tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246249842024-03-14T05:15:05.338-04:00Documentaristdocumenting the world around me as i am on the journey of a lifetime...life.
"Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place..." Marcus AureliusUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-43528749379179544642010-11-26T15:00:00.002-05:002010-11-26T15:03:42.400-05:00time flies?I've probably had a post called that before... oh well... so sorry... maybe I should 'close' this blog? Leave it in the past and forget about it? Somehow, I just can't. Even if I don't post often, it's always there in the back of my mind... so here I am.<br /><br />Since August life has been hectic, and not. Black and white. Up and down.<br /><br />It's been everything and nothing.<br /><br />I went to Paris with T for our second anniversary. And as much as I've dreamed of going to Paris for my whole life, it didn't live up to the dream. I'll post on that one day.<br /><br />For now, I just want to say I haven't forgotten you... I'm still here and I'm still thinking, even if I'm not writing...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-28329901299871296492010-08-17T04:25:00.005-04:002010-08-17T05:10:16.272-04:00summer!<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been much too long... and I know I promised a post on my new flat, but thought I'd catch up on the last few months first... since I don't have any good pictures of the house yet... Maybe later this week if it's sunny...<br /><br />So, in late May I went to Austria. It was only a few days - and I was there for work, but did actually have a little time to wander around <a href="http://www.grazaustria.co.uk/">Graz</a> a bit.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpICYGMaLI/AAAAAAAAC5g/mznWZu1yPXY/s1600/IMG_0236-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpICYGMaLI/AAAAAAAAC5g/mznWZu1yPXY/s320/IMG_0236-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506292700079220914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The city centre is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. The architecture varies greatly and some of the buildings date back to the 1300's. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJpLSQKmI/AAAAAAAAC6A/6m-9O5h3ZYc/s1600/IMG_0251-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJpLSQKmI/AAAAAAAAC6A/6m-9O5h3ZYc/s320/IMG_0251-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294466166663778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This is the 'Mur island' in the middle of the Mur River which runs through the city. Kind of weird how some of the city is so modern and other parts are so ancient.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Since I was there to cover the England v Japan friendly ahead of the World Cup, we had to travel into the mountains to their training camp... It was really beautiful and reminiscent of Switzerland.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpICC4YFNI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/Bvf8dQ6bTvQ/s1600/IMG_0209-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpICC4YFNI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/Bvf8dQ6bTvQ/s320/IMG_0209-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506292694384121042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">From the resort hotel where the team were staying.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJpsyK8fI/AAAAAAAAC6I/RME_wGVVl_I/s1600/IMG_0304-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJpsyK8fI/AAAAAAAAC6I/RME_wGVVl_I/s320/IMG_0304-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294475158909426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The game was pretty rubbish - I don't even remember the score! </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In June I got to go to Wembley Stadium for the first time - and to see <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/">Chelsea</a> play Portsmmouth in the FA Cup Final... of course, Chelsea won!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpIBJ6eRpI/AAAAAAAAC5A/f-D7UNY4Yro/s1600/IMG_0005-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpIBJ6eRpI/AAAAAAAAC5A/f-D7UNY4Yro/s320/IMG_0005-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506292679092094610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Wembley Stadium, before the match.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpIBk1HMaI/AAAAAAAAC5I/enLRde74CuY/s1600/IMG_0081-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpIBk1HMaI/AAAAAAAAC5I/enLRde74CuY/s320/IMG_0081-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506292686317367714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">After we won!</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I know people are always saying I have a really cool job, and well, I do. I try to play it down a lot, but seriously, professional football, to awesome music festivals to the Prime Minister's house... We (I) cover it all. And this year, I got to go to the Hard Rock Calling Festival in Hyde Park again... where Pearl Jam were playing! And while I didn't get an interview with them, but at least I got to see them! (sort of)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJp7WhM6I/AAAAAAAAC6Q/jAH19eYe8H0/s1600/P6250037-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJp7WhM6I/AAAAAAAAC6Q/jAH19eYe8H0/s320/P6250037-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294479069459362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Yes, that is Eddie Vedder!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJqQ8VXlI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/zl1w6k-_m3k/s1600/P6250039-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJqQ8VXlI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/zl1w6k-_m3k/s320/P6250039-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294484865211986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">There he is! </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />And then I got to spend some time with my very good friend from university - Maria! We hadn't seen each other in about three or four years and she happened to be in London for a couple of weeks on an NYU exchange program.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJqshO1dI/AAAAAAAAC6g/DMY2Zn01hCM/s1600/P7030041-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpJqshO1dI/AAAAAAAAC6g/DMY2Zn01hCM/s320/P7030041-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294492267730386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Maria and me in Brixton</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In July, Tom and I celebrated his birthday by going to <a href="http://www.gordonramsay.com/mazegrill/">Maze Grill</a>, one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants in London. It was probably the best meal I've ever had in a restaurant!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKIWj2MkI/AAAAAAAAC64/_3sZj532c7I/s1600/P7150052-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKIWj2MkI/AAAAAAAAC64/_3sZj532c7I/s320/P7150052-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506295001769194050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Happy birthday, my love!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKHtokuWI/AAAAAAAAC6o/KEG5zoI2wTw/s1600/P7150050-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKHtokuWI/AAAAAAAAC6o/KEG5zoI2wTw/s320/P7150050-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294990783166818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">mmm... soft shell crab for a starter. </span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKH-NKUSI/AAAAAAAAC6w/0FUzQehtA2o/s1600/P7150051-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKH-NKUSI/AAAAAAAAC6w/0FUzQehtA2o/s320/P7150051-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506294995231592738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The best calamari ever!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKIiXptWI/AAAAAAAAC7A/VUx4gfdzQlk/s1600/P7150056-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/TGpKIiXptWI/AAAAAAAAC7A/VUx4gfdzQlk/s320/P7150056-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506295004939269474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We both ordered steak... what else would we have gotten?!? </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The waiter came around before we ordered and showed us the various cuts of meat and explained the difference and where they all come from. I got the Hereford 21 day grass fed fillet - for a mere £28! and Tom got the same but in rib eye. Then we ordered chips, salad and onion rings for the sides. The meat came with roasted garlic and a sprig of fresh herbs.<br /><br />So, I've been busy... which is one reason for the lack of posting... Coming up - all about our new home - which is awesome! I promise not to make you wait too long!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-68925699236334014912010-06-26T16:01:00.004-04:002010-06-26T16:15:17.021-04:00Just a quickie!<div style="text-align: justify;">I realise it's been ages... and I've been meaning to upload photos from Tenerife (the good part) and my recent work trip to Austria, but my iPhoto is acting up (or my computer is dying, which is more likely at five years old) so have been having trouble with photos.<br /><br />So, I thought I'd go old fashioned and just write a quick update. We are moving on Friday!!! After what feels like an eternity looking for a new flatshare we've found one that hopefully will be good. It's in a house, which is nice because we'll live on a regular street and not a dodgy apartment block and also great because it has a GARDEN!!! Well, more of a yard, but with a little work it could be really nice. We've got a large double bedroom on the first floor and a huge bay window. There are four other bedrooms (one single) but they haven't been let yet, so we don't know who will be living with us. Hopefully nice, considerate and clean people.<br /><br />The woman who is renting the rooms is part owner of the house and lives in the loft conversion, so hopefully she'll get decent people in. I'm pretty sure she will anyway. There's also a small living/dining area and obviously a kitchen! One of the double rooms has an en-suite bathroom and there are two other bathrooms so we won't have any problems getting in the shower... oh, there's no bath, which kind of sucks, but I dealt with it in Korea and will just have to do it again.<br /><br />Anyway, it's also next door to a super huge Tesco (grocery store) and about a 7 minute walk from the tube. On paper it's pretty ideal... we'll see how it works out, and if we're not happy then the search will start again!<br /><br />Things art work are going ok, aside from the announcement of more lay-offs. Several of my colleagues have left in the last week and two more of us will be going soon... fingers crossed it isn't me! I feel pretty secure, but you never know. Last week I went to the Prime Minister's house on Downing Street and actually went inside for a two crew interview with him (myself being one of them), a highlight of my career so far, I suppose. A lot of people probably think this is pretty cool and crazy, but it's just part of the job really... suppose I'm a little blase about it...<br /><br />Anyway, not much else in the way of news... just looking forward to the move, really. Coming up photos of the house, Tenerife, and Austria!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-53735386288946937922010-05-09T09:06:00.012-04:002010-05-09T10:43:54.312-04:00The Long Road Home<div style="text-align: justify;">So, as you may, or may not know, Tom and I went on our first holiday together in April. We went to Tenerife (another post to follow on that) in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_Islands">Canary Islands</a>. We had a lovely six days before turning on the news the morning before we were leaving to sea that British Airspace was closed because of a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. I thought Tom was joking when he said it, but sure enough, there it was all over the telly...<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We thought we might be okay since it was still a day and a half until we were flying, but by check out the next morning (Friday April 16th) it was looking like we were stranded. The first thing we did was try to contact our airline... that didn't happen, so we found a cheaper hotel (the one we were staying in was trying to 200 Euros a night).<br /><br />The Chipeque was a downgrade, but it did the job at 35 Euros a night! By Friday afternoon our flight was officially canceled. We decided to just try and enjoy the next few days until our re-booked flight on Monday, April 19th. We were low on money, so we couldn't live it up - we shopped and cooked and bought some booze at the shop - no more eating out and pubs/clubs/bars for us... But that was ok, we were together.<br /><br />On Sunday, we met Andy, Denise and Diane - they had been staying at the same resort as us, but decided a downgrade was needed as well. We spent the day drinking and hanging out by the pool. At the end of the evening, we all decided to head to a travel agency in the morning to see about getting to the mainland. Oh, our Monday flight was canceled by then too and the next flight they were offering me was on Tuesday, April 27th - 11 days after we were supposed to leave.<br /><br />So, Monday morning, the five of us headed to the travel agency - by 10:30 AM we were booked with Iberworld flight at 4:30 to fly from Tenerife to Sevilla, Spain on the mainland. For only 69 Euros too! We had to buy a second suitcase as they wouldn't let us put our weight limit together in one bag, but I managed to find a decent one for cheap.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azoMR9IwI/AAAAAAAAC2g/s8D8Y-Lje4E/s1600/P4190092-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azoMR9IwI/AAAAAAAAC2g/s8D8Y-Lje4E/s320/P4190092-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256300560720642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">1 PM Monday April 19th - Leaving from the Chipeque... we knew it was going to be hard... but we were optimistic.<br />Left to right - Andy, Diane, Tom, Me, Denise. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azopzYSoI/AAAAAAAAC2o/CK-lVjPvYnk/s1600/P4190097-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azopzYSoI/AAAAAAAAC2o/CK-lVjPvYnk/s320/P4190097-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256308485540482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">On the bus... going to the airport, at last! Only three days late!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azpDQ_KfI/AAAAAAAAC2w/Egps5cBUyZk/s1600/P4190099-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azpDQ_KfI/AAAAAAAAC2w/Egps5cBUyZk/s320/P4190099-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256315320609266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Woot! Airplane! I don't think I've ever been so happy to be getting on a flight! </span><br /></div><br />So, by 7:30 local time we landed in Sevilla and headed straight to the train station. The plan was to get to Madrid and from there find a coach or train to either Paris or Calais. That's what the news kept telling people to do anyway, so we thought we'd be all right.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azp6p9oTI/AAAAAAAAC24/WMmXFeZXr78/s1600/P4190102-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-azp6p9oTI/AAAAAAAAC24/WMmXFeZXr78/s320/P4190102-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256330189316402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My one memory of Sevilla... There was some promotion going on in the train station, so we took a minute to enjoy this!</span><br /></div><br />At 9:45 we pulled out of Sevilla Train Station on our way to Madrid - for 89 Euros each this time - we were quickly running out of money!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0B9H1dlI/AAAAAAAAC3I/xf1dGLCV9I8/s1600/P4190109-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0B9H1dlI/AAAAAAAAC3I/xf1dGLCV9I8/s320/P4190109-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256743168341586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Some government building in Madrid... the only picture I really got there.<br /></span></div><br />We arrived in Madrid around 12:30 PM. We were planning on spending the night in the train or coach station, but they kicked us out as soon as we got there. We couldn't find any information on where the coach station was and decided to stay the night in a hotel even if it would only be a few hours. The first hotel we asked at was quoting around 70 Euros for a room for the night - and we needed two. So, we went to eat something and then went back and the price had gone up to 110 Euros! Nice, take advantage of the poor stranded travelers. It was ridiculous. We'd seen another hotel around the corner and when asked, they only want 45 Euros for the night. We checked in at 2:30 AM and planned to meet in the lobby at 5:45 to get to the coach station as soon as it opened.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0CV0Q_ZI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/IP7DCf4B9qE/s1600/P4200112-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0CV0Q_ZI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/IP7DCf4B9qE/s320/P4200112-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256749797146002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Our lovely hotel room in Madrid. At least there was a bed and it was clean. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So we got to the coach station at around 6AM only to find out we had to wait until 8 for the ticket office to open... but there was already a queue so, it was good we got there early. We met an American who had just arrived from Barcelona (he was trying to get to Germany). He told us there were no trains going through the south of France because of a rail strike - the first any of us had heard of that!<br /><br />So we waited. and when we got into the ticket office we were told the next available seats on a coach to Paris was the following Monday (April 26th) - At that rate, we could have stayed in Tenerife and waited for our flight on the 27th! There was a group of 8 students ahead of us and one of them, Sophie, and I decided to see if we could rent our own coach and driver to take us to Calais to get the ferry across the channel.<br /><br />It turned out that about 30 other people behind us, were into the idea too. So, we started trying to figure out how to rent a bus in Spain. The only problem was that there were no coaches for hire. They were all rented out - everywhere we went and asked there was nothing. Then, John, a man from Scotland who was traveling with his three kids, got a text message from his wife in Glasgow giving him the phone number of a guy who was hiring coaches to ferry people to and from Madrid to Calais.<br /><br />I called him and he told us that there was a coach already leaving the next day (more than 24 hours later) and we were all welcome to get on it if we wanted to pay 250 Euros each! Well, we all decided that a) we didn't want to wait that long and b) that was too much. The regular coach from Madrid to London (not even Calais which is what he was offering) is only 120 Euros. So I negotiated with him. I asked him if he could get us a coach that day and how much it would be if we filled it. We had to wait an hour and a half for him to call me back. It was tense, but by the time he rang back we had over 50 people who wanted to get on our coach.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a beautiful moment when he said he could get us a coach at 6PM and we'd only have to pay 215 Euros (still not great, but better) and he'd take us to Calais - a 20 hour drive. So it was settled. 52 of us. 6PM at Madrid coach station. One bus. Two drivers. We couldn't believe it. Some people had already been traveling for three days by the time we met in the station.<br /><br />It funny I don't have any pictures from the coach station... We spent so long there. By lunchtime, with the relief of knowing we had a way to Calais, we all had a little party - the rum we'd bought in Tenerife came out; we went to the grocery store and got stuff to make sandwiches; we were all stoked.<br /><br />At some point the media showed up. Reuters, <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/mayhem-in-madrid37741/">ITV</a> and the BBC. They interviewed us (two of them interviewed me) and we were on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SypAIzJhU2g&feature=player_embedded">news</a> back home as the people taking matters into their own hands. (Not sure the links will work outside the UK) We were on more reports, but I can't link to them anymore...<br /><br />So after waiting all day, we headed out of the station to wait for the coach to actually arrive... at 6:15 PM it did.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0DBrINaI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/Qy8TY3xYN10/s1600/P4200115-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0DBrINaI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/Qy8TY3xYN10/s320/P4200115-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256761569981858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Waiting outside for the coach to arrive.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0DvzOnTI/AAAAAAAAC3g/xk3CF0dPDt8/s1600/P4200119-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0DvzOnTI/AAAAAAAAC3g/xk3CF0dPDt8/s320/P4200119-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256773951986994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My group of travelers... new friends and "parents"<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">By 6:45 we were on our way... about 30 hours after we set out from the Chipeque it felt like we were really going home.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0EHT7a2I/AAAAAAAAC3o/QVxyzAt6xHc/s1600/P4210124-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0EHT7a2I/AAAAAAAAC3o/QVxyzAt6xHc/s320/P4210124-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469256780263156578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Andy and Nise - our new parents!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0Uxb7_fI/AAAAAAAAC3w/8WuyyZhy8bI/s1600/P4210133-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0Uxb7_fI/AAAAAAAAC3w/8WuyyZhy8bI/s320/P4210133-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257066448944626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Going home!!!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So a fitful sleep through Spain and Franc, a quick drop off in Paris (two people were getting out there) and 21 hours later we got to Calais, France.<br /><br />There were only about 3000 people in line ahead of us. While it was disheartening, it was even worse when we heard that it was going to cost 65 Euros each - the normal price for a foot passenger is around 25. Getting screwed again. We complained to the first British officials we'd seen for the whole trip and they said there was nothing they could do. The problem was that Tom and I were out of money. We could get on the ferry, but wouldn't have anything left to get the train back to London from Dover.<br /><br />It didn't matter though. We'd be on British soil and what else were we going to do, stay in France Andy and Denise kept telling us not to worry, that they'd get us home. It was really great to have that kind of support with us.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0VckvxSI/AAAAAAAAC34/DtloIepIQtg/s1600/P4210135-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0VckvxSI/AAAAAAAAC34/DtloIepIQtg/s320/P4210135-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257078028616994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Andy being interviewed for TV in Calais.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0WG7ameI/AAAAAAAAC4A/ZhGh1YHTe0I/s1600/P4210137-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0WG7ameI/AAAAAAAAC4A/ZhGh1YHTe0I/s320/P4210137-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257089397987810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Almost inside... to be fair it only took about two hours in the queue.<br /></span></div><br />Finally, at 5:45 PM on Wednesday, April 21st, we were on a ferry and pulling out of the port. It definitely warranted a drink!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0W5Tw6jI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/oeBORdRH9QU/s1600/P4210143-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0W5Tw6jI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/oeBORdRH9QU/s320/P4210143-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257102921886258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Cheers! We're on our way!</span><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0Wk4sjcI/AAAAAAAAC4I/fvvuamJnmJU/s1600/P4210138-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0Wk4sjcI/AAAAAAAAC4I/fvvuamJnmJU/s320/P4210138-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257097439645122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Bye bye France and mainland Europe... </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0k7LDSiI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/1xGs1XtXMAE/s1600/P4210147-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0k7LDSiI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/1xGs1XtXMAE/s320/P4210147-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257343940381218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">HELLO DOVER!!!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0l94pkjI/AAAAAAAAC4g/jwnUwQv19-s/s1600/P4210149-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0l94pkjI/AAAAAAAAC4g/jwnUwQv19-s/s320/P4210149-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257361848373810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a00UjMg9I/AAAAAAAAC44/j08RAaVH5UM/s1600/P4210150-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a00UjMg9I/AAAAAAAAC44/j08RAaVH5UM/s320/P4210150-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257608450573266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My silly boy... he really was happy to be in Britain!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">On the ferry Denise shoved £60 in my hand to get us from Dover to London - we'd heard the train was about £30 each. As it turned out it only cost that much for both of us, so we had a little money left to get bread and milk. (The advance on my pay that work was supposed to give me came through the day after we got home!)<br /><br />So, we got on a train, straight to London Victoria (a two-hour train ride) where we had a short tube ride and then a walk home. We got in the door around 11:30 on Wednesday, April 21st... four days, and 19 hours after we were supposed to. After 58 hours of travel across mainland Europe using just about every mode of transport that exists.<br /><br />While it was exhausting, it was an adventure that I will never forget. It taught me a lot about my and Tom's relationship too. We can get through anything together. If you'd have asked me beforehand what I thought would have happened it wouldn't have been that we'd get on the whole time and support each other and be strong... to be honest I thought we would have argued at least once. But we didn't. If anything, it's brought us closer. So, good things do come when you least expect them...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0m1Vft3I/AAAAAAAAC4w/cTeWaRLIoK4/s1600/P4210154-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S-a0m1Vft3I/AAAAAAAAC4w/cTeWaRLIoK4/s320/P4210154-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469257376733312882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Finally home and in my own bed!!!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So, sorry this post is so long... but it really did warrant it this time... and hopefully that will help you understand what has taken me so long to write it. I'm sure there is more I could say. But I will leave you with this as it is. Up next, Tenerife: the holiday - before the ash.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-41835086936669997122010-04-30T17:57:00.003-04:002010-04-30T18:10:54.728-04:00i promise...<div style="text-align: justify;">I know I've been promising to write more, and I'm going to continue that promise...<br /><br />I'm having some issues with my camera and iPhoto... which will make any posts on the average/boring side, so am waiting for a day to be able to deal with it all before giving you the whole account...<br /><br />But, quickly...<br /><br />My first real holiday since Thailand (in August 2007) went to hell, thanks to Iceland.<br /><br />To make a long story short I (and my love Tom) were stranded in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands (<a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=canary%20islands&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl">google it</a>)... in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Morocco, but 'owned' by Spain..<br /><br />Our flight on Friday, April 16th (10:30 PM) was canceled. We re-booked for the Monday the 19th, but that was also canceled... So, with no end in sight, we got a flight to Seville, Spain. Then a train to Madrid; from there a coach (bus) to Calais, France (21 hours); then a ferry across the channel and then a train almost all the way home....<br /><br />There IS A LOT more to it than that... and that will all follow, for now, life is back to 'normal'.<br /><br />Damn you Iceland.... more to follow, (with photos) soon, I promise!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-20508446846926243652010-04-23T17:06:00.001-04:002010-04-23T17:08:30.050-04:00It's been an insane week. Thanks to the volcano in Iceland Tom and I were stranded in Tenerife and afte ra 56 hour overland journey did make it home nearly 6 days after we were supposed to. There is a LOOOOONg post coming up on all of it, but for now I just don't have the energy... stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-9676091483951201102010-03-19T18:57:00.003-04:002010-03-19T19:30:49.950-04:00changes?<div style="text-align: justify;"> I probably shouldn't be posting anything on here right now... after an evening out at the pub with (my lovely) work mates... but here goes anyway. (please, excuse any spelling or etc errors since i've had more than my share of pints...)<br /><br />My running has been severely waylaid (sp?) first because I was working like a mother f$@!er (7 out of 8 days for 10 hours a day for a few weeks...) and now because my back has decided to revert to its old ways and give me constant pain. I was on week 4 of my 10 week training for about three weeks... which was ok, given I was only running once or twice a week and I just didn't feel ready to move on... of course as soon as I thought "oh! next time I'll move to week five", my back went into spasm, where it has remained for a week or so. It's not as bad as it has been in the past. Maybe because I know the signs and what to do, or maybe because it just isn't as bad, I don't know, either way, there is no running for me at the moment :( I'm rather upset about it, because it (the running) makes me feel really good and as much as it hurts, I really have to push myself and it's amazing when I succeed.... the whole point of the exercise (literally and figuratively).<br /><br />Anyway, I was on my first 'out and about' VJ shift today and it wasn't so much the carrying of the kit as the standing for long periods that really bothered it... but I made it through the day, which I think is a testament to my dedication to my job. Which, by the way, I really do love, even if I moan about it. Mostly I get lazy and don't feel like going out, but I'm always hapy and surprised by the outcome.<br /><br />I know that I'm really good at what I do, (and not to try and sound conceited) but I think I would be no matter what it was, since I care. You really do have to enjoy what you do, or it's a big waste of time for everyone... especially in journalism.<br /><br />It seems to me that you can tell when something has been done out of love versus something that has been done out of obligation, whether it be for work, or in general life. But in video journalism, you really can <span style="font-style: italic;">see</span> the difference when someone cares about what they are doing.<br /><br />For example... a few weeks ago, London Fashion Week (LFW) hit this beautiful city, and while I didn't attend any of the shows, I was specifically scheduled on packaging (editing the raw footage into 'watchable' segments. It wasn't by accident. I <span style="font-style: italic;">LOVE</span> editing. I love being able to get creative with my editing. LFW gives the perfect opportunity to do this. Using effects and motion and letting the "art" (as I consider most catwalk fashion to be art) speak for itself. (I wish I had a copy of something I could post here...) Suffice it to say, that I loved doing it, and it really showed. People at work commented on how good it was and they could see the shine in my eyes when it was done...<br /><br />All this to say, that for the most part I really do love my job. I love the people I work with (mostly) and I love the diversity it provides me (especially). Now, with the prospect of potentially (and I don't want to jinx it, but probably am in writing this) working at the same kind of job for a different company, I just don't know. I suppose, it will all come clear after I talk to them a little more... And again, while not trying to jinx it all, it's really nice to feel like maybe I am really good at what I do after all...<br /><br />I'm not being wooed, per say, as I have been actively looking elsewhere (if you don't appreciate the talent you have, it will go elsewhere!) but it's just such a scary, uncertain jump to make. God I hope no one from work has happened upon this... And I'm rambling now, so, I apologise... but I have a big week ahead of me, and while I haven't got the new job, it may just come sooner than I think...<br /><br />Everyone I've spoken to thinks this is a good thing, and it may very well be, but who can tell the future?<br /><br />As I said this evening to one of my (now former - it was her leaving drinks tonight) colleagues... journalists don't like change... since we deal with it on an almost minute to minute basis, but what we need to realise is that in the grand scheme of things, change can be really good. The thing is, is that as soon as you get used to something it seems the time for change has already come around again...<br /><br />adendum... Woah. Talk about getting into it, sort of. Not the post I had in mind when I started... but that's the great thing about this... I can just ramble on and talk out loud... thanks for listening... hope I make some kind of sense!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-19471849897075744632010-02-24T05:47:00.003-05:002010-02-24T05:56:24.988-05:00motivation<div style="text-align: justify;">I seem to be missing it at the moment.<br /><br />I haven't been for a run in over a week - but that's mostly because I've been working 10-12 hour days for the last eight out of nine, and I am (understandably) tired after that. But, I'm off today and I just can't seem to find the gung-ho to go running in the rain. Probably because it's actually raining. Anyway, I'll see if I feel like it a little later on, and if not, then will force myself tomorrow. I'm just a little worried about what this has done to my schedule. I'm not sure I can do week four again... I'll try but might be stuck on it for another week. It was hard last time, and now I haven't been in ages, it's going to be even harder!<br /><br />So, I haven't got much to update, because (as I said) I've been working like a madwoman. Monday to Thursday, Friday off, and then Saturday to Tuesday. I'm finally off today and I don't want to do anything - but I'll have to go to the grocery store later as we're out of just about everything!<br /><br />Tomorrow I'm making Kimchi fried rice - I picked up some kimchi a couple of weeks ago when I was in Tottenham Court road, and Tom has been bugging me to make it... But I just haven't had time. If you don't marinate the pork for a few hours, it just isn't as good. I've also looked up a few other Korean recipes and am planning on trying my hand at them again in the near future.<br /><br />I guess that's it for now... just a quick update... until we meet again!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-2442915645227206932010-02-04T10:02:00.002-05:002010-02-04T10:11:38.209-05:00route mapper<div style="text-align: justify;">So, I've done week three of my podrunner twice now... It's not easy, but it's getting easier! I decided to try and find out how far I actually go so I found this nifty website called <a href="http://www.mapmyfitness.com/">Map My Fitness</a> where you can create a map of your route and it will tell you how far it is, among other things. I thought I'd share it here...<br /><br /><iframe src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=b72c841c71bd4889ed3ecbf8b3516908&u=m&t=route" frameborder="0" height="700px" width="100%">&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyfitness.com/run/united-kingdom/lambeth/341126529568926901"&amp;amp;gt;02/04/2010 Route&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyfitness.com/find-run/united-kingdom/lambeth"&amp;amp;gt;Find more Runs in Lambeth, United Kingdom&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe><!-- MMF PARTNER TOOL --><br />I know it doesn't look very far, but the map assures me it's 2.82 KM. I'll need to step up things if I'm ever going to do a 5k! But let's give it some time, eh!?<br /><br />The start and finish are at my house and the route takes me to (and through) Vauxhall Park and back again. Sometimes I deviate a little, but not by much. I imaging that once I'm actually running more (as opposed to walking part of the time) I'll have to go further afield, I'll probably end up going to Kennington Park (which you can see on the far right corner of the map). That's also down the road, but I hate going down the main road so for now I'm sticking to side streets.<br /><br />I'm also thinking of looking into getting some new shoes. The ones I have are still in OK condition (well they look ok anyway) but I know that every pair of shoes has a life to them, and I've had these for a few years now. I actually bought them in Korea when I started exercising, so it probably is time for some new ones.<br /><br />I'm hoping to go to one of those stores wherethey assess how you run and help you find the right shoe for your foot. Since I'm flat footed, I probably walk (and run) funny... Will let you know when the time comes!<br /><br />For now, keep on runnin'!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-27505378393413323482010-01-30T10:59:00.002-05:002010-01-30T11:10:25.148-05:00running, running, running<div style="text-align: justify;">So, when I lived in Korea I managed to drop (more than) a few dress sizes by getting fit and healthy. I did this by going to the gym 5-6 times a week and following weight watchers online... Well, a year of laziness and bad eating have got me back to almost where I started... so, I'm doing it again. The difference this time is that I won't be going to the gym 5-6 times a week, instead I'm going to run.<br /><br />I started running last year (before becoming a sloth again) because I got bored with the gym. This posed several problems for me including the fact that I don't (didn't) like running and I didn't know how to run for longer than to catch the bus. So, I downloaded <a href="http://www.djbeatsmith.com/">Podrunner by DJ Beatsmith</a>.<br /><br />Podrunner is music - but the beat and music changes at intervals - so you walk to start, then job when the music changes, and then walk, and then jog... you get the point. It's supposed to help you work your way up to running a full thirty minutes (or 5k) after ten weeks.<br /><br />I managed to make it about week 5 the first time around - I've just finished week 2. You do each week three times in one week and then move on to the next level. So Monday morning I'll start week three - more running.<br /><br />So far I'm feeling really good about it. I always get a little high when I finish my workout and it gives me confidence. the other day I actually 'ran' home from work... amazing!<br /><br />Anyway, hopefully by mid-April I'll be up and running (pun intended!). I'm aiming for July though - just to be kind to myself... That's when I hope to take part in Cancer Research UK's <a href="http://www.raceforlife.org/default.aspx">Race for Life</a>. So, watch this space for more on that and my odyssey of learning how to run.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-61654524266938122962010-01-03T06:53:00.028-05:002010-01-03T12:47:15.930-05:00the noughtiesDig in, cause this is going to be a long one... A retrospective of the last ten years, where I've been and what I've been doing. It's too bad I didn't get into digital photography until later in the decade as I have some quite amazing photos from the first half of the decade... maybe it's time to get a scanner? Anyway, there will be photos when photos are available...<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2000</span><br />I rung in the millennium with some really great friends on a snowy rooftop in Montreal. I was studying photography at Dawson College and working full-time in a (now gone) photography store downtown. I fell (very hard) in and (even harder) out of love. My grandmother (mum's mum) passed in January. Ranya and I became flatmates. One of my good friends' went crazy. I dropped out of photography school. It was actually a big year. A lot happened to change who I was. I suppose everyone expected big things from the new millennium, and in a way, it totally delivered.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2001</span><br />I started working at the bank in January. That changed my life a lot. I met some amazing people, started earning more money and felt more like an adult with a 'real' job. Little did I know that I would be there for almost five years. In September (the 5th to be exact) I boarded an airplane for the first time in my life. I came (oddly enough) where I am right now, to London. It was a dream come true and gave me the travel bug. While in the UK:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0Cvil6F8kI/AAAAAAAACyE/HkykBAAJsQw/s1600-h/picture-perfect.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0Cvil6F8kI/AAAAAAAACyE/HkykBAAJsQw/s320/picture-perfect.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422526960180261442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I visited Lisa - god we look so young here, but neither of us has even really changed that much!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0CvigQPEGI/AAAAAAAACx8/UzijnbysDrg/s1600-h/me-and-lisa-%40-brighton.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0CvigQPEGI/AAAAAAAACx8/UzijnbysDrg/s320/me-and-lisa-%40-brighton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422526958662520930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">we went to Brighton,</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0CviDv0-ZI/AAAAAAAACx0/-LtMiiu4VDI/s1600-h/me-%40-pilot-square.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0CviDv0-ZI/AAAAAAAACx0/-LtMiiu4VDI/s320/me-%40-pilot-square.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422526951010400658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">and Aberdeen to visit the square (that I'm standing in) where my Great great great grandfather was born.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We also spent a few days in Edinburgh, a city that I love even more now. It was the trip of a lifetime and changed my life forever, not only because it made me want to move here even more, but because it helped me understand that I could travel and see the world.<br /><br />While I was there the world changed as well - on September 11. We all remember where we were that day, I was in a car driving through the English countryside on my way to Feckenham to visit Lisa's parents. It was so surreal for me that I didn't think it was real until we got to their house and saw it on TV.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2002</span><br />hmmm... 2002... I guess I technically started university in Autumn 2002. I had wanted to go back to school for some time and thought university was the way to go, but wasn't sure what I wanted to study. Of course, I left it to the last minute and registered on the first day of classes as an independent student. That meant I could take any class that was open to all students - so non program specific. I had a list of courses I was interested in but only two of them had space open so I registered for History of Journalism and Contemporary News Media. They changed my life -<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2003</span><br />Having aced my two classes, I kept going and enrolled in Literary Journalism for the winter semester. I also applied into the Journalism Department to become a full-time journalism student. The rest, as they say, is history... In September I started at Concordia in the full time Specialization in Journalism program.<br /><br />In February, I traveled - this time on my first real holiday - to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. .<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C2Bpjv9WI/AAAAAAAACyU/mDXTaoM2VZU/s1600-h/at-night-by-the-pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C2Bpjv9WI/AAAAAAAACyU/mDXTaoM2VZU/s320/at-night-by-the-pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422534090805998946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I went with Ranya on a last minute deal to a resort near Sosua in the north of the island<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C2B2StnHI/AAAAAAAACyc/d7VCRYUVyvA/s1600-h/me-and-ranya-before-dinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C2B2StnHI/AAAAAAAACyc/d7VCRYUVyvA/s320/me-and-ranya-before-dinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422534094224202866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">It was heaven, and some much needed sun in February.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C2Bfa0JzI/AAAAAAAACyM/25Cym27O_sQ/s1600-h/almost-there.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C2Bfa0JzI/AAAAAAAACyM/25Cym27O_sQ/s320/almost-there.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422534088084170546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I breathed under water in the swimming pool... still need to get properly certified for scuba diving... think I'll make that a goal for this decade!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5xj6NWbI/AAAAAAAACy8/lXnJBW4pPC4/s1600-h/Untitled-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 283px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5xj6NWbI/AAAAAAAACy8/lXnJBW4pPC4/s320/Untitled-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422538212458191282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">In May, I got my lip pierced<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The year brought many ups and downs, changes and happiness. In December, my best friend and flatmate of three years moved to Greece. Also in December, Cherry moved in and we were flatmates for almost as long... Another friend for life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2004</span><br />The first five months of 2004 were a countdown to my visiting Ranya in Greece! I spent most of May on the island of Lesvos with her. There are so many pictures that I would need (and have thought of doing it) a book to showcase them all... Here are a few of the artsy ones:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5xeGzQdI/AAAAAAAACy0/_ncVhgzSj38/s1600-h/eresos-blue-plastic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5xeGzQdI/AAAAAAAACy0/_ncVhgzSj38/s320/eresos-blue-plastic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422538210900394450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Eresos, Blue Lock</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I became obsessed with taking pictures of the thousands of locks around the island, I don't know exactly how many I shot, but enough for a coffee table book on the subject - another project for this decade, I suppose!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5xJsOTkI/AAAAAAAACys/I7qH6b2DGxE/s1600-h/eftalou-stoney-gate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5xJsOTkI/AAAAAAAACys/I7qH6b2DGxE/s320/eftalou-stoney-gate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422538205420211778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Eftalou, Swirly Gate<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5w79NReI/AAAAAAAACyk/dL9XaEBZThk/s1600-h/34-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0C5w79NReI/AAAAAAAACyk/dL9XaEBZThk/s320/34-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422538201733350882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">From inside Molyvos Castle</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When I got home from Greece I cried for a week. But life goes on and so did mine, but Greece has a permanent spot in my heart because of that trip and I'm certain (even more than before) that it is a place I will return to again and again in my life.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2005</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DBhh7CW9I/AAAAAAAACzM/hJBAzlSh030/s1600-h/Drepeveryone-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DBhh7CW9I/AAAAAAAACzM/hJBAzlSh030/s320/Drepeveryone-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422546733139909586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">In February, I returned to the DR with Cherry, Trisha, and Maria.<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DBiFZfh4I/AAAAAAAACzc/vTk9SmyMmd0/s1600-h/IMG_3886.JPG-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DBiFZfh4I/AAAAAAAACzc/vTk9SmyMmd0/s320/IMG_3886.JPG-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422546742662891394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DBh2qYDJI/AAAAAAAACzU/EATz-Rxa298/s1600-h/me-and-starfish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DBh2qYDJI/AAAAAAAACzU/EATz-Rxa298/s320/me-and-starfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422546738707172498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">On our day trip to Saona Island<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a good trip, and again, much needed sun in February. It was also a break from the five classes I was taking at uni. In hindsight, it wasn't that smart taking five classes and working 30 hours a week. I spent June in the midst of a nervous breakdown and didn't leave the house except for essentials. The drugs (anti-depressants) helped and Cherry was a bigger support than I think she knows.<br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2006</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In March, I started this blog.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In June I graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts Specialization Journalism with distinction.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DCl0ZdLuI/AAAAAAAACzk/GaWSKahX9wk/s1600-h/grad-copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DCl0ZdLuI/AAAAAAAACzk/GaWSKahX9wk/s320/grad-copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422547906330439394" border="0" /></a>That was one of the biggest days of my life. I had worked so hard to get there and to finish off on such a high note (distinction) was amazing. I almost missed my convocation because of a herniated disc in my lower back. Walking across the stage should have been the easiest part of my education, but it took everything I had to get across and I immediately went home and spent the next six weeks in physiotherapy.<br /></div><br />I also got my drivers license.<br /><br />On August 21 I arrived in Seoul, South Korea to start my year teaching (which you can read all about on the this blog).<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DEi9ZeZLI/AAAAAAAACzs/o2dqhFuO4vI/s1600-h/DSCF0153-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DEi9ZeZLI/AAAAAAAACzs/o2dqhFuO4vI/s320/DSCF0153-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422550056230085810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2007</span></span><br />My year in Korea. Read all about it elsewhere as I just can't get into it all here...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DGsIxUgfI/AAAAAAAACz0/gNfHVCLu4qo/s1600-h/DSCF1903-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DGsIxUgfI/AAAAAAAACz0/gNfHVCLu4qo/s320/DSCF1903-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422552412924969458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DGsXd0ABI/AAAAAAAACz8/K0H7A-nfiok/s1600-h/DSCF2033-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DGsXd0ABI/AAAAAAAACz8/K0H7A-nfiok/s320/DSCF2033-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422552416869679122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DGsyw5QKI/AAAAAAAAC0E/Bfs51JQFjqg/s1600-h/DSCF2191-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DGsyw5QKI/AAAAAAAAC0E/Bfs51JQFjqg/s320/DSCF2191-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422552424197472418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I made tons of great friends from around the world, some who I've seen and some who I'm likely to never see again, but all in all it was a truly fabulous experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks to all of you that made 2007 and life in Korea so special.<br /><br />In August, I met Ranya in Thailand for the holiday of a life time.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPwRKIe_I/AAAAAAAAC08/6FyXpIkaUgY/s1600-h/IMG_1020-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPwRKIe_I/AAAAAAAAC08/6FyXpIkaUgY/s320/IMG_1020-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562379500649458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">at the end of our lovely Thai holiday<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPwJCvLmI/AAAAAAAAC00/2rejR0VBiso/s1600-h/IMG_0798-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPwJCvLmI/AAAAAAAAC00/2rejR0VBiso/s320/IMG_0798-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562377322147426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">we pet the tigers at the tiger temple<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPffVWlmI/AAAAAAAAC0s/jJ2Nq38KlXc/s1600-h/IMG_0609-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPffVWlmI/AAAAAAAAC0s/jJ2Nq38KlXc/s320/IMG_0609-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562091248031330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">we watched the tide come in and go out on Ko Tao<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPevpfg9I/AAAAAAAAC0k/9q7IVEi6l5I/s1600-h/IMG_0314-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPevpfg9I/AAAAAAAAC0k/9q7IVEi6l5I/s320/IMG_0314-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562078447600594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I drank from a bucket for my birthday<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPeCwbGLI/AAAAAAAAC0c/mcjrZ4y_yV0/s1600-h/IMG_0113-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPeCwbGLI/AAAAAAAAC0c/mcjrZ4y_yV0/s320/IMG_0113-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562066397075634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We rode elephants on Ko Samui<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPdQKXPLI/AAAAAAAAC0U/R2cETPWGFo8/s1600-h/DSCF0162-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPdQKXPLI/AAAAAAAAC0U/R2cETPWGFo8/s320/DSCF0162-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562052815666354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We played in the temples<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPc-ehvhI/AAAAAAAAC0M/wj9xPnE8WTY/s1600-h/DSCF0056-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DPc-ehvhI/AAAAAAAAC0M/wj9xPnE8WTY/s320/DSCF0056-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422562048068402706" border="0" /></a>And enjoyed all the sights, sounds and tastes of the Land of Smiles... read all about it <a href="http://documentarist.blogspot.com/search/label/Thailand">here</a>.<br /><br />After another week in Korea I was on my way home to Canada on the second of September... A few months later I was off on a new adventure when I moved to London in early December...<br /><br />2007 was a big year for me. It changed who I was in many ways that I probably still don't even realise. It definitely filled me with the kind of confidence I always knew I had but never showed the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >2008</span><br />I got my first job in journalism. Doing exactly what I wanted to do on the day I graduated from university (and I still get to do it everyday!)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DWZwpnwsI/AAAAAAAAC1s/m7lgP6PGhCA/s1600-h/FF090257-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DWZwpnwsI/AAAAAAAAC1s/m7lgP6PGhCA/s320/FF090257-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422569689398624962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Me filming Tony Blair </span><span style="font-size:85%;">(technically 2009, but still...) </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In March I discovered I am a natural at skiing when I went on holiday in Switzerland.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUhS2sd5I/AAAAAAAAC1E/gmTbd5ASFLQ/s1600-h/_038-e-mail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUhS2sd5I/AAAAAAAAC1E/gmTbd5ASFLQ/s320/_038-e-mail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422567619816093586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">On the border between France (behind me) and Switzerland<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In August Ranya married the love of her life in Lesvos, so I got to go back to one of my favourite places on earth.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUhgK9GxI/AAAAAAAAC1M/7361TN45BdE/s1600-h/IMG_0076-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUhgK9GxI/AAAAAAAAC1M/7361TN45BdE/s320/IMG_0076-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422567623390731026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Molyvos, Levos, Greece<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUiIb3pcI/AAAAAAAAC1U/ZgzNKQJ6oZo/s1600-h/IMG_0556-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUiIb3pcI/AAAAAAAAC1U/ZgzNKQJ6oZo/s320/IMG_0556-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422567634199094722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">the happy couple<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUiosHTvI/AAAAAAAAC1k/04skzqBDwT0/s1600-h/IMG_0990-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUiosHTvI/AAAAAAAAC1k/04skzqBDwT0/s320/IMG_0990-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422567642857164530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">worshipping the moon<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUifKCqHI/AAAAAAAAC1c/AB7KwRHThTg/s1600-h/IMG_0802-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DUifKCqHI/AAAAAAAAC1c/AB7KwRHThTg/s320/IMG_0802-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422567640298334322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">and the sea<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In October I met my love on a drunken night out with work friends... Life hasn't been the same since...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DWaPxW4yI/AAAAAAAAC10/TQv8q_miKUg/s1600-h/IMG_0011-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/S0DWaPxW4yI/AAAAAAAAC10/TQv8q_miKUg/s320/IMG_0011-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422569697752572706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">One of our first pictures together<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">For 2009 please see below!<br /><br />It's been a crazy decade... from living a relatively comfortable and boring existence in a flat in Montreal to traveling the world and landing in London doing a job that I love... life has been good to me despite a lot of pitfalls... I hope I make it look easy, but it wasn't... Here's to another ten years of adventure, happiness and love.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-77342309922221018912009-12-31T12:52:00.006-05:002009-12-31T13:32:16.467-05:002009 photo-retro<div style="text-align: justify;">2009 has been a year of ups and downs - as are most years - here's a photo retrospective of my year... something on the decade to come some time in January...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/Szzlhe-3FyI/AAAAAAAACvo/jI6ODuMdVuk/s1600-h/IMG_0022-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/Szzlhe-3FyI/AAAAAAAACvo/jI6ODuMdVuk/s320/IMG_0022-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421460414862399266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Snow... there was lots of snow this year - starting in January, loads of it in February and then again in December...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzlhkYS5tI/AAAAAAAACvw/7BMQhPMTsOU/s1600-h/IMG_0030-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzlhkYS5tI/AAAAAAAACvw/7BMQhPMTsOU/s320/IMG_0030-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421460416311256786" border="0" /></a>February saw flowers arrive at the office for me! First time I've ever had that happen!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmIGT7THI/AAAAAAAACwI/T0ht9wI80ZI/s1600-h/IMG_0186-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmIGT7THI/AAAAAAAACwI/T0ht9wI80ZI/s320/IMG_0186-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461078254767218" border="0" /></a>February also saw my first professional football match - Liverpool vs Real Madrid - in Madrid, Spain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmIsDk8PI/AAAAAAAACwY/x7JdR0fOVko/s1600-h/IMG_0317-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmIsDk8PI/AAAAAAAACwY/x7JdR0fOVko/s320/IMG_0317-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461088386740466" border="0" /></a>While there I managed to take in some of the sights... including this art exhibit in the 'crystal palace'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmI6MUHGI/AAAAAAAACwg/6Dxa5IB6bxw/s1600-h/IMG_0340-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmI6MUHGI/AAAAAAAACwg/6Dxa5IB6bxw/s320/IMG_0340-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461092181482594" border="0" /></a>...and the cow parade that was all over the city...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmXpNyDAI/AAAAAAAACw4/28jRMTY1ULo/s1600-h/IMG_0544-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmXpNyDAI/AAAAAAAACw4/28jRMTY1ULo/s320/IMG_0544-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461345322273794" border="0" /></a>In March I went on holiday with my love, Tom, to Edinburgh... this is on the way up to Arthur's Seat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmXeBzjdI/AAAAAAAACww/MK7geo_JM8I/s1600-h/IMG_0388-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmXeBzjdI/AAAAAAAACww/MK7geo_JM8I/s320/IMG_0388-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461342319250898" border="0" /></a>A view of the city with the castle in the distance...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzliZVYdhI/AAAAAAAACwA/B9iGfDiB1zk/s1600-h/IMG_0122-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzliZVYdhI/AAAAAAAACwA/B9iGfDiB1zk/s320/IMG_0122-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421460430526117394" border="0" /></a>Tom and I at Edinburgh Castle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmJLSGVhI/AAAAAAAACwo/3-0mGq7sVEY/s1600-h/IMG_0359-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 196px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmJLSGVhI/AAAAAAAACwo/3-0mGq7sVEY/s320/IMG_0359-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461096769148434" border="0" /></a>Tom and I on the Royal Yacht Britannia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzliE_XUCI/AAAAAAAACv4/LwgOFOpTZ_s/s1600-h/IMG_0065-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzliE_XUCI/AAAAAAAACv4/LwgOFOpTZ_s/s320/IMG_0065-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421460425065058338" border="0" /></a>In May I happened upon a fun fair in Hampstead Heath with a few friends after we went there for a picnic<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzlhGYXAwI/AAAAAAAACvg/3FY9DM_211g/s1600-h/IMG_0015-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzlhGYXAwI/AAAAAAAACvg/3FY9DM_211g/s320/IMG_0015-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421460408258462466" border="0" /></a>In June I went on a weekend away with my love to Brighton - went to the pier and rode the rides...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmIf0IWsI/AAAAAAAACwQ/Yok-dzPZB8I/s1600-h/IMG_0224-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmIf0IWsI/AAAAAAAACwQ/Yok-dzPZB8I/s320/IMG_0224-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461085100726978" border="0" /></a>We also went on an afternoon fishing trip where a nice man took this fab photo of us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmYLHHTtI/AAAAAAAACxA/hZRT7iFS41g/s1600-h/P8180015-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmYLHHTtI/AAAAAAAACxA/hZRT7iFS41g/s320/P8180015-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461354421112530" border="0" /></a>In August we went to Thorpe Park where we rode the (better than Brighton) rides<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmYQ1borI/AAAAAAAACxI/pi7oyzLF6EU/s1600-h/P8180020-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzmYQ1borI/AAAAAAAACxI/pi7oyzLF6EU/s320/P8180020-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421461355957559986" border="0" /></a>We had an amazing day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/Szzoj7AKYUI/AAAAAAAACxo/zTws7ub-0zQ/s1600-h/P8220043-01-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/Szzoj7AKYUI/AAAAAAAACxo/zTws7ub-0zQ/s320/P8220043-01-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421463755278672194" border="0" /></a>In August I celebrated yet another birthday with great friends!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzoXICLkfI/AAAAAAAACxY/u9GzMrxGBMY/s1600-h/PA090079-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzoXICLkfI/AAAAAAAACxY/u9GzMrxGBMY/s320/PA090079-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421463535438500338" border="0" /></a>In October I went to Ukraine for my second professional football match - England vs Ukraine World Cup Qualifier - this is St Michael's Cathedral in Kiev - see previous <a href="http://documentarist.blogspot.com/2009/11/update-ukraine-update-ukraine-update.html">post</a> for more on that...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzoXceWiNI/AAAAAAAACxg/S0TA2ISs9-c/s1600-h/PC250010-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SzzoXceWiNI/AAAAAAAACxg/S0TA2ISs9-c/s320/PC250010-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421463540925368530" border="0" /></a>And finally I celebrated Christmas afternoon with my love and his family in North London.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">By evening I had a fever of 102.5F, was told I had swine flu and spent the last week of the year in bed. Now here is New Year's Eve and I'm still not well enough to go to work - or go out :( So it'll be a night in with the telly... Here's to a great year gone and a better one to come!<br /><br />Happy New Year to you and yours!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-14052372446738572972009-12-12T10:44:00.009-05:002009-12-31T06:15:18.624-05:00'tis the seasonTime for an update! I know I promised to write more, and this is me trying!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The past few weeks have been pretty stressful for numerous reasons, the least of which, Christmas is coming.<br /><br />I'll start with the worst news first. At the age of 99 11/12, my amazing grandmother passed away. That's right, a month shy of her 100th birthday. Many of you who know me well, know that I was really close to her and it hit me harder than I thought it would. I mean, really at that age I should have been expecting it, and I was, but nothing can really prepare you for it.<br /><br />The last time I saw her was October 2008 when I was in Canada to renew my visa. I drove to Barrie (about 7 hours) and stayed at my uncles house. The next day I picked her up and we went for lunch at Tim Hortons (her idea) and then for a drive in the country. We stopped at a local farm and bought the last of the seasons strawberries and some apples.<br /><br />Then we drove north to Midland to visit one of her good friends who had been placed in a care home up there. She didn't get to see much of her as it was about an hour's drive. We sat out on the patio and ate some strawberries and chatted for a while. They were both so happy to have an impromptu visit. The next morning I brought her some Timmy's for breakfast and had to get back to Ottawa to return my rental car.<br /><br />I knew then, as she likely did, that it was probably the last time we would see each other. And it was. There are so many things that you think of after the fact that you wish you had said or done. I have those regrets, just as anyone does, but I know that I had a great relationship with her and that we both took full advantage of that relationship while we could. I hope wherever she is, she knows how grateful I am for having had the time I did with her, and even more so for the hundreds of letters I got from her in my life. At least I have those to keep her close to me now and always.<br /><br />I wouldn't be who or where I am without her influence in my life... May she rest in peace.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SyPBGRMhprI/AAAAAAAACvU/r7p0N7yX9o0/s1600-h/IMG_0059-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SyPBGRMhprI/AAAAAAAACvU/r7p0N7yX9o0/s320/IMG_0059-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414383490468783794" border="0" /></a>Winifred Jane Mavor (Briggs) January 7, 1910-December 4, 2009<br /></div><br /><br /><br />I feel like I should start a new post for the rest... but here it is...<br /><br />About six weeks ago we (my department at work) were told that two of the eight people in my position would likely be made redundant before the end of the year (or very soon after). We were told there was going to be a 'consultation period' where we would have the opportunity to try and come up with other ways to save money and to discuss the reasons behind the redundancies in depth. After two weeks of stressing and coming up with ideas, we were told that we were safe for now. Apparently there is a very big new contract that has come up and they feel that if they lose us they may not get it. What happens if we don't get it anyway? I don't know. There is still a feeling in the department that this is little more than a stay of execution. We'll see. There are still a few other people (not doing the same job as me) who will likely be out of a job in January regardless. And one of our editors has already left. We were all very sad to see him go and his presence was missed from the moment he left.<br /><br />With unemployment at an all time high in the UK, it isn't a good time to be out of a job. I think a lot of us are looking for work elsewhere now just in case.<br /><br />With Christmas fast approaching money is always tight, and even more so this year for some reason. Maybe because I have so many people to get pressies for... It's like I have two families now, with Tom's side and Lisa's family (who I have traditionally had Christmas with, and old habits die hard). Then there are friends that I feel I have to get something for as well. I hate all this about the holidays... buying shit that people don't want for people who don't care one way or the other. Everyone keeps asking me what I want, but I don't know... There isn't anything that I really <span style="font-style: italic;">need</span> and anything I do actually want is too expensive or hard to get... I kind of just want to say screw the whole season and f*!k off somewhere hot. Oh well, maybe next year.<br /><br />Well, this hasn't been the most positive post ever, has it? There are some things to be thankful for... my health, my loving wonderful partner in crime Tom, the fact that I still have a job, that my awesome friend Kim is moving to London as I write this, I'm sure there's more, and I promise to try harder to get into the Christmas spirit, I'm just not feeling it this year... maybe it's the lack of snow or (real) cold? (ha! had to get the weather in there somewhere!)<br /><br />Happy Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza...etc... to you all and a very Merry New Year!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-57318953762959997982009-11-19T12:18:00.015-05:002009-11-19T17:33:08.235-05:00update, Ukraine, update, Ukraine, update....I know, I promised to write more... well, this is more! I'm still getting back into the swing of it... and it's not as if I don't <em>mean</em> to write, I just don't find the time... Or rather, I'm going to blame it on that. <div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">So, last time I was excited about going to Ukraine. It was definitely an experience. The following is partially from the document I had to write for the insurance company for work... I've added quite a bit though...</div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">"We landed on flight BD 851 from London Heathrow to Kiev International at about 3:30 PM on Thursday, October 8th. The football match we were covering was on Saturday, on the other side of the country in a city called Dnipropetrovsk. </div><br /><div align="justify">After passing through passport control (which took <em>ages</em>) we proceeded to the luggage pick up where we found that one of our bags – the oversize one carrying our tripod and monopod – was missing. We had had to bring this bag to a special drop off point at Heathrow. While we were looking for it another passenger told me that she was also missing her oversize luggage from the same flight.<br /><br />My colleague (let's call him Joe) made the claim at the lost luggage counter as he had checked in the bag. The woman at the counter told us it would be delivered to us in Dnipropetrovsk as that was our final destination. She also told us to call the next morning to find out where the luggage was and when it would arrive.<br /><br />I proceeded to customs where we had to have our carnet (an official document listing the equipment we would bring in and out of the country- cameras, lights, cables, etc...) signed before entering the country. When the customs agent asked if we had all of the equipment listed I told her about the missing tripod.<br /><br />Over a period of about three hours it was conveyed that we would not be allowed to enter the country with our equipment if any one piece of it was missing. We tried to reason that it was the airline that lost our luggage and would be delivering it to us, but that was not accepted by them. Even after showing them the proof that we claimed for lost luggage.<br /><br />After another two and half hours of trying to haggle with them to let us bring our cameras with us, we were forced to leave the rest of our equipment in a locked room in the customs department at the airport. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">At this point we had met at Heathrow at 6:30 in the morning, flown to Kiev, stood in the queue for passport control for an hour and a half, and then sat and argued in customs for about five hours... we were tired, no exhausted. Keep in mind, there is no food or water in customs and at no point were we offered any or a way of getting any. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">We finally got to our hotel at 10:30 PM (Kiev time, so 8:30 PM London time)...<br /><br />Joe and I missed our 7 AM train to Dnipropetrovsk as we couldn’t leave Kiev without our camera kits. I was disappointed about this part more than anything. The trains there are like the old fashioned ones, with individual compartments, like the kind in old spy movies... I was looking forward to that. Oh well.<br /><br />BMI couldn’t tell us where the luggage was when we called in the morning, but we were assured by someone that it would be on that day’s flight from London arriving around 2:30 PM. We called the lost luggage number given to us at 2:30 PM to see if they knew whether it was on that flight or not and they told me to ring back in an hour. I called again at 3:30 PM and was told, again, to call back in an hour. I called back again at 5 PM (giving them an extra 30 minutes) and no one answered. I called again for the next 15 minutes and no one answered, so Joe and I headed to the airport because we knew there had to be someone there and either way we were going to get our equipment.</div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">We had spent the majority of the day in negotiations with the British Embassy and customs trying to figure out a way for us to get our camera kits if the tripod didn't arrive. We had to prvide copies of loads of documents, as well as a letter written, in Ukrainian, to customs. I have to say the Embassy was amazing with all of their help. They translated everything that needed translating and sent it all to the appropriate people. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">We arrived at the airport at 7 PM on Friday evening, and after some delay, and without any assistance, managed to get the tripod and monopod (which had arrived on the 2:30 flight) returned to us. We then had to spend another two hours in customs to retrieve the rest of our equipment.<br /><br />While we were in customs, we were supposed to be at a press conference and England training photo call in Dnipropetrovsk; we missed them because of our missing luggage. So that was more than half of our job that we couldn't do. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">The office, back in London, arranged for us to stay in our hotel another night, though we had to change rooms, and booked us on a flight for the next (Saturday) morning's 11 AM flight to Dnipropetrovsk. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">The only good that came of the lost luggage was that I actually got to spend about two hours wandering around Kiev. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFlrXL9CI/AAAAAAAACtw/8fsyJv2JOg8/s1600/PA090057-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFlrXL9CI/AAAAAAAACtw/8fsyJv2JOg8/s320/PA090057-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405944178813957154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Independence Square, Kiev</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFm0o-aZI/AAAAAAAACuQ/6kQ2UvWpuoE/s1600/PA090083-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFm0o-aZI/AAAAAAAACuQ/6kQ2UvWpuoE/s320/PA090083-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405944198484355474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">St Michael's Cathedral, Kiev</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFmo4ud3I/AAAAAAAACuI/r-8y5LdBYqY/s1600/PA090081-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFmo4ud3I/AAAAAAAACuI/r-8y5LdBYqY/s320/PA090081-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405944195329193842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFmfc2VbI/AAAAAAAACuA/YP7ZMev5T1M/s1600/PA090079-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFmfc2VbI/AAAAAAAACuA/YP7ZMev5T1M/s320/PA090079-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405944192796349874" border="0" /></a><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFmPYoOAI/AAAAAAAACt4/qKbHTsev1Ng/s1600/PA090058-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFmPYoOAI/AAAAAAAACt4/qKbHTsev1Ng/s320/PA090058-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405944188483680258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">To buy beer you choose by looking in the window and then order it from the shopkeeper who is behind glass...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZMJTZkI/AAAAAAAACuY/meHuGErwQmw/s1600/PA090087-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZMJTZkI/AAAAAAAACuY/meHuGErwQmw/s320/PA090087-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405945063787423298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A street like any other, Kiev<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZbwb6lI/AAAAAAAACug/OtaQ0N4C-YM/s1600/PA090094-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZbwb6lI/AAAAAAAACug/OtaQ0N4C-YM/s320/PA090094-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405945067978091090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Life in Kiev</span><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">So on Saturday morning we went to the airport, three hours early, only to find out that check-in only started an hour and a half before boarding. (Another 3 hours racked up in Kiev airport!) We got to Dnipro fine, checked into our hotel, ate some lunch, had a nap and headed to the stadium for the match.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZp5KPyI/AAAAAAAACuo/CqB2uDQF3Mo/s1600/PA100130-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZp5KPyI/AAAAAAAACuo/CqB2uDQF3Mo/s320/PA100130-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405945071772778274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Lenin Statue, Lenin Square, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZ7fxBlI/AAAAAAAACuw/a8gpMxLK1xQ/s1600/PA100131-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXGZ7fxBlI/AAAAAAAACuw/a8gpMxLK1xQ/s320/PA100131-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405945076498105938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Karl Marx Ave, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine</span><br /></div></div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">It was definitely an interesting game. England had already made it to the World Cup, but Ukraine had to win or they wouldn't make it to the next round. Well, they did score, but only because England scored on itself. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">Early in the match the Ukrainian fans decided it would be a good idea to throw flares onto the pitch and the English goalie, setting the pitch on fire...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFBzSZIsI/AAAAAAAACto/oUgaZ0-THR8/s1600/PA100167-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFBzSZIsI/AAAAAAAACto/oUgaZ0-THR8/s320/PA100167-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405943562466042562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">ooh! What's going on over there?<br /></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFBmHf5JI/AAAAAAAACtg/AkTQRSh5JAE/s1600/PA100171-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SwXFBmHf5JI/AAAAAAAACtg/AkTQRSh5JAE/s320/PA100171-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405943558930687122" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">See the firemen?</span><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">It was interesting to say the least. </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><div align="justify">I could write a whole novella about the whole trip, but I'll just say that the food was the same in every (and I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">every</span>) restaurant, the people weren't very friendly, and there wasn't anything particularly interesting to see... It just seemed like the whole country was suffering from a really bad communist hangover.<br /><br />While I am glad I got to have the experience, and I probably wouldn't change it, but I also wouldn't wish it on anyone...<br /><br />***<br />Coming up... the really important stuff about life in london, work, love and, of course, the weather... stay tuned!<br /></div><div align="justify"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-20597137622280196492009-10-03T17:54:00.002-04:002009-10-03T18:00:39.935-04:00oh, heck...I've done it again... left this far too long... At least I'm here?!<br /><br />Not much to update... I sprained my knee two weeks ago. I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't properly diagnosed at the A&E (Accident and Emergency) and so I guess I didn't take enough care with it... so went to the doctors this week and he told me it's sprained... hrm. It's feeling a million times better than when I did it... woke up to find it the size of a melon... but it still just feels really unstable and when I go up or down stairs I can hear and feel it 'click'... not a good sign, but getting better slowly... wish it would hurry up and get better though... especially since I'm off to Ukraine in four days!<br /><br />Yes, I'm going to Ukraine! Not somewhere I would normally choose to go of my own volition, but kind of cool that I am... It's a work trip to cover the England vs. Ukraine world cup football match. It was booked before England were a shoe in, (which they are now) so it's more of a friendly than anything, but that's ok... think of all the beautiful footballers' I'll get to goggle at!!! And potentially meet... Becks just to name a biggie... anyway, it should be kind of fun... I will definitely post some pictures and write about it when I get back... that is a PROMISE.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-68720574825425342772009-09-18T17:08:00.002-04:002009-09-18T17:12:20.235-04:00uh, sorry.I suppose I should have written something here in the last nine or ten months. Lazy? Bored? Uninterested? All of the above? I guess some and all of those and much more. Hopefully I will start writing again... I just kind of fell out of it, really... I probably don't even have any followers out there anymore, so I'm not sure who I'm writing this for... myself?<br /><br />Anyway, I'm sorry for falling off the face of the internet.<br /><br />For now, have been listening to Amy Winehouse Back to Black on repeat... can't get enough of it... Her best song by far.<br /><br />goodnight and good luck.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-1902195695393615312009-01-17T07:22:00.003-05:002009-01-17T07:36:42.038-05:00Home sweet home?<div style="text-align: justify;">It seems I have been searching for a home since I left mine in 2006, a few months before I left for Korea. I had been living in the same apartment for seven years (!) and was so comfortable in my life there that I had to move to the other side of the world to pull myself out of the rut I was in.<br /><br />Mission accomplished. Right?<br /><br />I suppose. Since then, I have become a very different person, some new good qualities have emerged and there are probably some new bad qualities that I may not recognise in myself (any help on that one is appreciated), but I think for the most part I am a better person than I was when I 'left home'.<br /><br />I think my desire (back then) to stay in one place, and not move, came from the fact that I had been moving all my life. Every two years when I was a kid and my parents were together, and then I left my mom's house as soon as I hit 18 and was able to. I guess I never really felt like I had a home. So, throughout most of my twenties, I lived in this wonderful (if a big dingy and old) apartment with some great (and some terrible) people, until I decided I was far too young to be so comfortable in life.<br /><br />So, here I am, two and a half years later, living in yet another foreign country and I've decided to make this country/city/culture my new home. Not like Korea, which was always going to be short-term, but like that apartment that I found in my twenties, London will be home, for quite some time.<br /><br />Now I just need to find that physical place, a space all my own, somewhere in this vast city that I can actually call home and not 'my room'.<br /><br />I've been on the hunt for about a week and a half. I've given notice to my current flatties that I'll be out by the 1st of February. It's not easy here, though, to find somewhere that lives up to (or even comes close) to that feeling of home that I had in my apartment in Montreal. I know it always takes time for these things, I know I didn't feel 100% at home in the first year I lived there, so maybe I just need to give it time? The problem is, I haven't even seen anywhere that has the potential of being "home"...<br /><br />I'll just keep looking. I know it's got to be out there somewhere. Everything else in London has fallen so perfectly into place and all I'm missing is a good home... so I know I'll find it... I'm just so tired of searching.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-89055307547638905412008-12-31T12:48:00.003-05:002008-12-31T13:08:02.662-05:00where has the time gone?<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, I'm not sure where to begin. I DO know it's time I had a little word with this blog though... so here I am, in the last moments of 2008 trying to make up for four months of ignorance.<br /><br />In a nutshell... the big moments of my life for the last four months, would be... in mostly chronological order...<br /><br />My new job as a video journalist. Love it. Simple as. Not going to say more as don't want to get in trouble for writing about work on a blog... it's been known to happen.<br /><br />I went to Canada to get a new visa so I can stay here for the awesome job and at the least the next five years. It was easier than they make it out to be (thanks to my grandma being born in Scotland almost a hundred years ago).<br /><br />I've been living in a new flat since August... but am now on the hunt again, for reasons which I can't get into without being here til next year!<br /><br />I have a new man in my life. It's still very new so am not going to say much other than he's really sweet, makes me laugh like no one else and puts up with my non-stop whinging! We'll see where 2009 takes it.<br /><br />I know there were a lot of little things here and there, but really I've just been living life to the most. It doesn't leave much time for writing here. I know that's a bit of a cop out, but really... I haven't even been keeping up with my emails. (sorry guys!)<br /><br />SO. If I actually still have anyone out there that reads this, I promise to get better with this in the new year... new year, new start all that jazz... and I hope that 2008 was as great for you all as it was for me.<br /><br />Here's to 2009 being just as fab!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-72809233115235826532008-08-31T15:30:00.002-04:002008-08-31T15:34:10.304-04:00time flies...<div style="text-align: justify;">I have A LOT of catching up to do... I just can't do it right now. Coming up:<br /><br />The adventures of Liz in Greece.<br /><br />The adventures of moving house.<br /><br />The adventures of acute muscle spasms.<br /><br />The adventures of Kat n Liz in London.<br /><br />AND<br /><br />The adventures of Zoom airlines going belly-up.<br /><br />These are all things that have affected my life of late... with a lot of other little stuff in between. I promise a full account with photos coming shortly... life has just been nuts over here...<br /><br />For those of you paying attention enough to write in on your calendars, I will no longer be landing in Montreal on the 19th of September... you'll have to wait until the 22nd now. More details soon. I promise.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-79740950885531358192008-08-22T14:00:00.008-04:002008-08-22T16:08:56.417-04:00Greece and the Big Fat Greek Wedding!It's been over a week since I got home from Greece and haven't posted because I've been laid up on diazapam for an acute muscle spasm in my back... But, here it is, at long last, the Greek post!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The flight out was long as I landed in Athens at 2:30 am Greek time (12:30 for me) and had to wait until 6:30 for my flight to Mytilene. Good think Ranya met me at the airport around 4:00.<br /><br />I slept through the entire 45 minute flight to the island and when I woke up Ranya's fiancee Panos was there to meet us. It took us most of the morning to meander our way to Hrussos, our home for the two weeks I was there. His parents have a newly finished house right on the beach. I'd been to Hrussos on my 2004 visit to the island, but the house was nothing but a concrete shell the last time I saw it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Qr6aK7TI/AAAAAAAABzo/wf9EU6xmYrA/s1600-h/hrusos-beach-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Qr6aK7TI/AAAAAAAABzo/wf9EU6xmYrA/s320/hrusos-beach-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237423238254619954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hrussos in 2004</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ULW17AQI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/20wDpNmD02I/s1600-h/IMG_0158-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ULW17AQI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/20wDpNmD02I/s320/IMG_0158-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427076998037762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The same view in 2008</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8QsNqsAeI/AAAAAAAABz4/Qg0W3z9XCR0/s1600-h/IMG_0020-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8QsNqsAeI/AAAAAAAABz4/Qg0W3z9XCR0/s320/IMG_0020-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237423243424170466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">From our house</span><br /></div><br />When we arrived we had seven days before the wedding to get everything organised and ready to go. There had been a lot of planning done, but this was the crunch and we had a lot of work. I still got to spend a few hours a day sunning myself on the beach, but we spent a lot of time driving around doing things like organising food, decorations, cakes etc...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8QsYTRJ3I/AAAAAAAAB0A/NoOp0IZx9uc/s1600-h/IMG_0076-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8QsYTRJ3I/AAAAAAAAB0A/NoOp0IZx9uc/s320/IMG_0076-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237423246278731634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Molyvos, Lesvos, Greece</span><br /></div><br />We went out to Eressos a couple of times and visited Molyvos for a night, but most of our time was spent on Hrussos, one of the last little known beaches on the island.<br /><br />Finally the day of the wedding came and it seemed like we'd never get everything done, but we did.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ULle41wI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/BUyu596lt44/s1600-h/IMG_0168-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ULle41wI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/BUyu596lt44/s320/IMG_0168-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427080927958786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The venue</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UL-PfLUI/AAAAAAAAB0g/vfMI2rcR9vs/s1600-h/IMG_0170-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UL-PfLUI/AAAAAAAAB0g/vfMI2rcR9vs/s320/IMG_0170-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427087574248770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Pretty table</span><br /></div><br />The ceremony was at Panos' uncle's house in Pothara, a few beaches over from Hrussos. The house sits on a cliff overlooking the beach and the sea. They've got it set up perfectly for events like this one as there is a large covered structure outside and a big open area for dancing and drinking. Too bad the pool was still being built! The house itself has six self-contained flats which worked out well for people to stay over. Though there were only a few that had that privilege (myself included).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Uij6h2MI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/10TcmELqzPE/s1600-h/IMG_0385-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Uij6h2MI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/10TcmELqzPE/s320/IMG_0385-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427475644012738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Milling about before the ceremony.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UMRTLmjI/AAAAAAAAB0w/ViVHyX2m4uE/s1600-h/IMG_0329-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UMRTLmjI/AAAAAAAAB0w/ViVHyX2m4uE/s320/IMG_0329-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427092690016818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The happy couple with his parents and the best guys and gals</span><br /></div><br />The actual ceremony was on the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea, was short and sweet and all in Greek. Ranya looked beautiful - just like a blushing bride should!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UhzmaROI/AAAAAAAAB04/iDesfx57J3g/s1600-h/IMG_0338-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UhzmaROI/AAAAAAAAB04/iDesfx57J3g/s320/IMG_0338-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427462674728162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The vows</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UiMTH_mI/AAAAAAAAB1A/BuNpxIZsiPw/s1600-h/IMG_0342-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UiMTH_mI/AAAAAAAAB1A/BuNpxIZsiPw/s320/IMG_0342-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427469304725090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The kiss</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UiXwUvZI/AAAAAAAAB1I/B8aSxeCuFm4/s1600-h/IMG_0347-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8UiXwUvZI/AAAAAAAAB1I/B8aSxeCuFm4/s320/IMG_0347-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237427472379985298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Signing papers makes it official.</span><br /></div><br />After the official stuff was over with the party started and dinner was served - lamb, chicken, salads, bread, wine, veggies... and of course, cake, which was amazing!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZCgXbIoI/AAAAAAAAB1g/gFC1LVQjCD0/s1600-h/IMG_0451-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZCgXbIoI/AAAAAAAAB1g/gFC1LVQjCD0/s320/IMG_0451-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237432422493790850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The cake</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDP_ItAI/AAAAAAAAB1o/2eRi8k14kL4/s1600-h/IMG_0466-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDP_ItAI/AAAAAAAAB1o/2eRi8k14kL4/s320/IMG_0466-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237432435276821506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The champagne glasses tied together</span><br /></div><br />After dinner the DJ started pumping out the tunes, the bar opened and the rest, as they say, is history! and rather blurry for me... good thing I took pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDdhjrtI/AAAAAAAAB1w/2I4RrK5cagY/s1600-h/IMG_0513-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDdhjrtI/AAAAAAAAB1w/2I4RrK5cagY/s320/IMG_0513-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237432438910856914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The first dance</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDiFpPeI/AAAAAAAAB14/cwwyrFEeRTc/s1600-h/IMG_0562-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDiFpPeI/AAAAAAAAB14/cwwyrFEeRTc/s320/IMG_0562-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237432440135957986" border="0" /></a>The Greek dancing (only a few songs)</span><br /></div><br />The day after the wedding was spent nursing hangovers and cleaning the house from the party - which took literally more than a day. I have never seen so many dishes in my life!<br /><br />After the cleaning we were able to relax and enjoy the beach and the house in Hrussos for another few days before I headed back to the land of tupperware. My tan is/wasn't nearly as nice as the one I got in Thailand but I didn't havea base coat to start with and not nearly as much time in the sun... but it's nice to be browner than the Brits!<br /><br />And here are some of my better random photos...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDtuGiKI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DRbdgPjYVa0/s1600-h/IMG_0748-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ZDtuGiKI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DRbdgPjYVa0/s320/IMG_0748-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237432443258439842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">At the beach</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2FFPl4I/AAAAAAAAB2I/ogwqYiDnW3E/s1600-h/IMG_0758-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2FFPl4I/AAAAAAAAB2I/ogwqYiDnW3E/s320/IMG_0758-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237433308522977154" border="0" /></a>Fresh grapes</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2bumxYI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/5UJlRgPwJk4/s1600-h/IMG_0776-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2bumxYI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/5UJlRgPwJk4/s320/IMG_0776-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237433314602042754" border="0" /></a>The best mojito in Eressos</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2s1w6ZI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/hySqLbtwVag/s1600-h/IMG_0802-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2s1w6ZI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/hySqLbtwVag/s320/IMG_0802-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237433319195470226" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dolphins?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z29_9nTI/AAAAAAAAB2g/9ZE5PPkzyto/s1600-h/IMG_0856-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z29_9nTI/AAAAAAAAB2g/9ZE5PPkzyto/s320/IMG_0856-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237433323801648434" border="0" /></a>Walking barefoot</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2xS7q4I/AAAAAAAAB2o/QBQ5WkQk4ng/s1600-h/IMG_0964-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8Z2xS7q4I/AAAAAAAAB2o/QBQ5WkQk4ng/s320/IMG_0964-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237433320391551874" border="0" /></a>lovers</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8akR5ckBI/AAAAAAAAB2w/3QsU6xL3XAk/s1600-h/IMG_0973-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8akR5ckBI/AAAAAAAAB2w/3QsU6xL3XAk/s320/IMG_0973-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237434102237138962" border="0" /></a>Perfect timing?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8aktJyJpI/AAAAAAAAB24/F-yM1-s-E-E/s1600-h/IMG_0990-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8aktJyJpI/AAAAAAAAB24/F-yM1-s-E-E/s320/IMG_0990-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237434109553419922" border="0" /></a>Worshiping the moon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8akhQbAdI/AAAAAAAAB3A/o9TRqmZhn2U/s1600-h/IMG_1008-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8akhQbAdI/AAAAAAAAB3A/o9TRqmZhn2U/s320/IMG_1008-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237434106360037842" border="0" /></a>service?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ak1i1G7I/AAAAAAAAB3I/EFop9rrDMEc/s1600-h/IMG_1020-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8ak1i1G7I/AAAAAAAAB3I/EFop9rrDMEc/s320/IMG_1020-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237434111805954994" border="0" /></a>Fresh octopus </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8alDh2SuI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/m1AZY5ffies/s1600-h/IMG_1082-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SK8alDh2SuI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/m1AZY5ffies/s320/IMG_1082-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237434115559934690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Last view of Molyvos for a while</span><br /></div><br />I love Greece. Every time I leave I cry. I have post-Greece-come-down for ages. I always wish I had stayed longer and this time was no exception. At least I have a place to go whenever I want to now, which is bound to be every summer for the rest of my life! Unless I find myself a nice Greek husband and can just go live there all the time! Maybe it should be my next destination?!?! hmmm...<br /><br />Upon coming home I finally moved into my new flat - pictures to come - which I love and is beautiful and clean with three very nice flatmates. Unfortunately four days after moving in my back went into spasm and I have been stoned on diazapam (muscle relaxants) for the last four days. This also means I haven't been to work.<br /><br />Tomorrow is my birthday and Kat is stopping by in London on her way back to Korea for a third contract. I'm finally starting to feel a better... hopefully it lasts and I don't make it worse again.<br /><br />In other news, I will finally be in Canada on September 19th as I have my appointment at the British High Commission on the 22nd. I'll be doing something big in Montreal on the 27th... so if you haven't been invited on the facebook event, let me know!!<br /><br />Hope that's enough for now! More posting about the adventures of Liz and Kat once she's safely on her way back the big K!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-90082406486246241052008-07-30T13:19:00.002-04:002008-07-30T13:33:59.960-04:00knees are important.<div style="text-align: justify;">I've been to hospital in three countries on three continents. Not something to be really proud about... but I'm what they call a "klutz".<br /><br />Last Friday I went out to do an interview for work. Upon my return to the office I decided to take the stairs despite the 25 kilos of gear I was carrying. I always take the stairs and it's only one level...<br /><br />On the first step I took, I slipped and fell forward. My knee cap cracked directly into the edge of the step. It hurt like a bitch. Being the strong person I am, I got up, thinking that not much more than my pride would be hurt, and besides, there were no witnesses. But it really hurt. I got up to my desk and sat down, almost in tears and my boss looked at me and asked if I was ok. "No," I replied, "I just broke my knee!!!"<br /><br />After sitting for a half hour and being busy with work, I forgot about it, and it didn't really hurt much anymore so chalked it up to another "stupid Liz moment". I went out Friday night, Saturday I packed up for my flat move, Saturday night I went to a house party (where I was standing most of the night) and Sunday I finished packing... I didn't go the gym all weekend, but not because my knee hurt, but because I was being lazy, but it's a good thing I didn't.<br /><br />I woke up Sunday night/Monday morning at around 4AM and couldn't get back to sleep because of the excruciating pain I was in. I couldn't move my leg, well, my knee. I don't think I've ever felt pain like that in my life, well, maybe when I herniated the disc in my back... (but that's pretty serious...) I thought it was really strange that it hadn't really hurt all weekend and then all of a sudden it was a 15 on 10.<br /><br />I went to the hobble-in clinic in the morning and the doctor told me I should get x-rays, so I went Monday afternoon (there was work to be done in between). I got the x-rays and was told that (thankfully) nothing was broken and that I'd probably just bruised my knee cap. He told me that I probably should have been resting it over the weekend and that's why it started hurting all of a sudden...<br /><br />This, in the week I'm moving and going on holiday to the cobblestone capital of the world! It's feeling a little better today but I'm still walking like a gimp and have to carry my ruck sack to work and then the airport tomorrow... I moved yesterday with the help of my lovely L, well, half moved, as it's all gone to her house. I'll be moving to my new flat when I get home from Greece on the 13th.<br /><br />More than anything now, my calf and thigh muscles along with my hips are killing because of the gimpy way I've been walking. Whatevs, I'm off to Greece tomorrow, and nothing, not even a broken knee would have stopped me!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-4544330871284795292008-07-27T13:01:00.005-04:002008-07-27T13:28:02.128-04:00ghostsI was a tourist for an evening this week. We have a sort of social group at work, where everyone pays £2 a month and you get discounts on massages, gyms, and free Christmas and summer parties. The summer party was last week, and this week they had organised a London Walk for whoever wanted to come. We only paid £4 instead of £7... the monthly payment has already paid for itself...<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Anyway, on Thursday after work a bunch of us headed down to Embankment tube station to meet out guide, Russell, who would be taking us on the '<a href="http://www.walks.com/Homepage/Thursday/default.aspx#12882">Apparitions, Alleyways and Ale</a>' ghost walk.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyttQ3VseI/AAAAAAAAByo/ELe4x18bFnI/s1600-h/IMG_0208-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyttQ3VseI/AAAAAAAAByo/ELe4x18bFnI/s320/IMG_0208-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744260603097570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The work group...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIytwRUbMSI/AAAAAAAABzI/9E2IXkLz7sc/s1600-h/IMG_0234-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIytwRUbMSI/AAAAAAAABzI/9E2IXkLz7sc/s320/IMG_0234-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744312264700194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Russell, our 'scary' guide</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyttk1v7vI/AAAAAAAAByw/u3cNgWntXu0/s1600-h/IMG_0216-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyttk1v7vI/AAAAAAAAByw/u3cNgWntXu0/s320/IMG_0216-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744265965137650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The first stop, home of Samuel Pepys who haunts the office workers in this building.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIytuBptseI/AAAAAAAABy4/GuoNQchmTV4/s1600-h/IMG_0217-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIytuBptseI/AAAAAAAABy4/GuoNQchmTV4/s320/IMG_0217-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744273699287522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The sign on the building.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIytvhX0WTI/AAAAAAAABzA/r1byKM43f7M/s1600-h/IMG_0228-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIytvhX0WTI/AAAAAAAABzA/r1byKM43f7M/s320/IMG_0228-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744299394029874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">One of the thousands of gas (yes they still use GAS) lamps that light the alleyways in the West End.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyupkK7pQI/AAAAAAAABzQ/5qPcF0mnxr4/s1600-h/IMG_0235-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyupkK7pQI/AAAAAAAABzQ/5qPcF0mnxr4/s320/IMG_0235-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227745296577701122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The sign outside the Adelphi Theatre where William Terriss was murdered. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyupyW77DI/AAAAAAAABzY/hlNZeLAfvlw/s1600-h/IMG_0244-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyupyW77DI/AAAAAAAABzY/hlNZeLAfvlw/s320/IMG_0244-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227745300386147378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The ALE part of the walk. Tom Cribb still lives in his pub... apparently pulling pints for himself in the middle of the night...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyuqcfVt-I/AAAAAAAABzg/yRoLfwNFpJI/s1600-h/IMG_0251-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SIyuqcfVt-I/AAAAAAAABzg/yRoLfwNFpJI/s320/IMG_0251-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227745311695681506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The gravestone of a dog whose ghost supposedly caused hundreds of car crashes by running in the street.</span><br /></div><br /><br />It was an interesting fact learning evening walking around the West End theater district. It wasn't too scary, but he did make a disclaimer at the beginning that it would be up to us what we got out of it. I think it would be a better tour later in the year when it's actually dark at 7:30 PM... It only got dark at the very end when we got to St James's Park.<br /><br />Anyway, I learned a lot about the area and had a nice long walk, so it was £4 well spent. I would recommend these walks anywhere for a fun evening out... I did one in Edinburgh a few years ago that was amazing... next on my list is the 'Jack the Ripper' walk...<br /><br />***<br /><br />In other news, I am moving out of this pit that has been home for the last 7 months, on Wednesday. Thursday I am flying to Greece for R's wedding... SO I won't be posting for a few weeks... but promise a BIG FAT GREEK UPDATE when I get home... that's be somewhere around the 15th of August.<br /><br />Also, for those of you who don't know (and still read this) I'll be home for a week or two in September... I have to present myself at the British High Commission in Ottawa on the 15th... so keep the weekend of the 19th free for me!!!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-3903232334549348342008-07-21T16:28:00.002-04:002008-07-21T16:34:58.437-04:00flat hunting.<div style="text-align: justify;">I've had enough of this house. I need to move. I've been looking at rooms for the last four days. Hence not posting yesterday out of utter exhaustion. I still haven't found the perfect place, but have seen some decent flats.<br /><br />Most of the nice ones are a lot more expensive and at the upper levels of my budget, but might be worth the extra money.<br /><br />A few of the places felt like going back in time 150 years.<br /><br />One of them had a loo that was covered wall to wall, ceiling to floor in pictures of Jesus. Another had showers in each of the rooms and wallpaper reminiscent of a time when Victoria was in power.<br /><br />A couple had promise, but the flat mates would be ten years younger than me and I don't need to play mommy to anyone.<br /><br />Finding a flat in London is tiring and difficult. That's all I can say right now. Hopefully I'll find something soon... More on all of this to come, right now I'm catching up on my Sunday post. Apologies if you came looking and found nothing...<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-72627749701106985042008-07-13T13:58:00.002-04:002008-07-13T14:10:10.328-04:00boo-ya!<div style="text-align: justify;">I have always hated runners. You know, people who run, for fun. You see them on the street, all happy and running. There used to be a Running Room (retail store for runners) down the street from my house and they had a running club that you'd see going down the street with all their gear - special water bottles, the best shoes, and 'running room' t-shirts, ugh.<br /><br />When I was in high school I would do anything to get out of gym class, ANYTHING. Especially if running was on the menu for that day. We had this giant field with four football fields and a track at one end, it was huge... to me anyway. Once a year we'd have a "fun run" where the whole school would turn out and run around it loads of time. I still don't know if it was to raise money or just for fun, but I hated it.<br /><br />I think it's always been jealousy of those people that can run. They always looked so healthy and fresh; like they were really having a good time. A couple of months ago I decided (at the gym, which I go to five times a week) to give it a go. I started slowly; a couple of minutes running, a couple walking, a couple running... The first time I ran ten minutes straight I couldn't believe it. Today I ran for TWENTY FIVE minutes!!! without stopping, without losing my breath, without getting a cramp in my side, without any pain anywhere. And when I got off the treadmill I felt higher than a kite!<br /><br />I'm really proud of myself this week. I've turned my life around in the last five years. I've made a real effort to be a different, better person, and I can see the results of much of that now. I've lost over 50 pounds in the last four years and I don't hate the runners anymore... I just want to be like them! I've pulled myself out of a life ordinary and made it something more.<br /><br />I just wanted to let you all know that I am really happy and proud to be where I am today and I wish you could all be here with me to celebrate.<br /><br />**<br />In other news: I have applied for my Ancestry visa - the one that will allow me to stay in the UK for five years. I have an appointment at the British High Commission in Ottawa on September 15th... so keep your calendar clear, cause I'll be around!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24624984.post-51231528439571412912008-07-06T10:57:00.006-04:002008-07-06T11:15:50.848-04:00Reverse psychology<div style="text-align: justify;">I didn't have any plans on Saturday, which was somewhat of a relief after the week I've had. I went out three out of four nights in a row and didn't get more than five or six hours of sleep a night, so having a night off to catch up was nice. I figured I'd putter around the house and get some chores done, then hunker down with a movie and a bottle of wine...<br /><br />But I got bored by 2 PM and decided to wander down to Soho and check out the Pride events. I haven't been to Pride in years, but there was a time when I went every year, mostly because so many of my friends back home are gay, but also because the atmosphere at Pride is always so welcoming and happy. I knew a couple of people who would be down that way and thought I might meet up with them. I wandered around for about an hour just taking in the festive feeling and snapping photos of the characters that were celebrating. Here's a sample of the best that I got.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDesdnW4ZI/AAAAAAAABxE/mm-PLAwjW_0/s1600-h/IMG_0004-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDesdnW4ZI/AAAAAAAABxE/mm-PLAwjW_0/s320/IMG_0004-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219916823567720850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDeswseOsI/AAAAAAAABxM/lhq_axZtTiE/s1600-h/IMG_0008-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDeswseOsI/AAAAAAAABxM/lhq_axZtTiE/s320/IMG_0008-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219916828689447618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDetgFveKI/AAAAAAAABxc/22e1r_RecrQ/s1600-h/IMG_0013-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDetgFveKI/AAAAAAAABxc/22e1r_RecrQ/s320/IMG_0013-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219916841411901602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDetAGUBdI/AAAAAAAABxU/u3q4s922aNY/s1600-h/IMG_0009-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDetAGUBdI/AAAAAAAABxU/u3q4s922aNY/s320/IMG_0009-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219916832824362450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDet2SqeRI/AAAAAAAABxk/BavZS6wzRRQ/s1600-h/IMG_0023-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDet2SqeRI/AAAAAAAABxk/BavZS6wzRRQ/s320/IMG_0023-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219916847371680018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfQ_jx5SI/AAAAAAAABxs/fFoeE_WsjjI/s1600-h/IMG_0024-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfQ_jx5SI/AAAAAAAABxs/fFoeE_WsjjI/s320/IMG_0024-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219917451154810146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfRGKzh2I/AAAAAAAABx0/S5djksXIpgo/s1600-h/IMG_0029-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfRGKzh2I/AAAAAAAABx0/S5djksXIpgo/s320/IMG_0029-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219917452929107810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfReCE7rI/AAAAAAAABx8/queTHhK4W8w/s1600-h/IMG_0034-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfReCE7rI/AAAAAAAABx8/queTHhK4W8w/s320/IMG_0034-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219917459334950578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfRo5nktI/AAAAAAAAByE/lnlDffh9WBw/s1600-h/IMG_0037-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_h5eUfdQ0ICY/SHDfRo5nktI/AAAAAAAAByE/lnlDffh9WBw/s320/IMG_0037-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219917462252262098" border="0" /></a><br />It was nice to feel the vibe, but I didn't end up sticking around. I was so tired that I wouldn't have made it much longer. Instead I headed to the Korean shop that was not too far away and loaded up on some deok bokki and other Korean delights like kimchi. Then I came home and had a mini Korean feast! It was good. I watched Sex and the City: the movie and hit the hay at a reasonable hour - for the first time all week!<br /><br />It's been a hectic week for me, and this, after I told myself I would be good and go home every night and go to the gym and generally be healthy - I only have 25 days before I'm virtually living in a bikini for two weeks - but it seems like by telling myself to be healthy, I played a little reverse psychology on myself. So, this week I'm telling myself that I'm going out every night and not going to the gym at all and I'll eat pizza for dinner every night!<br /><br />(If you haven't already, scroll down and watch the two videos I've posted... good stuff, especially the Happy Day one!)<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1