King Edward Park (my local) from across the river...

Ah! Tower Bridge! The beginning of the home stretch!

Butler's Wharf. One of my earlier discoveries but still loved location...

Truth be told, my feet were terribly sore, so I'm afraid that St Katherine's dock to my house on the north side got neglected!

Church Desert...

2010-04-30T21:55:00.004+01:00

I phoned home tonight and spoke with my parents who were puttering about doing random things. My mom mentioned that dad was making a desert for an upcoming church dinner. I asked what he's making and he said "Sex in a Pan". I couldn't imagine bringing that to a Church of England Bring and Share. I'd forgotten all about it though, so for those of you who have as well, please indulge yourself (recipe courtesy of about.com and picture randomly found on a very yummy looking blog called Jam on Your Face which I encourage you to check out. I tried emailing to ask for permission to plop it here, but it wouldn't accept my comment...I didn't see any copyright information so I hope it's OK)

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, soft ened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tub whipped topping, 32 ounces
1 package (4oz) vanilla instant pudding
1 package (4oz) chocolate insta nt pudding
3 cups cold milk, divided
1 square semisweet chocolate, shaved, or mini semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation:

Combine flour, butter and pecans and press into a 9x13x2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.

Combine cream cheese and confectioners' sugar and spread over pecan mixture. Spread half of the whipped topping over the cream che

ese layer.

Mix package of vanilla pudding using 1 -1/2 cups of milk. Spoon evenly over the whipped topping; spread until layer is even. Mix package of chocolate pudding using remaining 1-1/2 cups milk. Spread on top of vanilla pudding. Spread remaining whipped topping on top and sprink le with shaved semisweet chocolate or mini chocolate chips.

Blog or bust...

2009-12-18T21:47:00.008Z

I realised the other day that I haven't blogged in almost a year. I thought "maybe I should just delete it entirely" But then I thought "maybe I should persist. So this is my attempt at persisting...

I have been doing Christmas baking over the past week or so.

This is how my kitchen normally looks:

This is how it looked with two Christmas pudding steaming for 8 hours, the other ingredients out, lunch being cooked, and my slow cooker on the go...

Traditional family cookie recipes

The Gingerbread Men A&E Department...

My first proper attempt at Home made Mince Pies...

Common Sense Doesn't Sell

2009-01-03T17:06:00.003Z

A Yahoo! Article on how to save money in the January Sales:

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/23122008/401/golden-rules-successful-sales-shopping.html

My thought was "don't go shopping", but apparently that's not the slant they were looking for...

My pleasant pheasant experience

2009-01-01T20:04:00.003Z

Mr P came around for dinner last night to bring in the New Year, and something inspired me to cook a feast featuring pheasant (having never done that before!).

The menu consisted of:
Roast Pheasant with Lemon and Rosemary
Pan-friend brussel sprouts and shallots with pomegranate and purple basil
Boiled Potatos
Crusty Bread
Dark chocolate mousse with Baileys and mascarpone cream.
Mr P had picked up a lovely 2007 Zinfandel from a wine show we went to in October and it complimented the meal perfectly (apparently pheasant and zinfandel are a good combo!)

I got the pheasant recipe from Mike Robinson on www.bbc.co.uk/food. He very helpfully had a video on how to prepare the pheasant, and while it looked much easier to get the backbone out than it was (although it wasn't too hard - just more messy than it looked on the video and he didn't say anything about dissecting the giblets out either!) it was very helpful and very yummy!

In the end, it turned out rather well (if I may say so myself!)

The pheasant - in packaging...

The pheasant just before the preparation...

The final result...

Who baked what with the what now?

2008-09-21T11:44:00.003+01:00

I never would have believed it had I not tried it with my very own little hands. It was two weeks ago now, but certainly worth a repeat (especially since my courgette plant keeps turning them out like nobody's business!

Chocolate Courgette Cake:

Batter:

1/2 cup margarine (i used butter - go hard or go home, eh?)
1/2 cup oil
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour milk (interestingly, I didn't bother with the milk + vinegar trick - I just used milk that was slightly off, and it was fine!)
1 tsp vanilla
2.5 cups unsifted flour (does anyone still sift flour these days?)
4 tbsp cocoa
1/2 tsp baking power
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups finely diced courgette (I grated mine, and it was fine!)

Topping:

3/4 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed walnuts

Method:

1. Cream margarine, oil and sugar
2. Add eggs, vanilla and sour milk
3. Mix all dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture
4. Beat well
5. Stir in diced courgette
6. Spoon into a greased and floured 9x13 inch pan
7. Sprinkle topping on batter in pan
8. Bake at 350F (that's gas mark 4, for my British readers) for 40-45 mins or until a toothpick, when inserted into the middle, comes out clean.

It is just heavenly!

Produce from my allotment

2008-08-29T23:13:00.005+01:00

Many things have died (due to a tragic outbreak of blight) but my courgettes have been doing well:

Three different sizes of courgette (with CD case for comparison):

A large courgette (with baby for comparison):

My first attempt at Strawberry-Rhubarb pie (or any type of pie, for that matter...perhaps I went overboard on the filling?):

Blackberries:

Green tomato pickle made from the tomatos that were saved before the blight wiped everything out:

Finders Keepers

2008-08-29T23:10:00.003+01:00

My flatmate is moving out this weekend and I am getting a new one soon.

Whilst packing, some stray socks have been found in her room.

Please feel free to claim them if they are yours:

clean carpets!

2008-07-12T08:20:00.001+01:00

Our carpets are being cleaned today.

I am so excited I could cry!

These feet are made for walking...

2008-07-01T19:44:00.002+01:00

Clare has just driven off in the Silver Bullet.

I feel the strangest mixture of absolute relief (no more insurance, repair bills, flat tires and annoying times when I leave a light on and need a jump start!)

But on the other hand, the Bullet has taken me on numerous trips across England, Scotland and Wales, to Germany and back... and in it driving away many happy memories went too. No, that's stupid. The memories didn't drive away in the car - Clare did!

I expect my grief won't last for as long as I imagine it will. It means I will use my travel time a bit more creatively, get a bit more exercise, read even more on public transport, perhaps invest in a better bike and well...one more Polar Bear may find food this winter for my sacrifice.

Yes, my grief may pass quickly - the car is off to a very good home. And I am off to the pub to celebrate Canada Day with a couple of Scottish people.

God Bless the new journeys of the Silver Bullet! And Happy Canada Day, everyone!

What to dooooo with a pooping racoooooon

2008-06-20T21:48:00.003+01:00

My parents are having troubles.

It seems that a local raccoon (hyperlinked here, for those non-North American readers who may not know what a raccoon is) has been climbing the steps to their back deck (no easy feat, as there are about 15 quite steep steps)

I giggle as I write this, but I really ought not to, because I can imagine it must be dreadful to a) have an animal so determined to shit upon one's back doorstep and b) play a daily game of watching their feet when they leave the house.

When I was there a baby-gate had been bungeed to the top of the steps, but it seems that now the raccoon (likely due to their opposable thumbs) has perhaps now learned to climb, or Heaven forbid! open said baby-gate. According to their last email a barracade of sorts has been contructed and an outside light has been left on. There is talk of a live-trap when they get home if the problem is not solved.

I have done some investigating though, and have found a few other ideas to help save the problem of the pooping raccoon.

There is Critter All Natural Animal Repellent

Wolf Urine (right...now we just need a wolf)

Hare-less Hot Pepper Rabbit and Raccoon Repellent (these people also specialise in deer, mole, squirrel, and armadillo repellent)

The Toronto Humane Society reminds my parents to secure the house so that they cannot find shelter within ("David what a hairy arm you suddenly have!")

This site specifically mentions raccoons on porches, and suggests a good dousing of water. Mom already has practice at that, and just the super-soaker to do the job....

There are battery operated sprinklers, lights and scarecrows attached to garden hoses

A little recipe for a stew made from onion and cayenne and jalapeno peppers

Napthla and loud music (and ammonia soaked rags) will be popular with the neighbours I'll bet!

Pellet Guns didn't work for one of these guys but if you read further a 22 rifle seems to work...

Best of luck, lovely PU! For what it's worth, the raccoon couldn't have picked the doorstep of a lovlier couple to poop upon!!

Rhubarb-Strawberry Coffee Cake

2008-06-19T17:22:00.003+01:00

One of the unanticipated side effects of my trip to Canada is that I learned to like rhubarb.

I've always hated rhubarb. With an intense passion. Rhubarb is the only food I have approved of being thrown out unconsumed - especially because then it would never fulfill it's food destiny (that is, to be eaten)

However, there is hope that we all may one day be saved, and on my two week holiday to Canada, I was. When I arrived it seemed that rhubarb season was in full swing, and that everybody I was staying with was presenting it to me in some form or another - jam, coffee cake, pies... so, I thought "what the hey" and (especially because I have a large batch of it in my allotment) I thought I'd throw in the towel and join the fun (if you can't lick 'em join, 'em, so they say).

On my first Sunday there, Hallah (being unaware of my intense dislike for rhubarb which had become slightly less intense since eating Andrea's rhubarb-strawberry jam the day before) put my in charge of making the strawberry rhubarb coffee cake for her sister's wedding brunch.

So, I tackled it. I smelled it, touched it, washed it, cut it, stewed it, spread it and baked it into a cake.

And loved it!

Here is said recipe that I plan on making this weekend... (copied and pasted verbatim from Hallah's blog - thanks kiddo!)

rhubarb~strawberry coffee cake

28-May-08 at 9:14 AM
2 comments

From Better Homes and Gardens
(and no, Jeff, there is no coffee in a coffee cake!)

FRUIT FILLING
3/4 c cut-up rhubarb
3/4 c cut-up strawberries
1/4 c water

In small saucepan, bring these 3 to a boil, reduce heat, simmer covered for 5 minutes or until fruit is tender.

1/4 cup sugar
2 T cornstarch

Combine and stir into fruit mixture over med heat until thickened and bubbly. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350*

DRY MIXTURE
1 1/2 c flour
3/4 c sugar
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda

Combine above 4 into medium mixing bowl.
Cut in 1/4 c butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Make a well in the middle and set aside.

WET MIXTURE
1 beaten egg
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 c butter milk
(if you don't have butter milk, make sour milk. Put 1 T lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make one cup. Stir. Let mixture set 5 minutes before using. *NOTE* this makes 1 cup of sour milk and this recipe only calls for 1/2 c)

In another bowl, combine these 3.
Add wet mixture to dry mixture all at once.
Using a wooden spoon, stir until just moistened (will be lumpy).
Spread half of this batter in an ungreased 8x8x2 pan.
Spread fruit filling over this.
Drop remaining batter over the filling in small mounds.

TOPPING
1/4 c flour
1/4 c sugar
Mix in a small bowl.
Cut in 2 T butter until crumby.
Sprinkle over coffee cake.

Bake 40-45 min or until golden.
Cool slightly; serve warm.

Hallah suggests that it is best served the day it's made, but I don't think there was any left the following day to test that theory!

Although, Hallah, I must confess...I don't remember putting the cornstarch in, did you?

Anyways, I have since embraced the rhubarb patch on my allotment, shown below:

A triumphant post- Picking the rhubarb pose (the "bending down picking the rhubarb" shot ended up with more clevage exposure than I think is decent for a family blog...)

The Cottage

2008-06-16T22:17:00.006+01:00

More about the rest of the trip later...but I have just been looking at my pictures...it was at the cottage, the precise moment when my dad and I went out in one of the canoes (the pre-betrothal canoe, as he calls it - because it was his and mom's first major purchase together before they got married) when my paddle first slipped through the water, that I realised that I am a Canadian through and through and nothing will ever replace the feeling of being in a canoe at the cottage and that I want to come home for good someday. Later we encountered a family of Geese...

This is actually beside my parents' water garden at home, but I think it's just lovely thing for them to have at the spot they eat lunch at every day...

View from the cottage deck

A wonderful cottage pastime!

Mom and I at the front door...we look huge! How funny! It is actually very low at the front...

Ready and waiting...

Setting off

My brave dad taking a plunge (although the water was lovely, and if I had had my bathing suit...)

Geese!

Template update

2008-06-13T04:18:00.001+01:00

I am going to try to figure out how to update my template to get rid of my UBS (ugly blog syndrome). It says I may lose things...here's hoping I don't! Although if I lose things, you may not be able to read this...hmmmm....

Sherbrooke

2008-06-07T17:21:00.006+01:00

We have been chilling at Matt's for the past couple of days, and it has been lovely! The cat has found a bit of a sucker family to snuggle up to!

We went for breakfast in Sherbrooke this morning. Breakfast here is worth moving to Sherbrooke for alone!

Epic Train Journey Across 1/4 of Canada...

2008-06-06T04:05:00.017+01:00

In an effort to save the environment and up the romantic ante (as in the romance of travel...not as in a hope-to-find romance on the train) of travel, I decided that instead of flying, I would make my way from the East Coast to Montreal (and then on to Sherbrooke) by train and bus. My overnight train experiences have only consisted of once when I was a wee thing and we moved from NB to Ontario, and a couple of years when Ashley and I took the overnight from Glasgow to London (total travel time: 7 hours). As one of my dreams has always been to travel across Canada by train, I was delighted to get a taste of how that will be someday. I loved every second of it! I had heard horror stories of poopy bathrooms and not being able to sleep in uncomfortable seats, but the bathrooms were poopless and being short means that I got a pretty good sleep with only a slight krick in my knee and neck. As part of my onboard entertainment, I decided to document the journey a little bit...

This is how I passed the time on my Epic PEI - Sherbrooke voyage...

14:00: Just before my final PEI nap, I discovered that the shuttle bus I was to take from Summerside to Moncton would not actually guarentee to get me there on time for the train. After a frantic scramble, it is determined that Matt and Karl will drive me to Moncton. I offer to pay $40 for the bridge which is accepted, but my offer to pay for petrol is not.

15:00 I say my final goodbyes to Niamh and Jen and feel sad to be leaving PEI but excited to see my family and for the 15 hour epic train journey)

16:25 - 40ish: After a car journey complete with sharing harrowing stories of encounters with animals in nature, talk of D&D (Matt and Karl) and some happy day-dreaming whilst staring out the window (me) I am deposited by Matt and Karl. They kindly wait and take turns going pee (in the bathrooms, naturally) while I make sure I get my tickets without any problems.

16:28 I collect my tickets without any difficulties and Karl comments on how easy it was. I agree. Together we realise that due to the time change, my journey will actually only be 14 hours, and not 15.

16:45 Buy Globe and Mail and go pee. I hope not to pee again until I reach Montreal, but know that that probably is not realistic.

17:20 The train is late! While waiting for said train some kind elderly ladies (I will call them Doris and Lilly) kindly answered all of my overnight train questions. I am astounded to learn that there is only one train per day that goes from Halifax to Montreal. There used to be two (the Scotian train and the Ocean train) but that they stopped the last one a few years ago. One of the ladies' father used to work at the station back in the days of yore (well, maybe not quite that long ago) and apparently in its day, Moncton was quite a hub and the station had 6 busy tracks

17:38 I am on the train and it is leaving. This is the view from my window as we leave Moncton. Not pretty - but I suppose train tracks are not really meant to be so...

17:40 My ticket is taken. It is nice to know I am on the correct train.

17:50 I am reminded of just how many trees Canada has...and this was just the beginning of hours upon hours upon hours of trees:

18:02 Am hungry. Eat sub I brought with me. Decline food from passing trolley. Am worried that I have not brought enough food with me, but decide I won't starve if I don't eat until Montreal. Crave chocolate though, and wonder if I may have to break into stash saved for presents. Decide that's quite desperate and I won't die if I don't have chocolate until Montreal either. Will eat fruit (much more sensible option) instead.

18:11 Look around and decide I am not likely to befriend anybody sitting around me - mostly because they are all speaking French and seem to be getting off quite soon. Instead, I take a photo of my most likely travelling companions:

18:12 Am given a blanket and a pillow. What a pleasant surprise! Try pillow out to discover that it doesn't quite seem big enough. May have to locate a second...

18:22 There is a dinner announcement informing people that the dining car is open for its second sitting for dinner, and that people with reservations should be sure to proceed immediately. Dinner car? Reservations? Clearly other people have done this before.

18:27 I am given a million page survey to complete by the kind people at Via who want to improve people's rail experience. I agree to do one, as I will be sitting on the train for the next 13 hours with not much else to do...

18:38 I do not complete the survey as many questions need to wait until my journey is almost over...

19:21 Have been reading/dozing/looking out the window. We stop at Mirimishi and I have a moment of realisation of how big this country is, and how few people live in it...and how many people out East speak French! I for a moment think "If this was England, there would be many more trains than this" but then realise that I am in a much less densely population place than the UK and once again find it amazing that a train that offers one East-West service per day and its not even full!

19:27 The snack trolley comes around again and I abandon my noble ambition of a chocolate-free journey and buy a kit kat and eat half. It was $2.00! A bit steep for a kit kat, I think. Maybe I should write that in my train survey. I discover that the snack take-out car is open until 11:00 p.m. and decide that I am entitled to a night-cap. Do Canadian trains serve alcohol? I still have a gift bottle of Blomidon wine from Nova Scotia if things get desperate. I just need to locate a person who looks like they might be the cork-screw carrying type to befriend...

19:28 Wish I had knicked Karl's Crib board as a way of befriending the above mentioned cork-screw carrying individual. Decide I don't need to resort to opening own bottle if one can't be bought anyways. That's not a party - that's a problem!

19:38 Since I am missing three french classes for this trip, I have done a bit of French homework on my own and have written a little journal of my trip thus far en Francais!

20:04 Whilst staring out the window passing many, many beaatiful forests, swamps, rivers and meadows with the brilliant evening sunshine flickering through my window I think "This is a big, honking beautiful country and resolve to cross it by train with car day-trips on the side someday.

We then cross a big wide, rushing river and as admiring the view I realise that we seem to be suspended in mid-air! I peer out the window to discover that we are being held up by a seemingly little track and is presumably being held up by something larger, that I could not see). God Bless the CN Engineers!

20:17 Just minutes before pulling into Bathurst station the "third and final" call is made for the dining car. I decide to investigate said car (shown below). On the way I discovered newspapers (I took a French Acadian one) the pillow/blanket stash and I helped myself to another pillow as there seemed to be plenty (also shown below). The take-out snack car was playing some film starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore with no sound. I decide I am having more fun at my seat. I again marvel at how many people are speaking French and I wonder if we are in Quebec now.

20:18 Decide I need to learn more French and more Canadian Geography

21:12 The scenery on the right side of the train coming into Charlo (where?) is just stunning and there are hills (small mountains?) sweeping into a long narrow lake (or inlet) and they remind me of the hills sweeping into Loch Lomund. It is getting dark. Time for a pee break and a glass of wine! I hope we don't miss Gaspe due to darkness. I hear it's beautiful.

21:47. Oh! This lovely area is Gaspe! I tried to get wine from the take-out car, but apparently I needed to get it before 21:00 from the snack trolley. Oh - these funny non-European trains! I suppose I will survive!

I realise I forgot my toothpaste for me teeth. Oh, and I suppose my PJs are out of the question too - ha ha ha! I'd love to try a sleeper car someday - with a significant other and a bottle of wine, perhaps? But this time I felt that sitting upright for 14 hours would be much more adventurous! Well, time to don my eyemask and "turn in" for the night I guess!

Anyways, here is the bit of Gaspe I could see in the dark... followed by my make-shift bed!

Time Change! I forgot. Time change. Now I am "in bed" an hour early. Oh well, I'm going on 4 hous sleep from last night's Crib lesson and am pretty tired so I suppose it's just as well...

04:25 Woke up. I slept pretty well, all things considered. I think there were stops through the night as I recall people coming and going a bit. I think I woke up about once an hour to move around a bit. It is now just dawning and I have no idea where we are, other than somewhere in Quebec! I really wish I had brought my toothpaste. I am travelling backwards now instead of forwards. Will I soon be back in Moncton? I might go back to sleep now.

04:37 A-ha! We are in Charny!

04:56 I am going forward again. I guess Charny's just a bit off the beaten track...

06:53 I am having a coffee to try to hide my horrible breath, but I think it's just making it worse. I fear I will flatten Montreal with my first exhale when I arrive. I wish I could at least find my chewing gum!

07:17 I found my chewing gum in my jungle of a bag! Praise the Lord! Now I won't be responsible for the demise of an entire city! I am overall a bit smelly I think though...

07:30 Last call for breakfast in the dining car. I hadn't even considered that as an option, but I don't think I will now either.

07:34 We will be arriving in Montreal in 45 minutes. The announcements are in French now and I can basically understand them!

8:22 - 9:05 - **warning...my notes are now in my best attempt at French...some sort of mixture of past and present tense...I make no claims that it is accurate but no apologies either - that is why I'm taking lessons, you see! Oh, and I haven't quite got the accents on this keyboard figured out, so they are missing too!**

J'arrive a Montreal! Les batteries pour ma camera sont mort, alors je prends juste un petit vue de Montreal. C'est domage parce que c'etait un beau vue de la train! Quand j'arrive j'achete un bagel-Montreal avec creme du fromage et je suis alle au metro a Berri UQAM et le terminus centrale d'autobus. J'achete ma billet (la conversation est demie en Francais et demi en Anglais parce que je ne sais pas la mot pour "one way"). Apres j'achete duex journeaux: The Globe and Mail pour lirer les nouvelles Canadienne et leurs compris et j'achete aussi Le Devoir pour practicer lire en Francais. Je ne vue pas beaucoup de Montreal, mais je pense que cette une ville tres comfortable pour moi habiter. Il y a beaucoup des personnes qui parlons Anglais, alors I would survive, mais aussi je practicais because de Francais aussi!

J'ai predais l'autobus de Montreal a Sherbrooke et dans les deux chaises a cote de moi, il etait un garcons qui dirai beaucoup de l'histoire de Montreal a son ami. C'est tres interessant!

Dans cette journey je lire ma livre et tout a coup nous somme arrive a Sherbrooke! Je suis plus excite pour vue mes parents et j'oublie prends un photo de lui a la station!

En suite, nous sommes retournez chez mon frere et nous mange notre diner et je dormir pour deux heurs!

C'etait un voyage fantastic!

Hello to Nova Scotia (and the East Coast)

2008-06-06T02:34:00.013+01:00

A week ago I arrived back in The True North Strong and Free - East Coast Division partly for a wedding, and partly to (a-hem) check it out (see blog of January 3 The Announcement). My time thus far has been fabulous! Since I generally get bored blogging things much later than they have happened, I will just recap some of the highlights:

The arrival. Andrea was there. And so was Tim.

Halifax seems like a decent little town...I captured these shots of the Historic Buildings in a parked motorbike.

The Alexander Keiths Brewery Tour. Well, to be honest, the Tour was a bit half arsed, but the beer is good, and the knocking down of the display after this picture was taken provided minutes of amusement for both Andrea and I as well as the amused onlookers.

And catching lobster for our dinner. (I suppose tis true that they were somewhat being held captive in a tank)

Peggys Cove with Andrea

Ciaran s wedding and seeing Topaz, Zoic, Hallah, Lemme, Greg and of course, the lovely Ciaran! (I very stupidly did not get any photos of it so it is here represented by eyelashes belonging to Hallah!)

Prince Edward Island:

Meeting the Island (this is Thunder Cove and my happy red-sandy feet!)

This is the view from the LM Montgomery Museum...

Doing some amateur film making with Jen:

And frolicking on the beach (I thought she was just taking a picture, but sneaky Jen was recording another video):

Meeting little Niamh (who adores her aunt Jo very much!)

Being taken by Jen, Matt and Karl to Cavendish Beach (it was lovely and sunny, but the water was cold!):

Learning to play Cribbage late into the night at a 24 hour Tim Hortons...

I was very sad to leave a beautiful part of the country and the amazing people I spent time with there, but was also excited for my epic train journey and to see my family at the other end of it...

Does this tube line make me look.....

2008-04-23T22:39:00.003+01:00

Today every woman's worst nightmare came true for me....

After my french class, at about 7:45 pm I got the Northern Line heading North (High Barnet Branch) from Tottenham Court Road station. The carriage was quite full, and there were a few people standing. I may or may not have uttered a wee sigh of surpise (mainly because I had had to stand the entire hour-and-twenty minutes on the way in to work...there had been delays) but I resolved that it was good for me to stand and get a little more exercise for my core stability muscles...

Just then I felt a tap on my arm and an approaching-elderly gentleman offered me his seat. I smiled and politely declined. He then said "no, I insist" to which I (still smiling) said "Honestly, I am fine standing, but thank you" at which point he hopped out of his seat and said "Look, I'm already standing!" Not wanting to discourage the man from offering others seats in the future I smiled and said "well, thanks then" and sat down.

Looking around, I noticed that I was not the only woman who had been standing, and I thought he was struggling to hold on to the pole a bit. When someone else vacated a "leaning spot" standing up, he immediately went and stood there. He stayed on from Tott. Ct Rd to Tufnell Park, so it wasn't as if he was about to get off anyways...

"Why", I thought to myself "would an elderly gentleman so kindly give up his seat for a woman of only 30?"....

....unless he thought I was pregnant....

I know I have some post-plantar faciitis pudge, but I hadn't realised it had gone to this extreme!

I've been able to laugh it off, fortunately, but I hope you will excuse me now, because I have made an early morning date with Gym...

St George's Day Pub

2008-04-23T22:12:00.001+01:00

St George's Day Pub
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

I was happy to see that a pub in Bethnal Green still celebrates!

I loved that the scooter was out there...(some of the Good ol' East Enders still getting out) and that there was another typical London symbol, the Black Cab parked outside.

Happy St George's Day!!

View from the top right...

2008-04-23T22:10:00.003+01:00

View from the top right...
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

This is another one showing the progress thus far...

Slowly but surely

2008-04-23T22:10:00.001+01:00

Slowly but surely
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

This was after a few hours work about a week ago (although I haven't been back in the past week so who knows how it will be on Saturday when I next get there!)

Gooseberry Bushes

2008-04-23T22:09:00.001+01:00

Gooseberry Bushes
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

The Gooseberry Bushes on the allotment are the most exciting feature (until I plan a few more things at least!). I can't wait to make pies and jams!

From the bottom looking up....

2008-04-23T22:08:00.001+01:00

From the bottom looking up....
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

And another one pre-work!

In the beginning....

2008-04-23T22:07:00.001+01:00

In the beginning....
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

This is how it looked before any work had been done (after the snow melted...)

Love at First Sight

2008-04-23T22:05:00.001+01:00

Love at First Sight
Originally uploaded by ThreeFeet.

I have been spending a lot of my spare time lately wrapped up in my latest love affair...Olly the Allotment. This is the day Olly and I first met. It was the morning after the first snow in London....April 6, 2008! Stay tuned to see how the affair unfolds!

Changing London

2008-04-02T20:17:00.003+01:00

Changing London
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

I thought the "Drivers Wanted" sign was interesting to find in the Chrisp St Market area (across from All Saints DLR) where people are driving for progress and change from the old East End to "living up to" being in the shadows of Canary Wharf...

Not just cleaners...

2008-04-02T20:17:00.001+01:00

Not just cleaners...
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

I have been thinking a lot about what it must be like for people living in this not-so-terribly-well-off part of London to be living with Canary Wharf in their back gardens. I thought this fence around the housing estate was quite symbolic and reminded me of when I heard it said that the kids living in Tower Hamlets need to become those who work in Canary Wharf and not just those who clean the buildings. I wonder how many of those barriers have really been removed...

Childhood Horrors

2008-04-02T20:16:00.001+01:00

Childhood Horrors
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

I spent my lunchbreak today at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green with my friend Luke who is visiting from Australia. I was traumatised to see one of my childhood favourites, Blueberry Muffin (of Strawberry Shortcake fame) presented in such a way. It was really an exhibit about how toys are checked for safety but need it have been so graphic (the photo didn't capture the other two heads that had been experimented on as well!)

Developing opinions, insights and thinking they matter

2008-04-01T22:44:00.002+01:00

Kristy from Canada was visiting London the other day and she asked why I don't blog anymore.

Apart from having a job that keeps me busy such that I don't have half a day to sit around twiddling my thumbs (or blogging) anymore, I started to be of the opinion that blogging was rather self-indulgent and I am not sure that people really need to know my random ramblings (of the verbal pursuation) on a variety of things...unless they help to better humanity, etc, etc.

So....I am trying to read books and the business and sports sections of papers (usually they reach the recycling bin first!) and watch films and learn various things about various things...like economics, politics and history, and how to best manage my worm composter.

Furthermore, I realised that I have never been one for expressing an opinion much beyond that the Leafs are my favourite team and that I missed snow this winter. That's another skill I need to work on...

I do manage to update my flickr site though...so keep checking that... I am thinking about abandoning facebook too...I have redisovered proper conversations with my friends, and they are lovely things to have!

Another thing I have been working on is talking to random people and trying to be a bit more bold in reaching out to make London a bit of a smaller and more friendly place. So far it has worked a bit...I made friends with Iris and Jeff at a Nottingham ice hockey game because they were wearing Peterborough (Ontario) Petes jerseys, and I may soon be meeting up for a casual drink with a newspaper columnist I like simply because I emailed and said I enjoyed the column and would love to meet up for a drink to discuss it...

This may only be the beginning my friends!

Oh, and I would like to express my congratuations to Rich who handed in his Dissertation yesterday. This completes two years of very hard work and hardly seeing him on the weekends (although he did manage to find and marry a wife in that time, so it couldn't have been all bad!). Yay Rich! I am so proud!

Anyways, I am looking forward to testing my new skills and hope that you will all be patient with (and not to hard on) me.

A gate with no fence attached

2008-01-21T21:34:00.001Z

A gate with no fence attached
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Horsey, Norfolk

Wind swept Trees

2008-01-21T21:33:00.001Z

Wind swept Trees
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

(and some of the rocks on the beach are actually seals!)

Washed up Loster Trap

2008-01-21T21:32:00.001Z

Washed up Loster Trap
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

(and some of the rocks on the beach are actually seals!)

Happy feet

2008-01-21T21:31:00.001Z

Happy feet
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

On the way to the shore in Horsey, Norfolk. And I thought I didn't need wellies...well, muddy feet are happy feet!

Patsy, Danni and Seals in Norfolk

2008-01-21T20:44:00.000Z

I went up to Norwich on the weekend, and on Sunday afternoon, Patsy, Danni and I went to Horsey on the coast to see the seals that mate there over the winter. The babies apparently go out to sea around February, so we caught them just in time! There is a chance that Danni may have actually taken one of the shots of them in the water. She took some because I was too scared to go up closer to the water at first! I also took a video. I love how their agility in the water and on land are so competely opposite! Much like me, sort of. I should mention that these are "Common Seals" (but apparently aren't very common...go figure!) I also took a couple of Norwich for Ashley (although we got there just before dark, so they aren't too good) The things that look like people are Danni and Patsy...not seals!

I have put more pictures of Norfolk in general on my flickr account as well...

I DIDN'T CATCH IT ON CAMERA, BUT THIS ONE KEPT WAVING!!

THIS LITTLE GUY WAS COMING OUT TO SAY HELLO!!

ONLY DANNI CAN MANAGE TO STILL LOOK STUNNING WITH A FLU-LIKE ILLNESS AND WELLIES ON!

PATSY WAITING FOR DANNI AND I (WE WERE BOTH SLIGHLY INVALIDISH ON SUNDAY AND DRAGGED BEHIND A BIT!) I LIKE HOW PATSY COULD HAVE HIDDEN IN THE DUNES AND SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY CAMOFLAGED!

Seat Cheat

2008-01-16T22:17:00.000Z

Today when I arrived at Bank station to switch tube lines, the Northbound Northern line platform was so crowded people were backed up the stairs and could hardly move on the platform.

I had a headache and was dreadfully tired and felt dizzy and couldn't bear the thought of standing for the almost-hour it would take to get home. The next High Barnet train was 6 minutes away so I had just decided I would just have to suck it up and get on with the commute when I was struck by divine inspiration. I hopped on the Southbound train to London Bridge (about 2 mins away) and caught the Northbound High Barnet Branch from there because I knew it would be less crowded. It worked! I felt rather pleased with myself and so I sat through Bank and for three other stops until an elderly gentleman got on who I gave my seat to (by then I had recovered and didn't feel like I was going to topple over onto my fellow standees).

I don't think I would go through that hassle regularly, but when one is desperate, there are ways to beat TFL!!!

A life for me (or maybe my parental unit, more like)

2008-01-03T22:22:00.000Z

On new year's day I went walking with friends along the Grand Union Canal from Hemel Hempsted to Berkhamsted and found a canal boat for sale for only £24 000. I have been considering whether or not this could be a life for me. Much cheaper than buying a flat. But I don't have £24000...and I'd have to resign myself to living on a boat...

But for my Parental Unit, perhaps?

Worm lovin'

2008-01-03T22:20:00.001Z

Worm lovin'
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Yesterday I was doing some routine maintenance of my kitchen worm composter (a "womery" for those in the know) and I was delighted to find a baby worm. Evidence that the worms in my little worm population are getting along with each other juuust fine!

The Announcement(s)

2008-01-03T21:50:00.000Z

Today my FFMD (=former flat mate dearest) was around for dinner. She made a rather important announcement to me, that I felt needed to be documented, as the last time she did this to a city she moved there (being to London, of course!) I felt I then needed to tell her of my own plans. The thing is, that it took a few tries...

Let it snow!

2008-01-02T21:53:00.000Z

THEY ARE CALLING FOR SNOW IN LONDON TONIGHT.

I AM SO EXCITED I COULD PEE MYSELF.

And this time I live far enough away from work that I could call in and say I couldn't get in and then go build snowmen in the gardens of Avenue House.

In other news, I have restarted my photo-a-day project. Two days in and I am going strong!!

Hindi Transliteration

2008-01-01T08:54:00.000Z

I found this great new feature on blogger. It translates what you are typing phonetically into Hindi. This morning's blog is brough to you in Hindi (as I don't actually read Hindi, I apologise if anything rude of offensive is said...)

लास्ट निघत इ वेंट तो थे पुब विथ सोम ऑफ़ माय फ्रिएंद'एस फ्रिएंड्स ऎंड सोम ऑफ़ माय फ्रिएंड्स (अ बुंच ऑफ़ पीपुल इस मय्बे अन एअसिएर वे ऑफ़ सयिंग आईटी. कटे'एस फ्लात्माते थॉमस कैन दो रेमार्काब्ले थिंग्स लिके वाल्क ओं हिस हंड्स, फ्लिप्स ऎंड अल सोर्ट्स ऑफ़ विल्ड थिंग्स। बीइंग इन्स्पिरेड बी हिस अबिलिटी तो दो थे स्प्लिट्स, इ देसिदेद तो हवे अ बीत ऑफ़ अ न्यू Day splitting session myself. Hey! Why did my hindi stop? Anyways, I was reminded that I am not able to do the splits and hope I will be able to walk for the rest of the day (especially as I am going walking in the countryside today!)

Just to say Happy New Year everyone! I feel very blessed to have the love of you, my regular readers and of many family and friends (who don't read the blog...for reasons unknown। Ha ha!). Many blessings to you over the next year.

ओह..एकक! थे हिन्दी स्तार्तेद अगं! आईटी इस आउट ऑफ़ कण्ट्रोल! आईटी हस अ मंद ऑफ़ इट्स ओवन! थे हिन्दी मचिने इस तकिंग ओवर थे वर्ल्ड!!

(The above bit read Ack...the Hindi has started again. It is out of control. The Hindi Machine is taking over the world!)

Oh, speaking of taking over the world, I didn't post Christmas pictures because I put them on my flickr site. And facebook. I am finding it hard to keep up with all this technology and have to think about how wise all of this time online is....

The following is the translation of the bit that did make it into Hindi above:

Last night I went to the pub for New Year's with my friend's friends and some of my friends (maybe "a group of पीपुल would have been an easier way to put it.) Oh dear...my hindi translation seems to be taking over...that should read a group of people) Kate's flatmate Thomas can do all sorts of remarkable things like walk on his hands and flips and things. Being inspired by his ability to do the splits, I decided to have a bit of a New Year's...(refer to above paragraph)

Anyways, I am now off to make some banana muffins to take walking today. (meaning that I will bring them to share with the group...not that I will be taking my muffins for a walk...)

I heard the bells on Christmas Eve...

2007-12-25T10:17:00.000Z

My time in Germany has been just lovely! I arrived on a frosty morning in Leipzig and took a bus and a train to Dresden where I was met by Kristin. It was a lovely trip (that of it which I can remember, as I fell asleep so many times on the journey!) The trees were all a lovely frosty white, and after four London winters and one trip to Canada that failed to produce typical Canadian winter weather I was well ready for cold, ice and snow!

After adventures with bratworst and mustard we took a train to some little place near her village, where her brother picked us up and took us further still to her little village of Weifa. It is one of those sleepy little villages that one dreams of...it has little winding roads and her parents live at the top of a hill (I think...we always seem to be going up when we drive there!). There are lots of typical German houses (according to the Pantkes...I cannot speak well enough of German architecture to comment on what a typical or atypical German house may be) here and the Pantke's home was warm and cozy when I arrived. Soon after I arrived I was seated at a table lit with candles for coffee and stollen. One can't complain!

On the 23rd we went to church. I am afraid I was still a bit tired from the excitement and fell asleep (I think I wouldn't have if the sermon was in a language I could understand!). I woke up just in time to hear the pastor make reference to Canada. Apparently the comment he made was something to the effect of "the Holy Spirit fills even people in Canada". I can't help but to think that he noticed my little snooze!! After church we got bundled up (it was stupidly cold, but good for me to be reminded of what winter is really like!) and I was treated to a trip to a Christmasmarkt in Dresden where I bought a pyramide - a wooden rotating Christmas scene that is powered by candles. It is pretty neat. We went to a cathedral that has only recently been reopened after the bombing of Dresden during WWII. Its name is "The Womans Cathedral" (in German of course). I don't know why it is called that. It just is!

On Christmas Eve day we went to church in 16:30. It was very cold, but lovely to have an authentic "Stille Nacht" singing experience. Afterwards Kristin and I went out to walk the dog. We were walking along a ridge between two villages that were in the valley below. The bells from the little churches from both villages were echoing though the valleys on either side of this, and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. My soul wanted to cry with the beauty and wonder of it, but it was far too cold out and my body wouldn't let me! We then came home and we "kids" sat upstairs while the parents got the living room ready. We came down to a room lit with candles, the Christmas tree (with real candles!!) and lovely Christmas music playing. There were piles of presents under the tree (and a little pile for Rachel, another guest, and I). We opened presents, took pictures and then ate dinner. I wondered what "Christmas Day" would bring after such excitement!

This morning we got up, had breakfast and then went on a little drive to the Czech Republic! It is about 20 mins from Weifa, but it is amazing what differences 100 metres and a border can make in people's lives. The Czech side of the border seemed quite sad, really. There were run down houses and towns that looked as though they had seemed happier days. As soon as we crossed the border back into Germany, the differences were remarkable. It made me realise that there are many bits of European history we were never taught in school (or maybe taught but I forgot? Sorry Mr Talbot!!) I have yet to have my Christmas pudding, but hopefully will soon. I am afraid though, that since there are 8 of us I brought one to feed 12. I have since learned that I may be the only one who likes Christmas Pudding. Silly me! Doesn't one know not to bring Christmas Pudding as a gift? Ha ha! Never mind. I shall eat it and be merry!

I will post some pictures and videos soon. They are mainly for the benefit of my family, but all are welcomed to see them (obviously...or I wouldn't blog them!!!)

I think tomorrow will be made up of another trip to Dresden to see family and friends and then on Thursday (I think) it is off to Berlin!

Still here!

2007-12-16T07:40:00.001Z

I know! Back with a vengeance and then a fizzle...

I have recently become addicted to John Lewis. I get that "Breakfast at Tiffany's" feeling when I get there. I don't buy much. I just walk around looking at and touching things. I realised I may have to stop when I was approached by a salesperson in the area rugs section of the store. It wasn't until he burst me from my reverie that I realised I was absentmindedly happily caressing a lovely textured (and very expensive) rug and singing to myself. When he said "Can I help you?" I wish I had thought of something witty to say, but instead I embarrassingly mumbled "No thanks...just looking" and shuffled off. Oh dear.

I had a concert last night. I think we did rather well. There was an absolutely dreamy violinist in the front row of the orchestra. The way his elbow jutted in and out and his head bobbed around when he played was just do die for, Oh! The passion of a musician! But at the end of the concert, instead of turning around and declaring "whose lovely alto voice is that among a choir of 80? We must run away into the sunset together" he packed his violin and his suitcase (he didn't wear his dinner suit home) and fiddled himself out of my life forever. *sigh* He was sitting in the front and centre of the front row, but my friends in the audience insist they didn't see him. Was I dreaming it? Oh well...maybe next concert I'll find a cellist to pounce on.

My friend Laura and her husband have just moved here from Toronto I am meeting up with them this morning and have just realised I have 20 minutes to have a shower, breakfast, wrap a present for them and go....

Creaking Door

2007-11-20T23:12:00.000Z

Crreeeeaaaaak!

Well, the door to the blog has been reopened, and although slightly rusty it appears to be in good enough working order (it let me in at any rate!)

After a 6 month hiatus, I finally have a computer, internet connection and some inspiration...

I imagine I will have to email my regular circle of readers to let you know I'm back in action but that's the least I can do after abandoning you all for so long!

More later...and regularly!

Order of the Brown Nose

2007-05-28T19:26:00.000+01:00

In addition to being in the Guardian, it would seem that the Flatmate and I have now been spotted and featured* in the Private Eye too!

http://www.private-eye.co.uk

This is quite an honour because as my friend Matt says "You cannot get yourself into the Private Eye...you have to be chosen"It was all exciting as we thought of responses to the man who nominated us. At first I thought we were being mocked but then I realised that in order to put us into the Private Eye, this guy would have to read the Guardian too (dork!) and even read the "Nice to Meet You" column (dorkier!) and then I felt better. We think we might invite him around for coffee and croissants some morning (or, as the Flatmate said, only 1/2 a croissant, because after all, we only have £1.40 to spend).

*mentioned

My sister is in London for a few days. The visit got off on a bit of a rough start as a stream of tube cancellations, runnings late and late/absent busses left us wandering London in the pouring rain until 1:00, but today was grand. There's an amazing photography exhibit at the Tate. I am now a member and can go to all of these things for FREE and I can even have a coffee in the members lounge after now! Am I poshing it up or WHAT?

My other highlights of this weekend have included garden centres, drinks with friends and watching the toddler of a friend of a friend produce mammoth poos in her bathroom, but the joyous stories of potty training will have to wait.

The sister and I are off to make a mom-classic recipe for dinner tonight. Gosh, I wish I hadn't blogged those two bits in succession!

Tony and Me

2007-05-10T12:23:00.000+01:00

I think most of my readers (whoever is still around) will know that as soon as my work permits, leave to remain, etc come back I will be giving my notice at my current job.

I thought it might be great if Tony and me had the same last days. Maybe he'd join me for a pint after work...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6639945.stm

Is it an automatic two-for-one deal?

2007-05-08T16:37:00.000+01:00

Maybe someone can offer some insight...

Here's the situation... I wanted to have a chilled afternoon at a pub to commemorate my third anniversay of being in the UK. I sent an evite to the relevent parties...some have partners, some don't. The thing is, I invited the people I did because they're people who have made my time here lovely and significant. One responded saying that he could come, but his partner probably couldn't. To which I thought "well, she wasn't invited!" I've only met her once, and while she seemed nice enough, and is someone I'd maybe like to get to know better, I was not sure if it was snobby of me to be a bit taken aback at his automatic assumption that she could come along too, or if that's a normal part of this "two becoming one" funny marriage business.

What are the boundaries here? Am I a jerk? Is it a wrong assumption to make that people can maintain a bit of their individual identities after they get hitched? I think it's the automatic presumption of "we" that gets to me. If he had called and said "can she come along?" I probably would have happily said yes. But what if I was planning on revealing to them all some horrible disease or condition I had been diagnosed with and having strangers there would make it difficult to do so. You never know in these situations. That's why I will never presume if I ever have any sort of a relationship. But the likelihood of that seems a long way off, so for now I will remain a grumpy and exclusive singleton.

OK. Maybe I am a big jerk.

Famous as famous can be!

2007-05-08T09:57:00.000+01:00

Katrin and I appeared in the Guardian on Saturday...

I tried to find the link to it, but since I couldn't, you'll just have to look at the picture we put in instead!

Swimming...swimming...

2007-03-22T09:13:00.000Z

Yesterday Danni, her friend Siobhain and I signed up to do a Swim Trek holiday in the Lake District...

http://www.swimtrek.com/lakes_weekender.htm

I was sitting in the hot tub (although for some reason it was more luke warm than hot this morning) at the gym (I was starting my training in the pool) watching the snow falling into the little wooded area beyond thinking that I felt more like I was in the Rockies than in London preparing for a swimming holiday!

It seems like it will be fantastic - we will be swimming across:

Buttermere, Wast Water and Crummock Water. I realised this morning though, that if I am to enjoy the scenery I may have to side-stroke or back stroke the whole time!

I found some amazing photos of them online (from Creative Common, even) but this stupid internet connection at work (tsk tsk) won't let me post them. I know I say this all the time, but I may have to break down and buy a computer at get internet at home. I hate the idea of falling into debt just so I can update my blog and tootle around on photoshop, etc, but it may be necessary!

I might get some wellies!!!

2007-03-13T09:19:00.000Z

I have put in an application to work at a horse stable with people with special needs. It would involve things like helping people ride as well as doing chores, mucking out stables, etc. It occured to me that if I am to do this, I might need a pair of my very own wellies! I want to get cute ones with little ducks or flowers on them...

Straight at the Roundabout

2007-03-12T13:34:00.000Z

I saw my dream boy in Wales on the weekend... He was rugged and walking along the coast in outdoorsy clothes with a fishing pole in one hand and a tesco bag with fish in the other. It was all going so well...the vibes as he marched 20 feet ahead of me along the path were so strong...then we drove away from the parking lot barely two minutes apart...but then it all went wrong when he went straight at the roundabout...

Why I don't blog much anymore

2007-03-09T20:57:00.000Z

Something at work has changed and I am not even able to access blogger from my computer anymore (well, actually, I can access it but when I try to post it always tell me my page isn't found). It's the same with my email. Anyways, I am (covertly) trying to work on the situation, so for those of you who actually look here from time to time, I hope to be back soon. But then again, I think I mostly waffled anyways...

Parish Lockup and the silver bullet

2007-02-08T16:52:00.001Z

Parish Lockup and the silver bullet
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Chain Link Fence

2007-02-08T16:51:00.003Z

Chain Link Fence
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Mill Hill East Viaduct

2007-02-08T16:51:00.001Z

Mill Hill East Viaduct
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Street sign...

2007-02-08T16:50:00.001Z

Street sign...
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Snow London Snow!

2007-02-08T16:25:00.000Z

This city finally did me proud this morning and got a snow fall that would seem substantial, even by my snow-snob Canadian standards!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6338151.stm

It was very exciting to see London dealing with the biggest snowfall of the century thus far (ha ha ha...) I took a few pictures, but sadly my day of fun was interrupted by work (blah). But still, I had a long meandering walk to work and took a few pictures...I wish I could have taken more, but I've learned my lesson and will now always live a drive away from work...

Entertainment a-la cheap

2007-01-29T16:49:00.000Z

I have a lot of extra expenses for February, so I am going to need to find cheap ways of entertaining myself...

My thoughts thus far are:

- Spend a morning taking photos in the docklands (it doesn't get expensive until I really like them and want to enlarge and frame them)
- watch borrowed DVDs (and yes Rich, that includes the Godfather series, so you WILL have it back by the end February)
- sorting and organising things that I've been putting off for months

I am also going to hunt down some inexpensive recipes:
- Shepherd's pie
- Mom's stew
- the beans and pasta that have been in my cupboards for ages...

I'd be happy for any suggestions for either of the above!

The worms are coming! The worms are coming!

2007-01-29T10:11:00.000Z

I ordered the Flatmate and I a wormery today.

How exciting! More pets!

Getting to that age...

2007-01-24T10:23:00.000Z

I had a conversation with a friend on Sunday evening who told me about her Saturday night.

"I was out clubbing until 3:00 a.m. and when I woke up this morning I thought 'I am too old to do this'. Then I fell asleep in my chair and woke up with drool on my shoulder. Then I thought 'I'm too old to go clubbing, but too young to wake up with drool on my shoulder'"

Ha ha ha!

Washing The Undies

2007-01-05T20:28:00.000Z

According the something in the National Post (which I only read because a copy was sitting next to me on the GO Train) on 03 January, "washing the undies" is "blogging about the most tedious, minute, personal non-events". I certainly hope that's not what I subject ya'll to! But I suppose if I do, all I can say is "why do you keep coming back?" :)

I can't believe I leave tomorrow. I decided to come home and pack in this afternoon so that I can have a fun night with friends tonight and a relaxed time with my sister tomorrow (and also so I can find out how much room I have so I can figure out how many Montreal Bagels I can fit in my bag!) I feel very sad. I'm not ready to go back. I was listening to my Joel Plaskett album and tuned in to what he was actually singing just in time to hear:

Someone whispered in my ear
“It’s not like it was before”
I don’t know what happened here
I guess we just got bored
The good old days
Well I suppose, I’m glad they’re behind us now
The only thing worse than growing up
Is never quite learning how
Late at night we toss and we turn
Lay awake ‘til dawn
We close our eyes as the sun comes up we’re gone

Flatmate, be warned...this has probably replaced Death Cab for Cutie as the tear-jerking song! Don't worry though...on the same album is a remedy...but I won't bore the other readers by explaining...that would just be washing my undies.

Time to pack...and then we'll see...

Getting ready to get back on the horse...

2007-01-04T05:38:00.001Z

Getting ready to get back on the horse...
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

This photo is courtesy of Andrea.... I am in love with this new blogger/flickr feature!

Dukes up!

2007-01-04T05:36:00.001Z

Dukes up!
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Canada has made me very agressive. Be warned! :)

I fell in love by accident

2007-01-03T18:43:00.001Z

Spadina Car
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

Last night I was walking down Spadina to pick up some bits on the way to Liz's for dinner. I hadn't been in this area at night since I lived here and I was recalling how my flatmates and I would meander down Spadina at night quite regularly. I was suddenly overwhelmed by how much I love the Spadina/Kensingston Market area. At no point did I ever think that I'd end up loving and missing Toronto as much as I do...but I do. I fell in love with Toronto by accident, I guess!

I fell in love by accident part 2

2007-01-03T18:39:00.001Z

China Town at Night
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

I had forgotten how much I love Spadina at night. I felt so much at home that I could have walked all the way to Front St (but I didn't, because then I would have been late to see Liz!)

Benches at Trinity Square, Toronto

2007-01-03T18:21:00.001Z

Benches at Trinity Square, Toronto
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

I quite liked this picture I took when I was walking around Toronto with Andrea on Monday. I have probably sat on these benches dozens of times...I wanted to remember the hours I've spent sitting in Toronto whiling away the hours! My sister is in a choir that does lots of concerts here too....

Paper boxes on Bay St

2007-01-03T18:18:00.001Z

Paper boxes on Bay St
Originally uploaded by Poofwhatgives.

This is my experiment!!! I have successfully connected blogger and flickr! Yay me!

Flickr

2007-01-03T18:05:00.001Z

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Hockey Night!

2007-01-02T19:12:00.000Z

I decided yesterday that I really wanted to go see the Leafs game! I tried to get returns and late releases but there were none to be had. I didn't consider scalpers because I thought they were illegal. But then Andrea (bless her little cotton socks), even though she had no interest in going herself decided that she would ask the Policemen at the ACC if it was illegal ("excuse me, is buying tickets from scalpers illegal?) Well, as it turns out, selling is, but buying isn't. So, I decided that since I am only in Toronto on occasion these Yesterday afternoon I had the great idea of trying to get tickets for the Leafs game. I tried anddays, I would figure out the morality of it later, and go for it! Andrea went home (having zero interest in watching the game) and Ashley joined me, so we waited for the game to start and then went and got our tickets! We payed face value for them (which helped the morality issue a bit) and then went to find our seats. On our way in I said to Ashley "are we even sitting together?" That's when we learned our first lesson...check these things before buying them! As it turns out, our seats were quite far apart. So, we went to her gate, explained the situation to the pleasant man there (Ashley very cleverly said "we accidentally got seats that aren't together...a thin disguise, but an attempt nonetheless!" and asked if we could sit together if we could find two empty seats. We were told no. So we decided to try my gate. When we got to mine, we were asked to wait for a break in the play so Ashley cleverly hid herself in the crowd of people waiting and we managed to find two seats together! Honestly, this is the most rebellious I think I've been in my whole life!

Mats (my hero) scored two goals and had one assist!

This is a post-fight spread of sticks and gloves (I've mostly posted this one for Rich who seems to think there is nothing to hockey but fights!)

The zambonis between periods for those who have never seen zambonis before!

Again, I hope to post videos eventually, but presently, I have some lunch to be had and some
Ashley and I capturing the moment!

New Years

2007-01-02T19:05:00.000Z

Andrea and I had a night of East Coastness, whereby we cooked lobster, listened to East Coast Music and watched Anne of Green Gables.

This is (was) my new little buddy, Dinner...

This is Dinner having a bath...

This is Dinner fulilling her destiny...

This is Andrea's friend Barnacle being prepared...

mmmmmm...Dinner....

Visiting the PU...

2007-01-02T18:23:00.000Z

I'm not sure how my family feel about appearing on my blog, so I lposted pictures from around town instead. You will note how there is noooo snow! I couldn't believe it! One can't take pictures of cold, and it was indeed that!

The Canal in late afternoon light...

Encountering some wild turkeys on the road (this was after Christmas, so they didn't double as dinner...

The teeny bit of snow we did get! (This is a snow plough, for those of you who haven't seen one before!)

The suspension bridge...

Well...this is the river the bridge goes over...

The bridge...

Separating us and certain death (and it doesn't help that the bridge goes bounce, bounce, bounce when you walk across!

At the zoo...

2007-01-02T17:33:00.000Z

My first Thursday of my break was spent with Lemme and Iain at the zoo. Normally I don't take pictures of animals there, but the Rhinos really wanted to make themselves known to the world.

From Canadia...

2007-01-02T17:30:00.000Z

It would seem that while I have been away, I have been far busier than I had imagined I would be, so instead of updating chronologically, I will be doing some updates thematically. Thanks to Andrea's help and some trial and error on my part, I am learning how to post videos too, so stay tuned for fun updates (please be aware though, that due to plans and the trial and error process this may take a while!)

Wish me luck!!!!

Maybe I'm twisted...

2006-12-22T14:45:00.000Z

Can you imagine the trauma the poor children experienced?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22122006/356/santa-dies-children-s-party.html

Anyways, I will update more later...I should get ready to venture around Toronto for the day before going to my parents' place.

I had a wonderful day at the zoo yesterday with Lisa Marie and Iain...the Rhinos were the highlight of the trip, and I got some (hopefully cool) photos.

And yes, things are still green as green can be here. How depressing! Oh well...maybe it will snow yet...

10 Year Anniversary

2006-12-19T18:11:00.000Z

Yesterday Jen and I went to Hamilton to celebrate our ten years since a) starting at Mac and (more importantly!) b) meeting!!!

Our day included going up to Webster's Falls, walking around campus, eating crap cafeteria food, looking at our old student houses and eating yummy TCBY frozen yogurt (just like we did then!) Here are some of the highlights...

At Webster's Falls

Jen at Webster's Falls

Jen and I at Webster's Falls...

Proof that Students today aren't what they used to be...Mac students need instructions!

My emergency pooh stall on the 6th floor at Mills library...

Me...how I spent many hours...study-sleeping at Mills...

My first home away from home...

Jen's first home away from home (not quite as good as McKay, but how was she to know?)

It was a good day. Nostalgic...but good. On our way home we stopped to visit my grandma. We popped by as a surprise. It was lovely to see her again...she's 93, but still ticking away, bless her soul!

Life, etc

2006-12-13T10:09:00.000Z

I know...I know...

But this should cheer ya'll up!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/6174895.stm (just when I thought life couldn't get any better!)

In other news, since I last blogged, I have

- seen Lily Allen perform (why oh why would I want to be anywhere else?)
- had my chi touched for the first time (accupuncture, people! Accupuncture...what were you thinking? Honestly!)
- been planning my trip to Canada
- registered to take another wine course
- fumbled my way through a performance of St Paul
- been not single and then single again
- and...

...last night I performed with Jose Cerreras (and 250 other people) at the Royal Albert Hall. It was an amazing experience!

I'm off to Canada on Saturday and am making a looong list of the things I can't wait to do! Undoubtedly I'll be able to blog more regularly from there, so stay tuned for my adventures!

Peeing in Her Majesty's Garden

2006-11-03T16:46:00.000Z

Mish and I ran the Taut Rainforest 10K at Regents Park last weekend. Unfortunately, they didn't plan their loos very well, and whereas we thought we'd left ourselves masses of time to do the "once more" thing before the race, the queue was massive and it was clear we wouldn't get throught it in time for the start. So, we made an unofficial loo in a large cluster of bushes in the park. When we emerged from our rest stop, we discovered that many others had done the same. Her Majesty, I'm sure, would be pleased to know her subjects were making such creative use of her flora and fauna. I did OK considering I've plumped up since my last run, I think I picked up a niggly achilles tendon thing and I would have liked to do more training beforehand. I did 1:15 chip time (1:16 my watch time). I have another one at the end of November. I'm resting up to make sure I get rid of a few little injuries beforehand, but will get to try to improve that time... Go team!

Boring Blog Blues

2006-10-22T10:04:00.000+01:00

Sitting at Melanie's using her laptop is just reminding me of how frustrated I am that I can't tinker away at my blog at home (which is actually when most of my inspired thoughts come, but by the time I get to work the next day I am generally too swamped with work to blog). I'm so annoyed that all of the money I had carefully saved to get a laptop (and was almost there) had to go on car repairs and how I earn crap money at a job that has been really quite frustrating lately, and how if I did the amount of work I do, was undervalued as much as I feel most of the time now and take on the extra work that needs to be done because we are constantly short staffed, in a corporate environment I would have demanded about three pay rises by now. Yes, yes, I know, be thankful for what you have...etc, etc, etc. And I am...but today I just need to rant.

And I can't figure out how to make my side-bar thingies on my blog single spaced instead of double, and I can't figure out how to post pretty pictures of books that I'm reading and argh!!!!!!!!!!!! And while I'm at it, despite spending several hours trying, I can't figure out how to tune my telly to my VCR and I managed to buy the wrong-sized screws to hang a shelf in my room and if my car were to get a flat tire on the way home from Bristol I wouldn't know how to fix it, and I'm running a 10K next weekend that I'm not trained up well enough for and I'm almost 30 and still single, and...and...and...it's raining today.

WWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although Melanie and I just decided to have bacon butties for breakfast, watch more Pride and Prejudice and I'm going to turn off this stupid Leahy CD (my opinion of it has steadily declined since my last post) because it's annoying me. Those are positive things. But why do we always feel so guilty for having our cranky pants on? Shouldn't there be occasions where we can proudly march around and say "I am cranky! Look at me whiiiiiiinge and whiiiiiine and mooaaaaan" Arghity, argh, argh, argh! Well, I feel a bit better now!

OK. Off to make my buttie. Yay butties. And I will run tonight and that will feel good too!

Sprog Poppin'

2006-10-22T09:36:00.000+01:00

Each month I receive an e- newsletter from my summer camp alma mater, Glen Mhor Camp. I almost deleted it, but then decided to read it, adn discovered that my friend Hallah (a regular supporter of Three Feet From a Rat) is going to pop another sprog! The first one is so freakin' adorable that another one will certainly be very exciting! In other sprog poppin' news, Jersey is going to have her second too. Again, adorable first...and I can hardly wait to see what the second (temporarily named Pepe) will be like! Oh, this is all so exciting! Jersey and I are planning to spend a day at the Toronto Zoo when I go back in december. I am propery excited!

In other news, I am in Bristol this weekend visiting Melanie. In typical Joanna style, I have not yet seen the centre of Brisol, but instead have been discovering that both the BBC version and the 2005 Keira Knightly versions of Pride and Prejudice are equally as good on televisions in Bristol as anywhere else in the world!

Melanie (being Canadian as well) has Leahy's Lakefield in her collection, so I am listening to that and feeling reminded of baking cookies at my parents' place. Ahhhhhhhh... Although, I have to confess I'd prefer that Leahy not sing as much...just fiddle. Except I guess in a family with 9 musical children everyone needs a role.

I am eagerly awaiting for Dan to let me know he's safe after booking himself into a seedy Manhattan hotel... Oh...the things my friends get up to!

Oh, one last thing. Patrik (bless him) discovered that an anagram for my name is "her shed on Japan". Funny boy!

What are YOU doing today

2006-10-17T09:04:00.000+01:00

First of all, Dantastic ran the Toronto half marathon. Good for him! I got a message from him (although the quality sounded like he was phoning from the moon, rather than Toronto) but he seems to have done it in 1:59. Good for him!

Today the BBC announced the National Trust is doing a massive blog thing so that in 200 years people can marvel at how we lived.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6048392.stm

http://www.historymatters.org.uk/output/Page1.asp

I totally plan to contribute. My entry for today will be:

4:00 am, woke up in panic about life
4:05 am thought since I was awake panicking I might as well try to return Dantastic's call from earlier in the day (his phone was off)
4:06 Thought about phoning another TO friend, but then thought 11:06 might actually be too late
4:07 returned to panicking
4:15 decided panicking wouldn't help anything, so read a book
4:37 glanced at the clock, thought "I'm tired"
7:30 woke up, thought "I guess I fell asleep", got up, had quick shower so I could get to work to email Courtnay (who I've long been neglecting, but bless her for being such an amazing friend)
8:50 Had a cup of tea at work
9:05 At work - time to start working...

I am doomed!

2006-10-11T09:37:00.000+01:00

Apparently I'm not a very good Christian....

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/10/god_blog/

And to think, you've all been victims of my blathering, thinking my opinion counts and "blurt[ing] things out, without considering the contents or consequences."

They quote the following:
"This, we learn conflicts with the advise given in Proverbs 17:27-28, which tells us:
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of calm spirit.
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."

So, clearly, I will shut my lips and be perceptive.

Until tomorrow.

Or this afternoon even.

Stupid *&%$ **^&%$* %*** $%%£* anti-bloggers (Hmmm...clearly I didn't think about the contents or consequences of that last sentence...)

Danni's new career

2006-10-04T12:55:00.000+01:00

Last night I had a dream that a group of us told my friend Danni (of 12/08/2005 "Strength of a Bear" and 22/02/2005 "Let it Snow" - bottom picture posts) that if she wanted to give up her current job she'd be a great Black Cab driver because she's a really good driver, knows London very well and is very sociable and would be pleasant for people to speak to.

So...what do people think? Should Danni switch careers? I think it might actually be a fun thing to be - and you'd never have to pay the congestion charge (or would you...?)

Brilliant Site and flatmate saving humanity

2006-10-03T12:54:00.000+01:00

My friend Lisa pointed me to this great flickr site - Stickmen in Peril...it's great!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/stickfiguresinperil/pool/

Also, I am very proud of my flatmate for doing a fundraising swim on a chilly Saturday morningn and Hyde Park. Because I know she'd be horrified that I put this up, I am enclosing a group shot whereby she will be hard to identify and a distance picture...

The wrap around nose-pick finger stick...

2006-10-02T16:52:00.000+01:00

Ever have a day when you wish you could do this? :)

And She's Off...

2006-10-02T16:51:00.000+01:00

Ashley flew back to Canada today to resume her life there.

I am sad and will miss her a-plenty!

Police Ducks and Pigeon Whores

2006-09-29T13:26:00.000+01:00

My friend Gary arrived from Canada to visit a couple of weekends ago. After resting up a bit and feeding him some tea and other delightfully British things (are scrambled eggs delightfully British?) I decided the perfect introduction to England would be to take him for pub roast lunch with my always amusing friends Alan and Lisa.

Poor Gary...by the end of the afternoon he thought that the British police, instead of having dogs, protected the public with Police Ducks and that Trafalgar Square has been rid of its bird problems by Ken Livingston's innovative use of Pigeon Whores.

Keeping London's Parks safe....

The Last 10 minutes on a Friday...

2006-09-08T17:01:00.000+01:00

...are the slowest minutes EVER!!!

I can't wait to go home to a night of stupidly funny DVDs and picking my bike up from the bike fix-it shop...

Hooray - Hobbes has just phoned...later everyone!

Jet setting...

2006-08-31T13:03:00.000+01:00

I had a fantastic week-and-a-bit off! I took at trip up to Sweden/Norway where Patrik, Gustav, Jonathan and I stayed at the most lovely cabin in the Norwegian mountains!

Among the highlights were:
Being trapped in a car with a bunch of farm yard animals for 8 hours
Eating elk (in both sausage and regular-meat form; and then seeing pictures of it just-post-death and then looking beside me on the sofa and realising I was sitting next to the rifle that shot it!)
Doing nooooooothing in the mountains (except read and pee for a whole day!)
Being the partial consumer of three of the four pans of blueberry crumble that Gustav and Jonathan made with the ridiculous numbers of wild blueberries that grew everywhere!
Mucking our way through the swam
Learning a Swedish song with profound and deeply challenging lyrics (Bagar Begntsson ar dod, han har brant sig pa brod, han har sjalv bakat in sig i en limpa. Han har kampat somen man med en flaskkorv i hand, och en gonmalad potta pa skaln.)
And the loads of reflection and prayer that went on as well.

Then I flew back to London and like the jet-setter I am, the next morning drove to Cologne Germany with my friend Matt for our friend Lisa's wedding. He and I had many adventures on our European tour...most of which were probably funny if you were there, but would bore you all to read about. We discovered that we are quite good at navigating ourselves home from random villages at 2:00 in the morning and that the policy of "just drive until we find a sign for any main road" generally works quite well. The people of Cologne were very lovely and there wasn't a time when we were pulled to the side of the road with our maps out that people didn't offer to help! We stopped at the Pachendale War Museum, at the Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Cemetary and at Ypres on the way home (thought we might as well end up happy weekend away on a positive note!) Actually, the war bits were very interesting and very humbling too. It's hard to imagine...but maybe not so hard...

The yard of our cabin in the woods

The boys...

Patrik and his guitar...

The double rainbow connection...

Leaving your gate open in the mountains...

In Belgium, it would seem it is law to wash your hands...

Friends Reunited!

Candian graves at Tyne Cot Cemetary

The successful European explorers on the (very windy) ferry back to the UK

Biggleswade, Cambridge and Wonderbread

2006-08-16T13:06:00.000+01:00

Dantastic and I took a bit of a road trip on the weekend. We realised that it's hard to find a road out of Biggleswade (but came up with an awesome idea reality spoof show called something like "You can't leave Bigglewade) but eventually made it to Cambridge and found the best pub - or at least it made the best Steak and Ale pie I've ever had (and he reported that his...whatever he had was good too). It was called the Pickeral Inn and it's on Magdalene St. Good prices, good food. Highly recommended. I then proceeded to pick up a CD called Strange Country Music...it was a compilation of strange country music. Very good - very amusing...

I also realised yesterday that England doesn't seem to have a Wonderbread equivalent, and I think that's a bit sad. I miss wonderbread (although I don't know if I ever ate it..). Bonus points if you can finish the song..."great green globs of greasy, grimey gopher guts..."

Wlidlife Sightings!

2006-08-02T15:34:00.000+01:00

Lisa and I took a great trip to Bath (via almost every village in Wiltshire) on the weekend (more photos to follow later). On the way to Bath I saw my first wild hedgehog and badger! Unfortunately they were dead on the road, but one must start somewhere, right?

In the spirit of Hedgehog sightings, Lisa sent me this link today...

http://www.loosetooth.com/Numo/numo.php3

I think hedgehogs should maybe stay in the wild...clearly, captivity has driven this one mad...

I...so...badly...want..one...

2006-07-28T15:40:00.000+01:00

http://www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk/

My Viking Name

2006-07-25T14:13:00.000+01:00

I shamelessly copied this link from Ciaran's blog...

http://www.thequarter.org/Media/VikingName.php

Here's mine (I'm a bit freaked out about the last name - they had no way of knowing what my last name actually is!!!):

Jódís Sheeptipper
(Well, actually, that wouldn't really be your name -- since you're female, your name would be something like "Jódís Björnsdottir". But this is the twenty-first century, and you want to be known for who you are, not for who your father was, right? Right.)

Your Viking Personality: The tougher Vikings might let you on the boat, but generally only when they need ballast. Unlike most Vikings, you don't have a quick temper; you tend to think about your actions before you undertake them. Sometimes you think too long. You might be able to hold your own on the battlefield, but you're no "berserker".

A long sea voyage aboard a Viking longboat would be difficult for you, but you might be able to manage it. Other Vikings would consider you "one of the guys" if you were a guy. (But even though you're a woman, they still think you're all right.)

People who've known you for a while don't always trust your word. Other Vikings would be calling you "tree-hugging hippie peacenik" if the phrase had been invented.

And on this note, my Swedish learning is going slowly and steadily...I have a month before I have to put it to the test...I know how to say "I haven't been to Sweden before" but that would be a lie because I have been, and since I don't want to end up in a Swedish jail, I better learn a new sentence!

Along the Lines of Comfort Goop...

2006-07-14T14:49:00.000+01:00

I sent this email to my sister, because if I were in Toronto I'd want to spend the evening with her..

Today's a beautiful day here, and it's one of those days where I feel like if it's as nice in Toronto as it is here (you know, sunny and warm, but not too warm) I'd call you this evening and say "let's meet up tonight" and of course you'd be free (as one is always wont to be in imagined scenarios) and we'd go to Baskin Robbins (I imagine the one at Christie Station even though I know you don't live there anymore and it would be a trek, but that doesn't matter in these imaginings either!) and get something chocolatey. Yum yum!

I get comments sometimes about how it seems like I have an adventure each time I leave the house and "how will you ever be able to come back" etc While that sometimes seems to be the case, please rest assured that there are times when I feel like I'd trade almost the whole two years of adventures for two hours of coffee, or ice cream, or a Sunday lunch with people at home. They do say, Gentle Reader, that home is where the heart is, and lots of me is still back in Canada.

Comfort Goop

2006-07-14T14:12:00.000+01:00

I have long since forgotten the name of this recipe (if it, indeed, ever had one to begin with), but tonight I'm going to make mom's comfort goop for dinner tonight...and I need to share how to make it with everyone else! It sounds gross, but trust me - it's brilliant (and I look forward to converting my friend who's coming around for dinner tonight!)

1. Brown some ground (mince - for the UK audience) beef with onions
2. Add one package of made Kraft Dinner (available at the Canadian import store, or from me in a limited supply, and for a price, for the UK audience)
3. Add one un-made can of Campbell's tomato soup

Stir it all up, and serve with ketchup, salad and a nice glass of red wine (except mommy didn't serve it to us with wine when we were little).

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm....comfort goop...

How to Save £20 at IKEA

2006-07-14T13:57:00.000+01:00

Last night the flatmate and I, as part of our "Flat Rejuvenation" project, spontaneously went to IKEA to get a bookshelf...as we were leaving we decided to check out the "as is" section, and came across exactly the shelf we were about to buy, but already assembled (with no obvious flaws), and £20 cheaper! From that point it was only a matter of fitting a very long shelf into my very short Amica and trecking it home on the North Circular. The Flatmate's father was wondering if we got a £20 ticket, but no, we made it safe and sound!

How the Flatmates got their house back

2006-07-12T08:42:00.000+01:00

After yet another exhausting and depressing houseviewing session, the Flatmates decided that perhaps the grass isn't always greener, and called the Landlord to ask if they could "undo" their notice "of course," said the landlord, so it is at the Parish Lockup that the flatmates will remain. A few minor changes will be made, and they will put a bit more effort into its appearance, but they are very happy to be settled into a place they love as their home where the lounge is filled with sunshine and they can watch the Mill Hill East tube line cross the viaduct every ten minutes in each direction...

And for my next Trick...

2006-07-06T17:34:00.000+01:00

Sass emailed me and said that she, Weiller, Lami and Chandra are going on a canoe trip, and I felt rather homesick. Since going up to the Lake District, I've been aching to get a canoe and since the Flatmate and I want to find a place with a garden, I thought "hmmmm...now I'll have storage space for one" so I went on ebay to investigate. The ones that weren't inflatable or actually kayaks (why can't British people get that right?) were rather quite expensive, but then I saw this...a diy canoe kit for only £10! A project for when daddy comes to visit this Autumn (you didn't really want to leave my backyard - did you Dad? My wonderful daddy has build a couple beautiful cedar strip canoes from scratch, and has wonderfully restored and repainted an old canvas war canoe, if I may be so bold as to brag about my dad's wonderful talents!)

Well, I'll give it a think. As for now, I'm expecting my mail-order teach yourself Swedish course to arrive any day now...

Life Admin...

2006-07-05T16:53:00.000+01:00

Dear Readers,

There are so many times each week when I think of something and think "Oh, I'd like to blog that", but right now, my life is being taken up by what my colleague calls "Life Admin" - finding a new place to live with the Flatmate, sorting through my belongings to get rid of the things I don't want to take, and well...something that I have learned from reading blogging articles one shouldn't discuss online, having lots of rehearsals for concerts, etc, etc. Work is still so busy that on my lunch hours these days I want to escape instead of doing this...but when I have internet etc at home (which won't be so long now) I'll be here much more.

In the meantime, I wrote my first song a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and I was waiting to listen to the England game on the radio... I'll probably never get a Grammy for it, but it suited the time...I have recently got a second hand classical guitar, named Alpha (for those of you who know Winston, no worries...he's well and in storage in Canada - he didn't make the flight over). Anyways, it goes a little something like this:

Me and my alpha guitar
Haven't got very far
because I'm sitting in the sunshine on the sofa.
I've got a million and one things do do
but the sky is breezy and blue
and I'm enjoying feeling like a loafa

England's playing today
And what else can I say
the window boxes on my sill are really pretty!!!!

Me and my alpha guitar
haven’t got very far
because I’m sitting in the sunshine on my sofa.

Tonight I'm making a roast
and I don't mean to boast
but I've been told my roasts are rather yummy!

Me and my alpha guitar
Haven’t got very far
Because I’m sitting in the sunshine on my sofa

I spoke with Patrik on the phone,
later I'll call him at home
and then I'll have a chance to practice my Swedish!

Me and my alpha guitar
Haven’t got very far
Because I’m sitting in the sunshine on my sofa!

Yeahhh...as I said, no grammies yet, but it's a start!

Why the Scots need more things to amuse themselves

2006-06-22T15:48:00.000+01:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5105946.stm

I wonder how much it would cost to take out a policy incase the Loch Ness Monster shows up as a stray on my doorstep...