Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
My Last Night in London
I am laying in bed in the wonderful bed and breakfast in central London that I'm staying at. It's 11pm and we just lost an hour today because the british had their daylight savings. There are cars that occasionally drive by outside my 3rd storey window, making that whooshing noise that only cars on a wet road can make.
Weather was lovely today but it began to rain come evening. Perhaps London knows that it's my final night here and that I'll be leaving for home in the morning. Today we visited Camden and the horse stables market. It was so cool that I can't wait to get back here to go there again. It was punks and tourists and hippies and foodies and everyone in between.
This was a fantastic trip, an important trip, and mostly a memorable trip. Can't wait to get home and share photos with u all so I can relive these memories all over again! See you soon!!
Weather was lovely today but it began to rain come evening. Perhaps London knows that it's my final night here and that I'll be leaving for home in the morning. Today we visited Camden and the horse stables market. It was so cool that I can't wait to get back here to go there again. It was punks and tourists and hippies and foodies and everyone in between.
This was a fantastic trip, an important trip, and mostly a memorable trip. Can't wait to get home and share photos with u all so I can relive these memories all over again! See you soon!!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Clubbing in London
I haven't gone out to bars in a long time especially since there's only a selection of 5 in Vancouver. But in London? Wow. There seems to be literally a hundred!!! I don't remember which ones we hit up last night as I am completely hung over this morning. I know we started at Ku - the one in Chinatown not the one on Compton street. Yes they have two locations of the same bar! That's how insane it is!
We ended up at the Friendly Society which was just about my favourite place on earth last night. Not only does it have a brilliant name, but when u step inside this intimate bar , you'll notice Barbie dolls stapled to the ceiling and vintage handbags hanging behind the bartenders! The crowd was a mix of young and old, male and female. And then there was the music. How about shimmying to chicago's All That Jazz? Follow that with some Girls Just Wanna Have fun, The Cure's Friday Im in Love, Wonderwall from Oasis, an Abba assortment, The Sound of Music's Do Re Mi, and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance x 2! Absolutely amazing. Best moment of the night was belting out Wonderwall along with the entire room.
We ended up at the Friendly Society which was just about my favourite place on earth last night. Not only does it have a brilliant name, but when u step inside this intimate bar , you'll notice Barbie dolls stapled to the ceiling and vintage handbags hanging behind the bartenders! The crowd was a mix of young and old, male and female. And then there was the music. How about shimmying to chicago's All That Jazz? Follow that with some Girls Just Wanna Have fun, The Cure's Friday Im in Love, Wonderwall from Oasis, an Abba assortment, The Sound of Music's Do Re Mi, and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance x 2! Absolutely amazing. Best moment of the night was belting out Wonderwall along with the entire room.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
London!!!!
I am now in London!!!! It's pissing rain and I am gonna go watch Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical!!! Can't wait!!!!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Things old Asian people say
When did you start wearing a WIG?
This is so-and-so. He's dead now. This is his sister. She's dead too. That's her husband. He is not dead.
Eat! Eat!!
This is my son - look how FAT he is now. That Is his wife. Yes she used to be pretty. Now she's FAT. And look at their daughter, waaah SO FAT!!!
Are you married? Why not? Do you have a girlfriend? Why not? You should get a girlfriend. You should get married.
This is my daughter. She's a doctor. That's her husband. He's a doctor. They make 100,000 pounds a year. She's 38. No kids.
That's so and so. He's not married.
This is where all the rich people live. All the Jewish people
He's not young! Look at him! He has wrinkles and is losing his hair!
This is so-and-so. He's dead now. This is his sister. She's dead too. That's her husband. He is not dead.
Eat! Eat!!
This is my son - look how FAT he is now. That Is his wife. Yes she used to be pretty. Now she's FAT. And look at their daughter, waaah SO FAT!!!
Are you married? Why not? Do you have a girlfriend? Why not? You should get a girlfriend. You should get married.
This is my daughter. She's a doctor. That's her husband. He's a doctor. They make 100,000 pounds a year. She's 38. No kids.
That's so and so. He's not married.
This is where all the rich people live. All the Jewish people
He's not young! Look at him! He has wrinkles and is losing his hair!
Live from Liverpool
Live from Liverpool
Help! I'm living with a sociopath! Well at least he seems so. Today we arrived in Liverpool where we met up with uncle Jimmy and his wife. My mom introduced the two of them to one another years ago. Jimmy is not really my uncle, I just call him that. He is from the same village as my dad and knew him way back when. He pulled out some old photos of his wedding and there was my dad as his best man.
Anyhow, they have a 40+ year old spinster son living here (welcome to my future) and I was excited that he might have Internet access. Sadly he's turning out to be a bit of an unfriendly ass. So, not sure if I'm gonna get access or not here. So if u see this posted either he's lightened up or I found a starbucks somewhere w free wifi. Or it's Thursday and I'm back in london.
----
Ok sociopath has returned and he's not as mean as first impressions made him out to be. Chatted with him and had a nice convo. Unfortunately he has no wifi. WHAT KIND OF 40something SPINSTER DOESNT HAVE WIFI?!
I know that when *I* am a 40something spinster, you can bet your sweet ass I'm gonna have friggin WIFI!! oyyyy!!!!
So uncle Jimmys wife has no hair. I'm not just talking about her wearing a wig. I'm talking about the painted on eyebrows and lack of eyelashes. That's Liverpool chinese realness.
Help! I'm living with a sociopath! Well at least he seems so. Today we arrived in Liverpool where we met up with uncle Jimmy and his wife. My mom introduced the two of them to one another years ago. Jimmy is not really my uncle, I just call him that. He is from the same village as my dad and knew him way back when. He pulled out some old photos of his wedding and there was my dad as his best man.
Anyhow, they have a 40+ year old spinster son living here (welcome to my future) and I was excited that he might have Internet access. Sadly he's turning out to be a bit of an unfriendly ass. So, not sure if I'm gonna get access or not here. So if u see this posted either he's lightened up or I found a starbucks somewhere w free wifi. Or it's Thursday and I'm back in london.
----
Ok sociopath has returned and he's not as mean as first impressions made him out to be. Chatted with him and had a nice convo. Unfortunately he has no wifi. WHAT KIND OF 40something SPINSTER DOESNT HAVE WIFI?!
I know that when *I* am a 40something spinster, you can bet your sweet ass I'm gonna have friggin WIFI!! oyyyy!!!!
So uncle Jimmys wife has no hair. I'm not just talking about her wearing a wig. I'm talking about the painted on eyebrows and lack of eyelashes. That's Liverpool chinese realness.
Going down to Liverpool
Going down to Liverpool
I don't think I can drive here if I tried. Never mind it being on the other side of the road or the drivers seat being reversed, I can't deal with the passing of cars by going into the opposite lane against oncoming traffic let alone parking any which way you want or all those roundabouts!
Left pudsey this morning where we've been staying the past two nights. Pudsey is just next door to Bradford so we stayed a night in bradford at our old fish and chip shop - I slept in my sisters old room in the attic. She had left for Canada when I was still a baby so I don't remember her there at all.
I do remember the window that overlooked the front door where all the customers came in through. If I'm repeating myself it's cause I'm blogging on my notepad on my iPhone and uploading when I get a chance.
I also vaguely remember a teenage boy who worked for my parents peeling potatoes and shelling the shrimp. I recall hanging out with him down in the cellar in his rubber apron and wellingtons. His name was Brian and my mom said I used to stick to him like glue. My first crush perhaps?
So I didn't get a chance to walk around Bradford. Not sure if I'd want to either. It does feel gritty and rough. It's strange to see a town in britain that is probably the least English I've seen. It's like little India exploded all over it. Gone are the cute shops and bakeries and in their place are Sikh temples, sari stores, and halaal restaurants. Add in an onslaught of eastern European immigrants and the locals have up and left driving down property values and the general aesthetics of the neighbourhood. I don't know if there's a correlation between the immigrants and the downhill spiral that the city has taken but what was once a thriving industrial working town now has streets riddled with garbage and graffiti and abandoned buildings
At the fish n chip shop, my mother made an inquiry about some old friends. Turns out they were in pudsey and came to rescue us on Saturday. Only 10 minutes away, pudsey is drastically different from bradford. It's dotted with fish n chip shops just about on every corner. I've definitely had my fill of fish chips and curry, which I guess Yorkshire is known for. My mom can make all this stuff and more including mushed peas and fish cakes. I'm definitely making her teach me when we get back home to Vancouver !
Yesterday we spent the day in harrogate where my parents had a laundry before the fish n chip shop. The building was still there and brought back some tough memories for my mother since that's where my second brother was born and suffered brain damage
We also visited the school where my other brother and my sister attended. Harrogate is a lovely town Its quaint but chic and historical. Bettys is a tea/ dessert place that had a huge queue out the door.
The friends that we stayed with in pudsey - mr and mrs ho - have not seen or talked with my mom in 30 year ever since we left. Phone numbers got lost, people shifted addresses and so it's a wonder that they connected. Mr Ho knew my dad before he married my mom. The two of them were dish washers in a Chinese restaurant in harrogate in the 50s. That simply blows my mind. The two lost touch but reconnected one day when my dad ran into him on the streets of Bradford The wives were introduced and thus began a friendship that would include long late night telephone conversations, one anothers kids playing together, and a reunion 30 years in the making
Two of the four kids came to see us while we stayed at their parents place. Kiu and Kevin both asked me about my brother and sister and gave me their email addresses to pass along. They all grew up together here in Bradford and there are even old photos of them together. It's amazing to go through these strangers old photo albums and see pictures of my sister brother mom and dad popping up every so often.
Today my mom gave a heavy hearted hug to mrs ho before we got on the coach bus to Liverpool. Mrs ho may be 79 years old but she's as feisty as a firecracker and I bet her nightly shot of brandy has something to do with it! So I'm sure we'll be seeing her again soon.
I don't think I can drive here if I tried. Never mind it being on the other side of the road or the drivers seat being reversed, I can't deal with the passing of cars by going into the opposite lane against oncoming traffic let alone parking any which way you want or all those roundabouts!
Left pudsey this morning where we've been staying the past two nights. Pudsey is just next door to Bradford so we stayed a night in bradford at our old fish and chip shop - I slept in my sisters old room in the attic. She had left for Canada when I was still a baby so I don't remember her there at all.
I do remember the window that overlooked the front door where all the customers came in through. If I'm repeating myself it's cause I'm blogging on my notepad on my iPhone and uploading when I get a chance.
I also vaguely remember a teenage boy who worked for my parents peeling potatoes and shelling the shrimp. I recall hanging out with him down in the cellar in his rubber apron and wellingtons. His name was Brian and my mom said I used to stick to him like glue. My first crush perhaps?
So I didn't get a chance to walk around Bradford. Not sure if I'd want to either. It does feel gritty and rough. It's strange to see a town in britain that is probably the least English I've seen. It's like little India exploded all over it. Gone are the cute shops and bakeries and in their place are Sikh temples, sari stores, and halaal restaurants. Add in an onslaught of eastern European immigrants and the locals have up and left driving down property values and the general aesthetics of the neighbourhood. I don't know if there's a correlation between the immigrants and the downhill spiral that the city has taken but what was once a thriving industrial working town now has streets riddled with garbage and graffiti and abandoned buildings
At the fish n chip shop, my mother made an inquiry about some old friends. Turns out they were in pudsey and came to rescue us on Saturday. Only 10 minutes away, pudsey is drastically different from bradford. It's dotted with fish n chip shops just about on every corner. I've definitely had my fill of fish chips and curry, which I guess Yorkshire is known for. My mom can make all this stuff and more including mushed peas and fish cakes. I'm definitely making her teach me when we get back home to Vancouver !
Yesterday we spent the day in harrogate where my parents had a laundry before the fish n chip shop. The building was still there and brought back some tough memories for my mother since that's where my second brother was born and suffered brain damage
We also visited the school where my other brother and my sister attended. Harrogate is a lovely town Its quaint but chic and historical. Bettys is a tea/ dessert place that had a huge queue out the door.
The friends that we stayed with in pudsey - mr and mrs ho - have not seen or talked with my mom in 30 year ever since we left. Phone numbers got lost, people shifted addresses and so it's a wonder that they connected. Mr Ho knew my dad before he married my mom. The two of them were dish washers in a Chinese restaurant in harrogate in the 50s. That simply blows my mind. The two lost touch but reconnected one day when my dad ran into him on the streets of Bradford The wives were introduced and thus began a friendship that would include long late night telephone conversations, one anothers kids playing together, and a reunion 30 years in the making
Two of the four kids came to see us while we stayed at their parents place. Kiu and Kevin both asked me about my brother and sister and gave me their email addresses to pass along. They all grew up together here in Bradford and there are even old photos of them together. It's amazing to go through these strangers old photo albums and see pictures of my sister brother mom and dad popping up every so often.
Today my mom gave a heavy hearted hug to mrs ho before we got on the coach bus to Liverpool. Mrs ho may be 79 years old but she's as feisty as a firecracker and I bet her nightly shot of brandy has something to do with it! So I'm sure we'll be seeing her again soon.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Live From my Birthplace of Bradford!
Travelled by "coach" today on our way to Bradford Wound our way through cute little British towns like Birmingham and Sheffield and derby and meadowhall and chesterfield and Leeds.
Much nicer way to see the little towns and countryside even though the bus stinks like piss.
Happy go lucky. That's what my 4th aunt said when I asked her what my dad was like growing up.
Am now stationed in Bradford in the fish and chip shop that my parents once owned and in which I grew up in for 3 years of my life. There are remnants of it that I remember such as the window above the front door that i used to look down at all the customers from. Back then, the line up of people went out the door but things in the neighbourgood have changed dramatically so business has gone down. There's lots of frustration with all the eastern Europeans who have moved immigrated and turned the streets into a mess with their garbage and rowdiness. There were race riots a few years back between the Asians (pakistanis and east Indians) and the borderline racist British National Party.
On a lighter note, I got to try some authentic Yorkshire fish n chips as well as some northern curry. Turns out my mom knows how to make this curry but refrains from it because it's extremely fatty. My friend philip googled images of bradford and said it reminded him of the spicegirls' Stop video which I can see with all the grey brick houses and cobblestone streets. Bradford is also the birthplace of the Bronte sisters! Who knew?
It's interesting to hang out with the family who lives here ( the ones who bought the store from us!) and hear what my accent might have sounded like! It's northern so it's definitely got a rougher more guttural sound to it than the sing song affectation of londoners or the welsh drawal of my cousins in Cardiff.
I am sleeping in the attic of the house right now (the storefront is downstairs) and this room is where my brother and sister grew up.
It's been an amazing trip so far with meeting family and visiting old stomping grounds from my early childhood. I have just over a week left before heading back home but before that I have Liverpool, Harrogate, maybe Bath and Stonehenge, and of course London to look forward to!
Much nicer way to see the little towns and countryside even though the bus stinks like piss.
Happy go lucky. That's what my 4th aunt said when I asked her what my dad was like growing up.
Am now stationed in Bradford in the fish and chip shop that my parents once owned and in which I grew up in for 3 years of my life. There are remnants of it that I remember such as the window above the front door that i used to look down at all the customers from. Back then, the line up of people went out the door but things in the neighbourgood have changed dramatically so business has gone down. There's lots of frustration with all the eastern Europeans who have moved immigrated and turned the streets into a mess with their garbage and rowdiness. There were race riots a few years back between the Asians (pakistanis and east Indians) and the borderline racist British National Party.
On a lighter note, I got to try some authentic Yorkshire fish n chips as well as some northern curry. Turns out my mom knows how to make this curry but refrains from it because it's extremely fatty. My friend philip googled images of bradford and said it reminded him of the spicegirls' Stop video which I can see with all the grey brick houses and cobblestone streets. Bradford is also the birthplace of the Bronte sisters! Who knew?
It's interesting to hang out with the family who lives here ( the ones who bought the store from us!) and hear what my accent might have sounded like! It's northern so it's definitely got a rougher more guttural sound to it than the sing song affectation of londoners or the welsh drawal of my cousins in Cardiff.
I am sleeping in the attic of the house right now (the storefront is downstairs) and this room is where my brother and sister grew up.
It's been an amazing trip so far with meeting family and visiting old stomping grounds from my early childhood. I have just over a week left before heading back home but before that I have Liverpool, Harrogate, maybe Bath and Stonehenge, and of course London to look forward to!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Tea time
Factoid #2. Tea time in Britain is ALL DAY. Have been eating non stop. On our way to Bradford today - my place of birth. May or may not have access when I'm there !
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Meet the Cousins
I am so exhausted. From the jet lag as well as from having to think and speak in French for the past few days. What a relief it is on the brain to get back to the UK and just speak English.
There was a moment in paris when I was walking about on my own and the bells of notre-dame were ringing to signify the time and I thought to myself, "well this is lovely isn't it? Maybe I could live here someday?"
I am currently laying in bed at my aunts house after my first real night of actual uninteruppted sleep! Yesterday was a bit of a blur.
I met three aunts (all of them are my dad's sisters) and the adjoining uncles. Then there were the gaggle of cousins.
I met Steph, Car (Caroline), Kev, Deb, and Rob, who is only a few weeks younger than me. Missing were May, Steve, Terry, Suze, and Andrew. I loved all the shortened one syllable versions of their names. Rob aka Robert told me it was just because they were all too lazy to say the full name.
They are all charming and polite and have cook British accents and use typical British slang words like "knackered" and "nicked" and "is it??"
With all these relatives I'd hope that at least one of them would be gay. The jury is still out on that as a lot of them are still single so maybe one of them plays on the same team as me? Either that or being single seems to run in the family.
Factoid # 2: they don't take their shoes off inside the house!! What kind of Asians are you?!
There was a moment in paris when I was walking about on my own and the bells of notre-dame were ringing to signify the time and I thought to myself, "well this is lovely isn't it? Maybe I could live here someday?"
I am currently laying in bed at my aunts house after my first real night of actual uninteruppted sleep! Yesterday was a bit of a blur.
I met three aunts (all of them are my dad's sisters) and the adjoining uncles. Then there were the gaggle of cousins.
I met Steph, Car (Caroline), Kev, Deb, and Rob, who is only a few weeks younger than me. Missing were May, Steve, Terry, Suze, and Andrew. I loved all the shortened one syllable versions of their names. Rob aka Robert told me it was just because they were all too lazy to say the full name.
They are all charming and polite and have cook British accents and use typical British slang words like "knackered" and "nicked" and "is it??"
With all these relatives I'd hope that at least one of them would be gay. The jury is still out on that as a lot of them are still single so maybe one of them plays on the same team as me? Either that or being single seems to run in the family.
Factoid # 2: they don't take their shoes off inside the house!! What kind of Asians are you?!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Live from Cardiff pt. 2
Heading to Cardiff now on the train. We went past towns that were all brown or grey brick with houses all looking the same in a row. The sky is overcast. Even the countryside that is passing by outside looks more gritty and farmlike than it does picnic territory. This is the england I think of when I think of England. Small depressing industrial towns that seem gloomy. Leaving the glitter and fast pace of London for a tour of smaller places and eventually my hometown of Bradford.
So One thing I learned at the train station - there are NO garbage cans! I had an apple core to dispose off and asked someone where the garbage can was and he said Oh no there isn't one, just put it on the floor and someone will come get it.
It's true! I saw workers going around picking up garbage. How fascinating.
So this was at Paddington station, which is the inspiration for the Paddington Bear stories!
Cardiff is located on the west coast of England and it should take us two hours by train to arrive. I hear it's pretty there. Also there are three aunts and ten cousins that I've never met or even heard about till this trip.
Wish me luck! Will try to keep u posted!
So One thing I learned at the train station - there are NO garbage cans! I had an apple core to dispose off and asked someone where the garbage can was and he said Oh no there isn't one, just put it on the floor and someone will come get it.
It's true! I saw workers going around picking up garbage. How fascinating.
So this was at Paddington station, which is the inspiration for the Paddington Bear stories!
Cardiff is located on the west coast of England and it should take us two hours by train to arrive. I hear it's pretty there. Also there are three aunts and ten cousins that I've never met or even heard about till this trip.
Wish me luck! Will try to keep u posted!
Live from Cardiff!!
Here's a note. When visiting with old Chinese people don't expect to find any wireless Internet connection. Or any Internet connection for that matter. Just explaining why the posts are few and far between and now comes an onslaught.
** turns out that old Chinese people with three grown sons actually do have wireless Internet after all! So here we go!!
** turns out that old Chinese people with three grown sons actually do have wireless Internet after all! So here we go!!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Bonjour! Now get your hands off my mother!
Londoners are so lucky they can just hop on the Chunnel and arrive a la coeur de Paris for the weekend if they wanted. In Vancouver we have Seattle. It's great but it's no Paris.
It's 1am and I'm again wide awake so thought I'd blog on my phone again even though Its at 36% battery life and my charger won't work here cause the adapter I brought is for uk only. What up Europe?? No standardization??
So today as my mom was boarding a train I noticed a girl uncomfortably close behind her. She had her hand covered with a scarf and it was reaching out toward my moms backpack. She may have just been reaching forward to board the train but my instincts tell me otherwise.
I immediately slapped her hand down hard. She looked shocked so I mumbled a whoops excusezmoi and wedged myself in between her and my mother.
This was the second run in with pickpocketing for her. At London heathrow a well dressed man also had his hand under a scarf and my mom caught him trying to unzip her backpack.
Anyway. It didn't dampen our spirits as we wandered the estate of Versailles and strolled along on it's property and gardens.
Just another fabulous day in Paris!! Tomorrow: sacre coeur, champs-élysées, Eiffel tower and of course, Chinatown.
It's 1am and I'm again wide awake so thought I'd blog on my phone again even though Its at 36% battery life and my charger won't work here cause the adapter I brought is for uk only. What up Europe?? No standardization??
So today as my mom was boarding a train I noticed a girl uncomfortably close behind her. She had her hand covered with a scarf and it was reaching out toward my moms backpack. She may have just been reaching forward to board the train but my instincts tell me otherwise.
I immediately slapped her hand down hard. She looked shocked so I mumbled a whoops excusezmoi and wedged myself in between her and my mother.
This was the second run in with pickpocketing for her. At London heathrow a well dressed man also had his hand under a scarf and my mom caught him trying to unzip her backpack.
Anyway. It didn't dampen our spirits as we wandered the estate of Versailles and strolled along on it's property and gardens.
Just another fabulous day in Paris!! Tomorrow: sacre coeur, champs-élysées, Eiffel tower and of course, Chinatown.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Greetings from Europe!
blogging from the iPhone !
It's 430 am Paris time and I am wide awake. Major jet lag issues! So the first day in London was great! I managed to reconcile with my divorced friend (perhaps we needed the distance?), explore a bit of the city, go to a rice queen bar where i proceeded to make out with some Russian, AND managed to get a tasty bag of krisps from marks and Spencer!!! Splendid!!
And what is this amazing store called primark??? I bought a pair of jeans there today for six pounds!!! And people said London was expensive!!! (it is!)
Mother and I are now in Paris for a few days. Today's plan is to hit up Versailles. Did I just say "mother and I"? Yea I did. Omg I'm becoming one of THOSE gays!! More on that after I visit my shrink to discuss!
The hotel we are at - Le Meridien Etoile - is light years better than the dumpy b&b we were at in London. But both places could not be less central if I tried. Thank you Hotwire. I am happy however that my piddly French went over well with the concierge downstairs!
On the plane ride over I was surrounded by a team of high school rugby players. That made the flight far more fun.
It's fast paced over here and there are a lot of people. It makes me miss the smaller town feel of vancouver. It doesn't help that my mother moves at a slower pace than she used to.
Ok off to attempt some sleep before getting up in a few hours.
It's 430 am Paris time and I am wide awake. Major jet lag issues! So the first day in London was great! I managed to reconcile with my divorced friend (perhaps we needed the distance?), explore a bit of the city, go to a rice queen bar where i proceeded to make out with some Russian, AND managed to get a tasty bag of krisps from marks and Spencer!!! Splendid!!
And what is this amazing store called primark??? I bought a pair of jeans there today for six pounds!!! And people said London was expensive!!! (it is!)
Mother and I are now in Paris for a few days. Today's plan is to hit up Versailles. Did I just say "mother and I"? Yea I did. Omg I'm becoming one of THOSE gays!! More on that after I visit my shrink to discuss!
The hotel we are at - Le Meridien Etoile - is light years better than the dumpy b&b we were at in London. But both places could not be less central if I tried. Thank you Hotwire. I am happy however that my piddly French went over well with the concierge downstairs!
On the plane ride over I was surrounded by a team of high school rugby players. That made the flight far more fun.
It's fast paced over here and there are a lot of people. It makes me miss the smaller town feel of vancouver. It doesn't help that my mother moves at a slower pace than she used to.
Ok off to attempt some sleep before getting up in a few hours.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Cheerio, Mate!
Off to the United Kingdom to visit my birthplace!! Will be back at the end of the month!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Coffee Date
Last night I went out on a coffee date. He was a French guy who had lived in Paris for about 13 years and moved to Montreal, then Toronto, and now Vancouver.
Was I into him? No.
He was nice and all, and I can see us maybe being friends, but it was hard to put on a smile and sit through conversation when all I really wanted to do was go home and catch the latest episode of The Office.
Or maybe my heart is still too busy thinking about The Guy?
Movies: Crazy Heart
I was not so crazy about Crazy Heart.
Considering all the buzz that Jeff Bridges is getting and now he's up for Oscar this weekend and will most likely get it... I don't know, the movie kinda bored me. I mean, you'd think I would have enjoyed it more considering it's got cowboys, music, and a story about being down-on-your-luck.
It's gotten compared to last year's The Wrestler, and I can certainly see why. But The Wrestler was far more moving, I found.
To me, there just wasn't enough heart in Crazy Heart.
Skip It
Considering all the buzz that Jeff Bridges is getting and now he's up for Oscar this weekend and will most likely get it... I don't know, the movie kinda bored me. I mean, you'd think I would have enjoyed it more considering it's got cowboys, music, and a story about being down-on-your-luck.
It's gotten compared to last year's The Wrestler, and I can certainly see why. But The Wrestler was far more moving, I found.
To me, there just wasn't enough heart in Crazy Heart.
Skip It
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Permanent!
From Term to Perm!
Today I received a Letter of Offer from my job, which I have been working at for the past 2.5 years as a term employee. That means every few months, my contract is up and they decide whether or not they want to keep me. But as a government employee, after three years of being on this sea-saw, the rule is that they must either hire you on permanently or get rid of you altogether.
So, coming up this September, I would have reached my three year mark and you can imagine my anxiety over that! However, my amazing boss has gone ahead and made the proper arrangements and gotten all the proper signatures and has managed to get me signed on as a permanent employee!
I accepted the offer today! (There's still a "complaint" period that will end in two weeks, so hopefully nothing will come of that!) Otherwise, I'm IN! I'm a federal employee FOREVER now!!!!!
Woo hoo!!
Today I received a Letter of Offer from my job, which I have been working at for the past 2.5 years as a term employee. That means every few months, my contract is up and they decide whether or not they want to keep me. But as a government employee, after three years of being on this sea-saw, the rule is that they must either hire you on permanently or get rid of you altogether.
So, coming up this September, I would have reached my three year mark and you can imagine my anxiety over that! However, my amazing boss has gone ahead and made the proper arrangements and gotten all the proper signatures and has managed to get me signed on as a permanent employee!
I accepted the offer today! (There's still a "complaint" period that will end in two weeks, so hopefully nothing will come of that!) Otherwise, I'm IN! I'm a federal employee FOREVER now!!!!!
Woo hoo!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Olympics Have Left The Building
Here's a moving montage tribute done by a Globe and Mail columnist about the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Olympic Memories
Today the streets are bare. The flame has been snuffed out, the line up at Japadog has dwindled to a few, the houses and pavilions are being broken down, and there are only a smattering of Canada hoodies and jackets to be seen now.
Just this past weekend, I was in attendance at the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala, ringing my cowbell and cheering on Joannie Rochette and Virtue and Moir. The Ex got last minute tickets courtesy of his boss and so we went. It was a fun and emotional show, especially when Joannie came onto the ice and skated for her mother and the entire stadium stood up to give her a standing ovation.
Then yesterday's hockey game. I started off at Jill's sister's drinking Pims and eating sandwiches and then left by the second period to get downtown, where I met up with The Guy and his friend, and we made our way into LiveCity Yaletown to watch the rest of the game on the big screen. Of course we had it in the bag, right up until the 24 seconds that were left in the third period. Me watching and talking about hockey? Who knew? The Olympics really do bring the people together!
The cheering and the madness that went on after was incomparable. National anthems breaking out on every corner, cars honking, people cheering, it was a nuthouse, but in a good way.
I had to dash over to BC Place to make it to the Closing Ceremonies, and was thrilled when I got there to find on my seat my audience participation kit, which included a poncho, a Sochi snowglobe, and moose antlers with a flashing red light. Did you see the show? I thought it was more fun than the opening ceremonies, because it was more of a party atmosphere and less about trying to impress the world. Loved the "Made in Canada" part, and not just because my friend Alexis was one of the Mountiettes in it. It was kitschy Canadiana and I loved that!
Today of course, it's hard to believe that our city was swept up in all of that for the past two weeks. Hopefully, if you're here, you got a chance to go be part of it, however big or small.
There's still a line up at the Bay however, for those smart shoppers looking for a post-Olympics deal.
Just this past weekend, I was in attendance at the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala, ringing my cowbell and cheering on Joannie Rochette and Virtue and Moir. The Ex got last minute tickets courtesy of his boss and so we went. It was a fun and emotional show, especially when Joannie came onto the ice and skated for her mother and the entire stadium stood up to give her a standing ovation.
Then yesterday's hockey game. I started off at Jill's sister's drinking Pims and eating sandwiches and then left by the second period to get downtown, where I met up with The Guy and his friend, and we made our way into LiveCity Yaletown to watch the rest of the game on the big screen. Of course we had it in the bag, right up until the 24 seconds that were left in the third period. Me watching and talking about hockey? Who knew? The Olympics really do bring the people together!
The cheering and the madness that went on after was incomparable. National anthems breaking out on every corner, cars honking, people cheering, it was a nuthouse, but in a good way.
I had to dash over to BC Place to make it to the Closing Ceremonies, and was thrilled when I got there to find on my seat my audience participation kit, which included a poncho, a Sochi snowglobe, and moose antlers with a flashing red light. Did you see the show? I thought it was more fun than the opening ceremonies, because it was more of a party atmosphere and less about trying to impress the world. Loved the "Made in Canada" part, and not just because my friend Alexis was one of the Mountiettes in it. It was kitschy Canadiana and I loved that!
Today of course, it's hard to believe that our city was swept up in all of that for the past two weeks. Hopefully, if you're here, you got a chance to go be part of it, however big or small.
There's still a line up at the Bay however, for those smart shoppers looking for a post-Olympics deal.
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