running, running, running

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.

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 Podrunner by DJ Beatsmith.

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.

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.

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!

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 Race for Life. So, watch this space for more on that and my odyssey of learning how to run.

the noughties

Dig 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...

2000
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.

2001
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:

I visited Lisa - god we look so young here, but neither of us has even really changed that much!

we went to Brighton,

and Aberdeen to visit the square (that I'm standing in) where my Great great great grandfather was born.

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.

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.

2002
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 -

2003
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.

In February, I traveled - this time on my first real holiday - to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. .

I went with Ranya on a last minute deal to a resort near Sosua in the north of the island

It was heaven, and some much needed sun in February.

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!

In May, I got my lip pierced

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.

2004
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:

Eresos, Blue Lock

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!

Eftalou, Swirly Gate

From inside Molyvos Castle

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.

2005

In February, I returned to the DR with Cherry, Trisha, and Maria.

On our day trip to Saona Island

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.

2006

In March, I started this blog.

In June I graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts Specialization Journalism with distinction.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.

I also got my drivers license.

On August 21 I arrived in Seoul, South Korea to start my year teaching (which you can read all about on the this blog).

2007
My year in Korea. Read all about it elsewhere as I just can't get into it all here...

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.

In August, I met Ranya in Thailand for the holiday of a life time.

at the end of our lovely Thai holiday

we pet the tigers at the tiger temple

we watched the tide come in and go out on Ko Tao

I drank from a bucket for my birthday

We rode elephants on Ko Samui

We played in the temples

And enjoyed all the sights, sounds and tastes of the Land of Smiles... read all about it here.

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...

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.

2008
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!)

Me filming Tony Blair (technically 2009, but still...)

In March I discovered I am a natural at skiing when I went on holiday in Switzerland.

On the border between France (behind me) and Switzerland

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.

Molyvos, Levos, Greece

the happy couple

worshipping the moon

and the sea

In October I met my love on a drunken night out with work friends... Life hasn't been the same since...

One of our first pictures together

For 2009 please see below!

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.

2009 photo-retro

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...

Snow... there was lots of snow this year - starting in January, loads of it in February and then again in December...

February saw flowers arrive at the office for me! First time I've ever had that happen!

February also saw my first professional football match - Liverpool vs Real Madrid - in Madrid, Spain.

While there I managed to take in some of the sights... including this art exhibit in the 'crystal palace'.

...and the cow parade that was all over the city...

In March I went on holiday with my love, Tom, to Edinburgh... this is on the way up to Arthur's Seat.

A view of the city with the castle in the distance...

Tom and I at Edinburgh Castle

Tom and I on the Royal Yacht Britannia

In May I happened upon a fun fair in Hampstead Heath with a few friends after we went there for a picnic

In June I went on a weekend away with my love to Brighton - went to the pier and rode the rides...

We also went on an afternoon fishing trip where a nice man took this fab photo of us!

In August we went to Thorpe Park where we rode the (better than Brighton) rides

We had an amazing day!

In August I celebrated yet another birthday with great friends!

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 post for more on that...

And finally I celebrated Christmas afternoon with my love and his family in North London.

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!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

'tis the season

Time for an update! I know I promised to write more, and this is me trying!

The past few weeks have been pretty stressful for numerous reasons, the least of which, Christmas is coming.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I wouldn't be who or where I am without her influence in my life... May she rest in peace.

Winifred Jane Mavor (Briggs) January 7, 1910-December 4, 2009

I feel like I should start a new post for the rest... but here it is...

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.

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.

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 need 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.

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!)

Happy Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza...etc... to you all and a very Merry New Year!