Alexis the Viking Princess

A special moment in time

2012-02-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

I may not have had exactly these night bus experiences, but I know the feeling, and I am glad it's not just me that thinks this way.

The Ghetto house on the block

2012-02-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

This house has a leakage problem. And it has been going for hmmm 2 years!

4 years

2012-02-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

Four years ago today I started working at CT. It was a Thursday. I can't believe it has been 4 years. I am really going to miss the guys when I am gone.

The Giants won the Superbowl that year too.

Bought my flights to Germany for August. WOOT looking forward to this year! :)

The Gym

2012-02-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

Well I can't speak for all gyms in London / England, but the cross section I have been to have lead me to believe the level of hygine is not up to par with their Canadian, well at least Saskatchewanian, counterparts. You walk to the change rooms through the excerise area with your outdoor shoes on. You don't need to clean the equipment before or after you use it. In fact there is nothing provided to clean it with at all. (correction!! Mark just mentioned he saw some cleaning wipes today, so ok maybe) Today some guy ran on a treadmile with his outdoor runners on and sprayed dirt all over that place. I guess that is just some inconsiderate stupid-head though! Could happen anywhere. Anyhoo, this is clearly not that interesting of a blog so I may stop now!

p.s. I did a pretty nice staight legged bridge today and didn't hurt myself - I was pretty pumped!

2012 New Years Resolutions

2012-02-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

hmmmmmm

- brush my teeth before leaving the house in the morning (I have a toothbrush at work too, but lots of time I forget to do it when I get there; thats not good is it!)

- excerise at least twice a week (I know this is the same as last year, but I think I might struggle to do 3 time a week consistantly, so I am keeping it simple for now)

- be confident when meeting new people, and don't shy away from meeting new people

- get a new job in Regina that I am interested in and don't just settle (and if I do settle at first, make sure it is only a short term thing1)

- continue working on my ballet moves even when I am not able to take classes anymore (also to look into adult Tap and Ballet classes in Regina; should they exist)

- learn how to use my SLR camera on the manual settings

- bike ride more in the summer and maybe buy a new bike

That's it I think, nothing to taxing I suppose

Brrrr

2012-02-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

Walking home today I feel the wind cutting across my face and thighs, just like Saskatchewan; oh wait its only minus -5! Funny how minus five can feel so cold. I need to get back to real winters!

Currently planning a trip to Rome and one to Croatia - I better start saving my money!!

Below is a random picture that has nothing to do with this post. I just like the picture. :) I went to the Death Cab show in November, it was very good.

Christmas functions

2012-01-27T07:53:00.000-08:00

This year I organised an 'Ugly Christmas Sweater Day' before Christmas. The up-take was a bit sluggish, but a fun time was had by all, and look at this lovely sweater I get to charish for years to come. None of us four in the picture below was actually the 'winner;' who's sweater involved a giant Winnie the Pooh, a blue base colour and was home-knitted by said winner's mother (who may be experiencing some dementia) for his 40th Birthday (with no intention of a joke present what so ever!!).

Our office Christmas party included Bowling this year (super fun!!). Did you know that five-pin bowling is only played in Canada. It was invented by a Canadian in Ontario in the early 1900's. I always thought it was a British thing, because lots of our weird stuff comes from the British, but no it's all ten-pin bowling here!

This was my team on the night. We rocked! (at being middle of the road)

P.S. I love my family; classy picture below; can't wait to come home to you guys!

Hoarding!

2012-01-26T03:38:00.000-08:00

This is the extent of my troubles

See Exhibit A:

an empty Disaronno bottle I picked up off the street, on the night of 16 February 2008, after going to the Shunt Vaults in London Bridge http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/london/venue/southbank-75/shunt-vaults-2333/ for my 25th Birthday celebrations, simply because I had 2 shots of the stuff earlier in the evening. A ‘memento’ to commemorate the night… who needs an empty bottle that was essentially garbage to begin with!?

I could only throw it away after taking a series of photos to remember it by.

How am I ever going to empty my house?

Moving Day

2012-01-25T03:30:00.001-08:00

So guess what!? (I have realised I forgot to say)

My one-way ticket back to Canada has been purchased; 7 April 2012.

I say Canada, not Regina, because my ticket is to Calgary. Mom is ‘swinging by’ to pick me up, and then we are carrying on driving to Victoria to pick-up Kel after her school finishes up. Road trip!!! Yay.

Maybe on the way back we can swing down too Seattle (because I have never been) and drive back through the States. So many possibilities.

I have already given my notice at work, as notice periods in the UK are very long compared to Canada, 3 months at this company, and that has helped me get in the mind set of leaving. It is less than 2 and a half months now until everything changes. I have a house full of stuff and I am starting to panic a little bit. I have tried to do some research on moving stuff overseas but I don’t know where to start. The internet doesn’t seem as full of information as usual, or at least I am sure not looking in the right place. There are two schools of thought: suck it up and pay to get everything moved properly (as Mark has got a lot of stuff too), or cull like mad, get rid of most things, and start afresh on the other side. I change mind-sets every other day. I suppose a combination of both is the best option. hmmmm

Looking Back

2012-01-24T03:42:00.001-08:00

I was just reading back in my blog which reminded me; let us look at my success rate for my 2011 New Year’s Resolutions.

Considering I only remember I had one, I am not overly confident.

- Start knitting again (it didn’t happen, not even once!)

- Go to the Gym at least 2 times per week (I am reasonably satisfied I met this goal, now that I have ballet and Pilates it is always at least 2 times)

- Less snacking at work (definitely improvement throughout the course of the year, could still get better though)

- Eat McDonalds only 6 times in the whole year (Done! I was very regimented about this, I had McD’s once every 2 months, very spread out. This is the only resolution I actually remembered I had!)

- Be more friendly and open in work situations (hmmmm, not sure if there has been a change there, not to say I am not friendly, but I could be better)

- Get the 7:55 train every morning, not the 8:15 (I have failed on this one, could be my worst year yet)

- Decide if I want to go back to school etc. (welllll I did decide, and then got shot done  oh well, such is life)

Maybe I will set up some new resolutions soon.

The Hunger Games

2012-01-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

My lovely sister Kel bought me the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy, aptly name ’The Hunger Games’ for Christmas this year. I started it on Wednesday last week. Flash forward to today, Tuesday lunch time, 1200 plus pages and 6 days later, and I am finished all three books!

They were great!

Thanks Kel for getting me reading. Is there anything better than a good book? I mean I like going to/watching movies and listening to music etc. but once you get going on a good book you are in a new world. I could read the whole day away; which can be a bit of a problem when you have to fit work into your day! On Monday I worked so hard in the morning to make the time go past quick to get to lunch hour and my book and what is going to happen to Peeta.

(possible spoilers alert – so don’t read on if you plan to read these books!)

The Hunger Games is an odd beast, immediately into reading I am struck by closely it matches the style books I enjoyed in my teenage years (besides being a Fantasy novel). Being put out by Scholastic it makes sense to call it young adult fiction, and yet it is pretty dang violent. Plus, even though my main concern was with what happens to Peeta, the story really got me thinking; about human-nature, war, dictatorships, communism, revenge, mental capacity, culpability, commitment…..

Before I read the books Jen said something to me about, she wasn’t sure about the ending (not not understanding, but not liking it maybe?) I am broadly satisfied with the ending (GO TEAM PEETA), but it could have explained a bit more, but perhaps it is left for us to decide how to digest it all. I could have used about 10-20 more pages at the end of loving Peeta being amazing (as that is what we were all hoping/waiting/reading for no?!), but oh well…

Looking forward to the movie coming out in March. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch – sweet!

(p.s. Amazon UK is amazing; I ordered books 2 and 3 on Friday at lunch on standard no-change delivery and they arrived at my door on Saturday morning - amazing!)

O the eighties

2011-11-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

Wedding photos

2011-11-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

Not mine of course!! :) But doesn't Mark look spiffy in his smancy suit!?

October heat

2011-10-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday Mark and I went to Hever Castle, which was the childhood home of Anne Bolyn. It was October 1st and the weather was unreal; close to 29 degrees! Apparently it was hottest day in October in the UK on record ever. Look at me experiencing history! Anyhoo, Hever Castle was awesome. There was a huge Italian garden and a man-made lake put in in 1905 by a rich American, Mr Astor (of Waldorf Astoria hotel). The man that inspired the character Falstaff (from Shakespears' Henry IV)also lived in this house at one point. Great place to visit, and it was not too far away in Kent. There was also a 'water maze' which was very fun.

Someone was having a wedding here in the early evening. That would have been sooo nice!

The Water Maze

Adult Education

2011-09-14T09:22:00.003-07:00

I started my ‘Introduction to Ballet’ class at Morley College on Monday evening. Picture the ballet teacher in Gilmore Girls, make her British and her hair sandy grey and you have my Instructor. She is brilliant! In my short ballet career I have already had 3 tutors and they have all been so different.

It is a 12 week course, learning the basics: vocabulary, moves, etc, of ballet. I am happy to be starting a course and not just doing drop-in sessions. I think this way I will learn and progress at a better pace. I wasn’t sore the next day after my first class but my feet are often sore while doing the positions. I guess I will just have to put even more effort into it next week.

At work on the day a co-worker, Justine, and I discovered that we were going to the same place on Mondays. She was starting a Spanish class, which is going on at the same time. What are the odds?! So we get to walk there together each week. It is a small world even in London sometimes.

I got a letter in the mail

2011-09-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to report that yesterday I received a letter in the post from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I have been deemed as an eligible sponsor for Mark's residency application!! This is GREAT news - the application wasn't lost (whew), and we only have 8 more months of proccessing to go!!! I was very nervous about this first stage of the application as the criteria to prove my intention to return to Canada was surprisingly hard to meet. I am not so worried about the second stage of the application, proving our relationship is genuine, essentially. So I am very happy.

In other news, has anyone ever had to go out and buy new underwear because all the ones they have are in the wash basket? Well I have just done this. PAH!! :)

Movie channels

2011-07-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

I just watched "The Ugly Truth" with Kathryn Heigal and Gerard Butler. It wasn't very good, HOWEVER, their chemistry was amazing. Perhaps anyone who has seen it felt the same. Whew... LOL

I have too many movie channels. I feel guilty if I don't watch them enough; having to pay for them and all. I end up watching crap!! :) TV does really make you into a zombie sometimes. I can find myself staring at the TV not really watching, not really blinking. Madness!

Not a good idea

2011-07-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

I left a pear in the side pocket of one of my backpacks for a week and a half. Ewwwww. Not a good idea.

One thing I won't miss

2011-07-15T03:34:00.001-07:00

One thing I won’t miss about London is running for a train.

Imagine this:

You arrive on the Underground train at London Bridge station at near enough 10:11pm; your above ground train leaves the station at 10:14pm. If you miss it there is a 30 minute wait until the next one and you just want to get home so you can go to sleep! You have to cover the entire length of the station including 2 escalators (1 of which is one of the longest you may have ever ridden on) gates, steps and a large ramp. This can comfortably be done in about 5 minutes, you have just over 2 minutes, as trains often close and lock their doors up to 30 seconds before their leaving time.

Last night I played cricket in the park with my co-workers (story maybe another time ) and on the way home I had to run for the train. The Underground pulls into London Bridge and I am getting mentally and physically prepared to run. The door opens and I bust out onto the platform 1 bag on each shoulder. I run around the corner and up some stairs, more running and then the behemoth escalator. I sprint up it and by the time I reach the top my legs are on fire and the first normal steps I take on flat ground, my legs nearly give way. More running and then the ticket barrier, more running and another ticket barrier, then another escalator (shorter this time – thank Jesus), then more running up a ramp! I have made it to the train platform at 10:13 and 15 seconds, I get on the first door and even get a seat – but it is hard being normal on a train after all this physical exertion. You are breathing so heavy that I am sure everyone in a 6 foot radius is feeling it. You are very sweaty and your throat is hurting, at least mine was. You are happy you made the train, but wonder if it was worth it to run when you can’t even read a newspaper or look at your phone for fear of chucking from the nausea. Mark has a theory that a train a quarter past the hour is just a bad time and if it was at half past this wouldn’t happen so often. I am sceptical of this. :)

Inspiring crap TV

2011-07-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

I love weight loss shows: The Biggest Loser, Fat Families, Too Fat for Fifteen. I mean, I don’t watch them that often, they are quite repetitive and my time can be better spent say – exercising. But today I watched one (while eating Chinese food LOL hmm) and I cried my eyes out when Daniel fell below the red line.

I guess I just love the transformation, someone losing 100 pounds is like turning Steve Buscemi into Brad Pitt; looks wise of course. Steve is a much better actor already. J It’s just so exciting and uplifting. I would like to lose 5 pounds, but that is not going to inspire anyone. I would have to learn a new language or something to compare... Nope that wouldn't compare either!

Update: Visa Application still not arrived in Mississauga; it will be a month tomorrow since we sent it. Now I am getting nervous it's lost. No movement from the 'delivery depo' since 29th June! GAH. I know I shouldn't worry about things beyond my control, but it would be really unfortunate if it is gone. Hoping for the best.

Who would have thought

2011-07-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

That the Riders would be 0-2 at home, and more crazily that Winnipeg and Edmonton would both be 2-0 and Edmonton is the only West team with a perfect record left.

Its a new year! (unfortunately)

I've got a girl crush...

2011-07-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

On Kate Middleton and her lovely hair. Maybe girls will stop trying to be fake blonds based on her brown hair example. LOL or maybe I am putting to much confidence into Kate's influence over popular culture. Or maybe I shouldn't worry about the fake blonds.

See below for some photos of the people camping out before the royal wedding. Mark and I went exploring the night before the morning wedding. We did not sleep in the city streets!! I saw a lot of Canadians who were though!

'Westminster Abba' (so we were told) - two very nice men from Guelph

Happy Canada Day

2011-07-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

I went down to the Canada Day celebrations in Trafalger Square in my lunch hour today. I noticed that there was a Saskatchewan booth this year (first time I have seen Saskatchewan represented!) went and chatted to the lady at the booth and ended up answering some Saskatchewan triva and WON.....an Ipod touch! I was in shock! THANK YOU SASKATCHEWAN!!

Blue Rodeo also played a free concert this evening. A great day and evening :). Happy Canada Day to all!

Its Ryan not Brian

2011-06-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

I got to go to the Ryan Adams acoustic show on Monday at the Barbican. It was AMAZING! I have counted up that I have seen Ryan Adams 4 times (I didn’t think I had seen him that much!) and each time the show was mostly with a band and electricy guitar versions of the songs. This was perfect. The crowd were angels – so quiet. I had a few ‘moments’! J

Finally done!

2011-06-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

I am happy to say that Mark and I have finally mailed the Canadian Permanent Residency Visa Application in this Tuesday. We have been working on it off and on since March. And since 1 June we had been working very hard on it. Now that it is posted away I feel so free! It was like working on a huge school project but worse!! I don't expect we will find out until sometime after Christmas. Fingers crossed!

Ballet Update

2011-06-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

Well I have been to 2 classes now.

The first one last last Thurday at the London Russian Ballet School and as you would expect the instructor was Russian. A petite man in tights - the most defined leg muscles I had ever seen. I supoose that is because men don't usually wear tights but you know! The class size was small, which was good, but everyone knew much more that I did, even though it was supposed to be absolute beginner ballet and also the Russian fellow just launched right into it and with english being his second language, mostly would just use his hands and 'put' you into position. 'Put' could also mean: pull, push, wrench, bend! :) It was difficult because I didn't have a clue on the postions but we weren't suppose to look down! The class was almost 2 hours long and my feet were so sore afterwards. I do think I learned a lot that first day, but is was like a rabbit to the wolves. I think a one point the Russian called my hand position a limp fish!

The second class I went to just this Thursday last was the Absolute beginner ballet class at the Central School of Ballet, which isn't too far from my work. The instructor was a camp Aussie fellow and he was very nice and funny. The class was much bigger, there was even some men in it! It was a bit more what I would expect from a beginner class which is good and I think I will go to this one for a while and then maybe when I know the moves i will try the Russian one again. Eeeee. In this class I don't get as much personal attention - and based on week 1 lords know I am not doing most things right!!

One issue for me is getting into 'position 1' where most ballet moves start and finish!!

My feet go into this postion while standing straight up

But they should be in this position!

(The above photo was achieved by me leaning over almost 90 degrees!!) I am not sure if I can ever bend this way standing straight up!

This ia how I knew everyone was futher along then I was at the Russian school, every single woman could get into this position, even this lady who was quite easily 200 pounds. I have some work to do!!

British Children

2011-06-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

Are so cute and intelligent sounding - especially Karen. She is a star!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=45ZdXr--4QA

New exercise hobby

2011-06-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

I am starting on Thursday after work at the London Russian School of Ballet

Adult Beginner Balltet Classes! Woot.

I had to sew the straps on the shoes myself. Pretty decent job hey!?!

I didn't think until much later after I got this idea in my head that the classes might be really busy because of Black Swan's popularity. Ah well.

The reason I got interested in ballet is because I have really been anjoying my Pilates classes and I thought about what else I could try to work on my core strength and flexiblity.

Soooo excited! I even have a leotard and a tie-up sweater.

Getting the woe out

2011-05-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Bad news - I didn't get accepted to the MPA program with the UofR Grad school. I found out 2-ish Monday's ago and I was pretty devistated to say the least. It felt like my whole life might change course just because of this one decision that wasn't even mine. I was so excited to go back to school. I can still try again, but it won't be the perfect time like this was. It also really sucks being rejected. I checked back like 10 times just in case it wasn't true... sigh

ALSO I just checked and my flights home in August (which I have already purchased) are on sale for 200 pounds cheaper than what I paid for them. That is about $300!!!! NOT COOL! :(

Anyways that is all the bad stuff in my life, I think I am doing pretty good otherwise. Keeping on carrying on. :)

Warm Weather Easter

2011-04-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

We had a four day weekend for Easter and the weather was AMAZING!

Friday            26 degrees C
Saturday        27
Sunday          26
Monday         23

And the best past, everyday SUNNY! My tan right now is at summer level goodness. :)

On Friday we went to Leeds Castle. Mark's mom drove (which was very nice of her).  There was some kind of Easter treasure hunt going on as I have never seen some many families with young children! It felt odd not having a child in tow! We brought a picinc and enjoyed in on the beautiful lawns.

On Sunday Mark and I took a passenger boat from Westminster to Hampton Court to visit Hampton Cout Palace, which was built during Henry VIII's reign. Beautiful gardens there as well.

School!

2011-04-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am pretty excited!! I think I have decided to go back to school. Master Public Administration at the U of R. I researching last week and I saw it and I just had this moment of clarity (which I never get when I am thinking about school) and everything felt like it was falling into place.

I am really happy. Now I just need to apply and be accepted!! HOPEFULLY!

January 2012 here I come!!

Woot

2011-03-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to chronicle that today I ran 8.5km on the treadmill. That is 1 hour, straight, of jogging. WOOT to me. That is 3 km more the longest I have ever ran before!

My Birthday

2011-02-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

And what a lovely day it was! My co-workers decorated my desk and got me prezzies. Di sent me flowers, Matt bought me a yummy cake, Mark and I went out for Thai food and then went to Dolorean in concert. And afterward I even went and chatted briefly to the lead singer, Al, and got my picture taken with him!

The Library

2011-02-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

I have worked at my current office building for 2 years and 21 days. Every morning on my way to work I walk by the Shoe Lane Library and think, “I should go take a look in there at lunch”. And I never have. Well today I finally went in. I had forgotten about how useful a Library can be. In these days of the internet, libraries have slipped off the radar for a lot of people. But I hope they flock back. I always have this unsettled feeling when working on the computer, most specifically my laptop; a feeling like I can’t see the full picture, like something is missing. (It is probably a table!!). Anyways I am heading back to the library, getting a card and taking out some books. I would like to get back to learning without looking at a screen!

Slush Mug!

2011-02-13T03:33:00.000-08:00

Jen very thoughtfully sent Mark and I a box of Christmas gifts. She was on the ball and sent it around 4 December 2010, But it didn't arrive at my house until 27 January 2011!! I blame Britian! :)

The coolest thing (heehee) in the box were the 'slush mugs' which can turn pretty much any drink into a slush, due to the glacial core. You freeze the core (the white part) in the freezer for 6 hours and then it magically makes the drinks go slushy when they are poured in. Best invention ever!!

Don't set your hair on fire!

2011-02-12T05:17:00.000-08:00

Last night, Friday evening, I had my birthday drinks at a pub by Liverpool Street Station, the Water Poet. It was very nice and was a good turn out.

Chris gave me a cake, photo below.

The "Kim Sucks" cake was very thoughtful. Because on Chris's birthday I baked him this:

Mark had me write that on the top with marshmellows. Chris loves my cakes and says they are the best ones he has ever had, so I am happy to make them for someone who appreciates them so much!!

Last night I also got a birthday card that had a secret, good luck, scratch message on the front, so I was leaning over the table scratching away, and my hair is getting longer (and I straightened it for the occation) and there was a fancy tea-light on the table. Need I say more?

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Yes - I LIT MY HAIR ON FIRE!!!

While leaning over I suddenly heard a sizzeling in my ear, I instintively moved back, and it's a good thing because by then there was smoke and the whole room smelt like burning hair. It is a good thing I don't use hair spray or my whole head could have been up in flames!!! WHEW

So I suppose there wasn't any fire just a little sizzel. A small strip of my hair about 3 inches long was chared and clumped and I got Frances to brush it out. Surprisingly you can't really tell it happened now, but I was worried at the time that it would show that I had a chunk missing!

Not sure how lucky the card was then! But after I did finish scratching it to show the message it said the following will give me good luck this year: The number 28, striped socks, the colour orange and squirrels! The number 28 though! Oooooo thats how old I am turning!

The rest of the night I kept getting wafts of burnt har smell.

Anyways I am safe and still have hair. And thanks to everyone who came out.

Super Bowl Sunday

2011-02-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

UPDATE POST GAME - WOOT, I was pretty close on my predictiions. Final score: Packers 31 - Steelers 25.

____________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately I can't watch the Super Bowl live as the festivities kick off at 11pm Sunday evening, but I will be sticking me head in the sand all day Monday at work, as to not find out the score, and watch it Monday evening.

My prediction:

Green Bay Packers: 28
Pittsberg Steelers: 24

I have disliked the Steelers for years, not really sure why, I bet that my dad hates them and it has filtered down from there!

Who do you think you are?

2011-02-05T08:56:00.000-08:00

I am very excited. I have bought a ticket to the "Who do you think you are National History show." Link below.

http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk/

Basically it is a big Geneology trade show. I have been researching my family tree for about 2 years now. I have had some success, but lately I spend a lot of hours not finding pretty much anything. I am going to have to start digging deeper. Anyways this show should be brilliant. There is an ask the expert section and lots of learning seminars, 3 of which I am already booked into (Organising your Family tree, Best Geneolgy websites, and Ireland: Finding your realatives born there). I know that it is a bit of an odd hobby, more usually practised by retirees! My boss at work teasingly calls me a geek. I don't mind, I really do enjoy it.

This photo below is my great great great great grandpa, Francis Porter who was born in Ireland around 1820. He was a reverend in a town called Bready.

My actual resolutions

2011-01-30T14:17:00.000-08:00

Once I read Jen B's blog and she had 100 resolutions I thought I should think of a few more.

So...

- I would like to restart knitting (I got all this yarn for Christmas last last year and all the sudden I stopped knitting, must get on that)

- I would like to get to the gym at least twice a week. (So far this is going pretty well as there is this pilatess class on Wednesday evenings that I really enjoy going to, and I usually get to the gym on Sundays. So maybe I should try for 3 times!)

- I am only going to eat McDonald's on 6 occations in the entire year. (So basically once every 2 months, so it would be best to go as long as I can before the first time; save up my times :).

- Less snacking at work

- To be more friendly and open in work and social situations.

- To get the 7:55 train to work everyday and not sleep in and get the 8:15 which makes me late for work

- I need to decide what is happening in my life in the second half of 2011 and also 2012 (I need to do this be thinking seriously about whether I would like to go back for more schooling and in WHAT. )

That last one is a big one, gulp.

Ssllyod in Paris

2011-01-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

When Dad came to visit in December, he, Mark and I too a train trip to Paris. We stayed for 3 nights at a great hotel, Place de'Arts, in the Montmarte area. I would definately stay there again if I went to Paris again.

I have a cold

2011-01-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning I was fine, then at work I started sneezing more than usual. BOOM running nose, sniffling, a cold. Today I am running from the eyes. I swear no one get the same kinds of colds a me. I guess we all have our personal kind of cold.

Black Swan tomorrow, woohoo I am excited.

We have reorganised the funiture in the living room slightly since the christmas tree was taken down. FYI organize in the UK is with an s not a z. Who knew!

It Snowed!

2011-01-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

On December 1st look how much snow we had!

And when the snow started melting the icey snow ripped the evesdrough right off the back roof!!

In Brugge

2011-01-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

On the weekend at the end of October Mark and I took at trip to Brugge, Belgium. We also had a stop in Brussels on the way. Belgium is beautiful! I couldn't believe all the old cool buildings. In the 1300's Brugge was the 3rd biggest city in Europe. It is very old. Also 'In Brugge' is a great movie. See it :)

New Years Traditions

2011-01-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

Last year, 31 December 2009, I was in the big R and hosted a New Years Eve get together at my mom's house. I wanted to do something different or special when the clock struck 12. I went online and googled "News Years Eve traditions." I wanted to see what thing people did on New Years in different countires. I read a bunch of things that I don't really remember, but one thing I did use was that in Spain some people put 12 grapes on skewer and at the stroke of midnight if you eat all of the grapes in a minute you will have good luck for the year to come. Or something like that! Anyways we all had grapes at 12 last year. This year I did it again. It is my new tradition!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My neighbours are twits

2011-01-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Well I should be more specific - I don't want to tar the whole neighbourhood! Our neighbours on the right wall side are squaky, kareoke singing twits who like to sing Alana Myles Black Velvet, How Can I get you Alone by Heart and Avril Levaine songs just to name a few - in the early morning hours. You can hear every prolonged, off key word.

Right now it's Umbrela and 12:13am, eventually I will have to attempt to go to sleep. I will have to put the ear plugs in and hope for the best. I want to punch those 2 girls in their pink polo shirt wearing, cackling faces. What mistifies me is that there is at least one guy visitor in their livingroom that has been sitting there listening to this racket for over 2 hours. Who befriends these home singing peoples?

Why I love the CFL

2011-01-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

I love watching lots of sports. During the Olympics I get sucked in and watch hours a day. But in the last few years one sports league has risen above the rest.

The CFL (Canadian Football league) gives me joy! I never miss watching a game. I like that is a small league and I can follow all the teams. I like that the pay for the players is modest and they play for a love of the game not the million you get in other major leagues. But I think what really gives it the extra edge is that I like hearing about the Canadian and American players. The Canadian ones because I am proud of what they have achieved and the American ones because I like to think about these young men from Louisiana and Texas and all over coming to Regina, a place they would never have been to in their entire lives if they hadn't been in football, and experiencing how life is; in Canada and in Saskatchewan. I just like visitors. I think that is it. I like showing people my town. I loved taking Mark to the games. Imagine a British person at Taylor field. :) Soo cool!

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

I didn't really think about how it was the end of a decade. It's like we are going from the eighties to the nineties, but you know - 20 years later. I haven't really thought of any resolutions yet, just I guess I would like to be less judgemental and more kind.

I purchased a new camera and it is great! It works so good in low light. Anyways hi!

Cornwall

2010-05-05T14:17:00.001-07:00

I have a cold boo hoo

2010-05-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Well hello to anyone there. I would just like to say I have really been enjoying the NHL playoffs. There have been some very exciting games.

Some thoughts from me

- floor tiles, grout, I will never in my own house have tile grout. How do you bloody clean the stuff?!? grout is porous, the dirt and water just sinks right in. Ridiculous. I tried baking soda and that didn't really do the trick and now I can't get the white residue off. (thanks google)

- the lawn mower won't start. could it be water in the carborator (so google tells me) !?!?! What does one do when the lawn mover won't start. And you have no car, and the only way out of the back yard is through the house . Eeps

- I am a bit addicted to TV right now and I don't like it. However one stupid show I particularly enjoy is Total Wipeout USA. Brilliant! Watch out for those big balls.

- A big TV just begs you to watch it. If you sit in the livingroom with it off it just sits there looming over you willing you to turn it on. I definately hope to have a house where the big TV has its own room so I don't have to see it all the time. But I do like little tvs in the kitchen, most definately.

- I am thinking about getting rid of my facebook, and maybe my blog! Internet socializing sucks! What is the point of knowing everything about everyone if you haven't talked to or visited with anyone. I ask you!!?!

- Texting makes me feel nauseous and I don't like that either!

- while emptying the diskwasher on my own I thought 'I miss my sister'

- the UK federal election is tomorrow, Mark is missing the vote! (he is in Houston right now)

- and I am off to bed

Hugs

-

Have you watched Strictly this week?

2010-02-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Hello to all

Mark's mom Jan took me to the Strictly Come Dancing (the UK equivelent to Dancing with the Stars) tour show. It was pretty impressive! The stage and dance floor were huge!

A walk on a January afternoon.

2010-02-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

The snow is all gone. But yikes it was rather muddy! My runners still haven't recoverd.

Cest Laloween

2009-11-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Hey! This is the decorating I did on the front of the house. The little snail liked my skull!!

We got 32 kids. I think that is pretty good for England!!

The House

2009-11-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

hello!

I am listening to the beginning of the Rider game right now and am very nerous as we can seem to do much. Penalty to get our first down! UGG its getting ugly.

Anyways this is how the main floor looks now with us living in it. I love that tv!!!

Musings on Turning Back the Clocks

2009-10-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

First off I would like to say I am for Day Light Savings time. Having expirenced it for the last two years in London, and no major inconviences or calamities have occured, I can't see what the fuss is about from the anti people.

But I do have to say it is pretty weird leaving work on a Friday before dusk on October 22nd in and then leaving work on the Monday after at the same time in total darkness.

My only complaint is (at least in England's case) why arn't we on Daylight Savings Time all the time! Who cares about those morning hours, at that happens is the trekk into work.

New House!

2009-10-17T15:23:00.001-07:00

This is our new residence. We are moving in 23 Oct. It is a 2 bedroom house, also with a little loft. It is in Bromley, which is in the South East of London. Bromley town centre is very close by (5/10 minute walk) which has a movie theater and a shopping mall. WOOO Hoooo. More pics to come when we actually move in.

Moving Out!

2009-10-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Before I came home to Regina to visit, I moved out of my room on South Park Crescent. This has been my home for 1.5 years. Hard to believe I had been there that long. Mick was there to see me off. I think he will miss me! As I was a model tennant!! :) I am staying with Mark right now and on 23 October we are moving into our own (well rented) little house! I am very excited; pictures to come.

Thanksgiving!

2009-10-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

Mark and I had a special Roast Chicken supper last Sunday in honour of thanksgiving. Mmmm

Gymnastics!

2009-10-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

I seized the day on Friday and after work I went to the O2 arena and bought a ticket in the nose-bled section (that was all that was left!) for the finals of the Women's All Round Gymnastics World championship finals. It was cool, I don't think I will gt to World championships that often so...

The Amazing Stage of U2

2009-08-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

The concert was quite good, but the stage was pretty amazing. I guess I couldn't contain my - - -errrr joy? LOL very scarey face!

Fiona and Andy's 1st Wedding Anniversary party

2009-08-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

Good Evening!! Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post (Mom, Scoo, Aunt Marilyn and co.) and those who comment generally (Tanya, Jen :) I love you guys too! And I am looking very much forward to my visit to the big R.

This lovely partyscene below is Fiona and Andy's backyard. A beautiful evening and it is the fancy-est I have even felt with eating out of doors! (Yes Scoo, I do need to wrok on my spelling!!)

Mark looking especially lovely!

We took the table at the back of the garden (which was actually the front of the "stage") YAY. Fiona is a co-worker of mine, and our from the Carbon Trust were there as well. Mark and I met Di, Garren and Ben (who are in middle in the picture below) at Kings Cross train station on our way to the party.

And guess who was on the stage!?!?

ELVIS! :) He was no Rory Allen but he sang pretty well and was churning out the hits!

It was really cool that Fiona got Elvis for her backyard!!

Di and I did some dancing in the grass.

This is Fiona; she is lovely!

Di and Fif

Posing in our dancing spot.

Elvis was pretty flashy!

And I think his zipper was slipping down through the night!!

Cez & Andrew's Wedding 01/08/09

2009-08-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

Hello!
Welcome to my first English Wedding. Very similar to Canadian ones. And the church had a huge organ that played "Here Comes the Bride" on the entry of the Wedding party. I am not sure why this first bit of text is underline but o'well!

The church was really nice inside. We got there early as you can see!

Mark and Neil were even part of the ceremony. They sang "Dream a Little Dream", requested by Cezanne, and I must say it was much better than all other versions! :) They practised very hard to make sure their performance was perfect and I thought it was great!

There was just a light rain starting when we exited the church. All the guests got flower petals to throw at the wedding couple as they came out of the church. I am annoyed I missed that photo opp!

The boys all spifed up!

After the church part, which was in Greenwich, all of the guest etc walked to the river and we took a private boat into the city.

Here I am posing with some champaigne which I didn't drink and gave away after this.

I love this picture, I specifically asked Mark to smile with his teeth showing, because I think he has a lovely open smile and he so rarely shows it, and Mark was just drunk enough to listen to me! LOL

The reception was held at the Garden Museum in Lambeth. The museum is in an old church, hence it looking all churchy. We didn't stay too late, 11pm, but the whole thing ended at 12 anyways, and we had to catch trains home!

Hello from work lunch hour

2009-07-31T04:40:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention (when my very own sister commented on a snowman picture I just put up on my facebook page, that has been on here since like February, like she had never seen it before!!) that very few people read this page. And you know what - I kind of like that. The people that are "here" want to be here and I know you care about me (hopefully!! LOL). I can always steer Kel here later on when I have actually written a few more entries to make things a bit more interesting! Facebook has been making me parranoid lately. I see people talk to other people and what people are up to and sometimes I feel really far away! (Like I am, but still!) I inadvertantly insulted a vegatarian on Facebook by commenting on the whole Seal EU ban on his wall and I ended up earasing them from my friends. And I felt like earasing my whole facebook actually. I didn't mean to be mean it just came out. Sometime things just come out to easily online. Maybe I shouldn't even REwrite it online! But pah! I will keep holding on to the - those who are reading care.

I am not coming home in August (like I maybe promised I would). I am sorry for these semi broken promises. I hope you know that I never like to dissapoint anyone. I will be in Regina 12 September until 27 Septemeber, but then I come back to London. And then I am home again at Christmas: 12 December to 10 January. And back to London again. I am happy with my decision, and I am looking forward to another year in the city and planning for all that may come along. But it is still hard (as I am sure jen can attest to) to be away from your family and friends at home and just gone really. My mind plays tricks on me; makes me think I loosing all my friends, that I was never a good friend, that I am being a bad friend now for not being better in touch. I hope that is not the case. But things have changed a lot in the last 2 years. I guess I am have changed too. I hope for the better. But jeez I just can't tell when I am in these heightend times of parranoia!

Thanks for reading though, because I am glad you are here.

2009-07-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the day of boats! We knew it would be a long day, so Mark and I left the house at 8:30 in the morning and walked down to Greenwich.

We took the Thames Clipper from Greenwich to Westminster. (30 minutes)

Then we got on a slower boat to Hampton Court. It was a 3.5 hour ride up the river. Passed Chiswick, Kew, Richmond and beyond! The views were great, and our boat driver did some tourguide ish stuff and told us about the sites along the way.

Below is the boat we rode on. We sat on the front deck chairs. It is also a beautiful and warm day.

This is Hampton Court Palace. Where Henry VIII lived back in the day. I didn't even know there was a another castle so close by to see!

Lovely gardens!

Weird tree roots sticking up from the ground!

Big leaves!

Welcome to my room!

2009-04-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

I just noticed after putting this up that I classily have my bra hanging in the frame!! Sorry about that. Video and learn I say! I would also like to add that that was my first attempt of the evening on my guitar and that I can in actual fact play a tinsy bit better then my video debue!! So there! (but not much better) I had Mark come over on the weekend so he could tune it for me and I am hopeless at it and always scared that I am going to snap a string!!

Hello again! You have just read the first paragraph and thought hmmm were is this video!? Sadly I let my laptop sit uploading the bloody video for over an hour and it is still not "doing its thing". SO therefore I guess I can't put this video up, at least today. Please see below for a stationary photo of my lovely guitar; a birhday present from Mark.

OH pooh, I am having been trying so long to upload this stupid video I don't want to give up on it yet!! I am currently watching a TV show on Sex Education. Did you know that 1 in 10 people ounder the age of 25 have Clymidia in the UK. Is it that high at home? Or that British teenagers watch on average 90 minutes of porn per week? The Scandel!! I don't think my kids will have the internet!

I heard that the Simpsons has been cancelled of off its 5pm slot on CBC! Is this true? How sad. First Jeoperd now this!!

45 minutes later!! The mystery has been solved. My first attempt at posting a video was foiled because the file was too big. I annoying mumble through this explanation in my second attempt video, where my guitar playing proves to be even worse than attempt 1!! OH woe is me. I managed to cut the hanging bra out of this shot. So yay! and enjoy.

BAH! :) good night

OR not good night!! Its taking ages to upload still! I shall leave it on while sleeping and see what occurs!

Snow Day!

2009-02-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Batten down the hatches, its minus 2 and the snow is pouring down!! I say pouring because, and I wish I would have got a picture of this, some people still bring out their umbrella's in the snow. Seriously people, what is the point!?!? The snow started late on Sunday afternoon, and pretty much kept on keeping on until Monday night. The was the most snow at one time in something like 18 years. 2 million people didn't make it in to work in London on Monday. There were no trains, no buses, and limited underground. I had taken Monday off anyways because I stayed up until 3:30am watching the Super Bowl. Mark and I walked to the park and there were people and kids everywhere. Making snowmen, sledding, and the sledders were nuts! They were using all sorts of things as sleds. Flat baking trays, plastic bags, boards, the thinner backing off cupboards, "To Let" signs. I saw a Couple make it all the way down the hill on a tupperware lid the size of a dinner plate! Some of these snowmen were quite massive!

The Kings of Leon

2008-12-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

I went to The Kings of Leon concert on Thursday night solo as Mark was already going with friends and he was down somewhere in on the floor. I got a nice last minute ticket at the extreme side of the stage and it was GREAT! I was way close and I looked down on all those getting thrown beer cups showering down on them and I was glad I wasn't down there! The show was very good. Although I couldn`t get away from crazy drunks all together. The guy in front of me had had to much to drink by the 2nd song! You know its going to be bad when he comes back with 2 beer, when the one he had is still 3 quarters full! He was quite animated then, bopping around the eisle and such. By about song 8 he was tettering and kept turning around trying to give us high fives and leaning over the back of his chair. I being directly behind him was worried about him being sick, so I put my purse on the chair behind me. But all was pretty fun. He was a good natured drunk, and I couldn`t help nearly laughing when his girlfriend keep ordering him to sit down. At one point he feel backwards into the row in front of us and he was in the sitting position with his legs hanging over the back of the chair. It took three people to pull him back up! He also fellésat on his beer which was sitting in the cup holder, it stayed upright, but about half of it absorbed into his jeans. Ok so I guess I was a bit distracted at this show, but it was really good too! For the encore the guy behind me was getting a bit to sway ee with his beer cup, so I walked up to the top and stood with the wheelchair people.

Thee End!

The Gap!

2008-12-13T01:41:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen! I give you the largest Gap I have had to mind yet!

This is where I get off at Charring Cross Rail Station on the way to work in the moring. I sometimes worry I could lose a shoe to that gapping hole! Or sometimes I imagine a person falling in. Luckly that hasn't happened yet when I have been around!

Sunday Adventures

2008-12-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

This Sunday was a lovely day of activity! Mark and I went to the Hyde Park Winter Fair (I bought some Hot Sugar Donuts and they were Mmmm) Then we went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Apparently the London Hard Rock Cafe was the first one ever (1971)! I had a chocolate Milkshake and Mmmmmmm. Then we went to the Bon Iver concert which was held at the Victoria Apollo. This theater is where the musical Wicked is put on. Wicked doesn't show on Sundays, so there our concert was, dragons and creepy decorating and all! The theater was built in the 1930's and the achitecture really showed it. The roof and walls were beautiful. We were sitting in the 4th row of the balcony in the middle. It was a great concert. I even cried! Now that is entertainment.

The Fireworks!

2008-11-19T14:10:00.001-08:00

The fireworks on Blackheath Common were very good. 30 minutes plus, and to music such as Robbi Williams and I believe I can fly (of Space Jam fame)

The Trick was on me this Halloween!

2008-11-01T15:17:00.001-07:00

This Friday morning started out like any other. I left the house at 8am, checking to make sure I had my keys and my Travel card. I walked to Hither Green Station and when the train came I ever got a seat; always makes a nicer start to the day. I was wearing my new black winter coat for the first time and during the train ride I moved my Ipod from my left pocket, where my travel card also was, to my purse. The train stopped at Charring Cross and I got off. I put my hand in my pocket and my travel card wasn't there. I got back on the train car and had a look around where I was sitting - no luck. I was upset about the loss, but not too worried as I had registared my card to protect the money on it from loss and theft. Also I wasn't to concerned about exiting Charring Cross as luckily in the mornings there is an unguarded exit that I had used many times in the past.

Well

Today there was about 5 London transport guys up there checking for valid tickets. (The first time I had ever seen anyone up there.) Of course they didn't believe my "I just lost it" story and boom I have a 20 pound ticket. I am quite upset. Its not just the loss of 20 pounds, it was the shame of having to walk by all those people and have them thinking you are trying to cheat the system.

So

I went into the Underground station to report my card stolen. They say they can't help me and that I have to call a help number. I get into work and call the number. Since I don't know the number on my card (which is now lost) they have to post me a new one (which could take up to 5 days). I have errr had a 7 day travel card, the first day was on Thursday, so all the days I paid for I won't have the card and won't be able to use. The whole system is ridiculus and at the end of the day having to rebuy travel for the next 5 days and getting the ticket I have bled around 45 pounds of money today (aka $95) all because my stufpid coat pocket is too horizonal!

Happy Bloody Halloween!

Anyways

Mark and I carved pumpkins on Tuesday night. It was Mark's "first time." I was a proud little teacher. We came home as quick as we could on Friday night and got in around 6:25pm. Two little boys rang the bell at 6:30pm before I had a chance to get the pumpkin outside and those were the only 2 Trick or Treaters we got! I was a little disappointed but oh well. The pumpkins looked very nice outside and I am sure lots of people got to see them when they were walking by. The last picture is a picture of the type of candy we gave out. I had 25 pieces just in case.

We ordered in Indian food and watched the Gremlins then Ghost Busters; neither of which have I ever really watched, so that was good to get a couple of "classics" out of the way.

Halloween definately isn't near as popular here. No dressing up at work, someone actually asked me what day halloween was on; we couldn't even find a scarey movie on TV to watch! The more important date around this time is November 5th. Bonfire Night / Guy Fawkes Night. (I had really never heard of this before but for V for Vendetta or my university British history class. ) There is a big fireworks display in the Blackheath common next Saturay night and even as I write this I can hear fireworks somewhere outside my window. There are a lot a fireworks going on around this time. I think I would like to go to a Bonfire, but I haven't heard about any Bonfires going on.

Strawberry Hill Walk

2008-10-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

This Saturday Mark and I went for a walk from Syon Lane to Strawberry Hill.

The weather was great, around 20 degrees.

This is the gate at Syon Park, it is now disused. Syon Park was the London residence of Duke of Northumberland where Lady Jane Gray was crowned the Queen of England.

This was/is the Duke of Northumberland's Estate.

Mark and I had a lovely lunch at this pub on the river. We sat outside on the deck and the sun felt fantastic.

A creepy old boat on the river at low tide.

And a creepy old bike!

This place is called Marble Hill House, it looks so nice but when you get close the windows are all boarded up and no one lives there!

This place was a little gothic castle. Some guy built it for fun in the 1740s.

Spiders!

2008-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all

One Sunday morning I woke up to "The London Mist".

So I took some pictures of spiderwebs!

Kim is back!

2008-10-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

After over a year and a half hiadus (hmmm spelling!?!) I have returned to my original blog! What can I say, Bugbitten has got too many adverts. THis is just a test blog to get me back on track but anyways BOOT :)

A NEW SPOT

2007-01-31T08:39:00.000-08:00

www.bugbitten.com/Kimberlyanne

go here to see all my London pictures :)

and some stories as well

thanks

kim

hi-yah

2007-01-25T04:52:00.000-08:00

sorry i am a big lazy bum

I am currently working on a new personal website, which I am getting photos uploaded for. As soon as it is ready I will post the link here.

ta for now

KIM

The Little things

2006-12-12T03:19:00.000-08:00

CANADIAN BRITISH

Postal code Post code

Mail it Post it

Subway Tube

Bathroom Loo (I just can't get into this one!)

Cell phone Mobile

Take Out Take Away

Chips Crisps

Fries Chips

Pop hmmmm soda?

7-up lemonade (7-up is just the brand name)

they don't have rootbeer :( but there is Dr. Pepper :)

Sweater Jumper

Regular size paper is an inch longer than back home. LOL I already told everyone that didn't I?

All the chocolate bars are Cadbury brand. They don't have ohenrys or reeses or glossettes, Mmmmm I miss glossettes. At the grocery store there is moose but not pudding

Good Afternoon Happy Birthday Dad

2006-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
Christmas is creeping up on us at lightening speed! I have brought myself a worldwide voltage travel hair blow drier as a present, at Argos (this funny store, you look through a catalog to buy what you want and then you get it in 5 minutes! all the stuff is just in the back. so everything is cheeper because the store doesn't have to display anything).......... And I bought this gray woll dress shirt thingy at Portobello Market yesterday in Notting Hill. LOL ah yes the framiliar English names, :) hugh grant anyone. The market specializes in antiques and jewlery. They had like old cricket and footballs and things, golf clubs, tennis racquets... I bought an old key. The guy said it was from around the 1840's..but whos knows if he knows but I love it, and I have always wanted one of those fancy keys. It can be my lucky key.

Stranger Than Fiction wasn't as good as I thought it would be, but it was good. I didn't try the popcorn. I had Domino's Pizza yesterday, it was not very good :) just like at home. I eat way too many cookies and I have to get myself under control!!! I need mom to tell me to be good!!! LOL

ps, those of you that do not have directwest address listings which i can sleuth out online, email me your addresses! or you will never get a postcard :)!!!! Yes this is a threat

talk to you soon

Library

2006-12-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

this is a test post :)

To see if it works, because at the Library here, I can write posts but I am not allowed to see them, that page is blocked for some reason, so booooo :)

Who wants to see that new Will Ferrell movie? MEEEE
Who is going alone to see it?? MEEEEEEEEE

lol

I am actually looking forward to it. I wonder if they have good popcorn here.

Just a Sunday afternoon at the Office

2006-12-03T05:04:00.000-08:00

Hi all, I enabled anonymous comments, so comment your little hearts out!

I got my first temping job this Friday. It ends today I think (they are very unorganized) and I was working at the ROC recruitment office (www.roc.co.uk) helping do short interviews for Selfridges (www.selfridges.com) Christmas help and data entry of the the people's detail on Olioffice (it kind looks like prohunt!!) .... That was friday and saturday. Today I am alone in the office, answering phones, while everyone else is over at Selfridges organizing people. It is absolutely nuts how many temps the store needed. something like 250. and as usual everything was left until last minute! :) I would feel bad for not doing anything right now, except that I haven't anymore CVs to entry and they never told me anything else to do. lol so here I am :) Maning an 80 person office by myself. So i probably interviewed over 30 people in 2 days. I was a little nervous at first, but I tried to jump right into it. So go me!!! anyways. At least I have made a bit of money :)

hugs

I found a new home

2006-11-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

Hello all, so I am going to start posting on my site now, feel free to post comments or email my back at kimannewitt@yahoo.ca

Things have been a little lonely here in this big city, and it is really hard to sign up for stuff and do things without a home address or a phone number so yes I am now the proud owner of a cell phone. A black motorola thingy

ANDD

I found a place to live today, its perfect and I love it, great nieghbourhodd with 3 other females. The price is exorbitant but its basically the best I can do, and its a really good area for the price, so I was pumped.

I saw some ~real~ goth people today, like full length Drusilla dresses and the guys was in a floor length black and silver coat with a white ruffled shirt, it was awesome. lol anyways, also one of the Tub trains I was in today was like Jerry's BO car in that seinfeld episode it was nasty!!!! lol I know this is not really important to you guys, but know I am doing well and things are ok.... I went to a Career fair on the weekend it was good, up next the job hunt...... talk to you all soon#

hugs

Standing in the Neutral zone, livin on Sleep deprivation

2006-10-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

Good Evening fellow readers,
My computer blows and I am unable to put up pictures right now, but I won't leave you alone in these wide open spaces, so I will write on!

Home alone on this Wednesday night. Not sure about what to do; no car, no homework, nobody... I have to think, "you will go away Kim and there will be alot more of this, a lot more." Read a book, maybe.. I don't know... My visa was processed today so now all thats left is buying the plane ticket and going, far far away, one minute I am excited, one minute I am so nervous... I never used to miss people as much as I do now.... gulp

I don't really have anything to say today except my own boring thoughts..... So i guess thats it.
GAH lol i need pictures to keep it interesting!! O'well

Goodnight ladies and gentlemen,

I went to the Black Eyed Peas on Monday, it was great fun
Stones on Friday and Sunday SOOOOOOOOo excited
Also Charlize Thieron is in Regina right at this minute looking at locations for a movie she is filming and producing here in November, crazy hey.... Star-struck Regina

Why I am still in the Canada after so much travel talk

2006-09-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

Well number one; and if it just an excuse 'fine' because this is really important to me..

I am going to see the Rolling Stones. Legends - - - It's basically like getting to see Bach 3o years after he died. LOL If that makes any sense................. I would pay the $300 if I had too, happily it is only $117, and twice :)

And so, this is occuring at our very own Taylor Field October 6th and 8th.....

Number two; my cousin from Winnipeg came to live in the city for school this year, and I wanted to spend some time with him. Well I need to make a better effort of this one - - it was his 21st birthday yesterday and I forgot to call him !!! Oops.......... Anyways

Number three; basically I have been dragging my ass and just sent my visa application in this week.......... So yah what can you do. I bought a Subway line map for London ;)

Number four; I am working full time as a HR assistant at Employment Network, I thought I would give the job a chance, to see if I truely enjoy this type of work, plus I am learning a ton, and it is just good work experience... So its ok, but I am not sure I am an admin/office/HR type person. My ass gets sore sitting all day.... Its stressful HR is, not for me so much but for the reruiters and such. Very stressful

Number five; I only have one class left to become a lifeguard and I wanted to take the course in September. Well I signed up, its paid for, anddd it was supposed to be this weekend and next. BUT they had to POSTPONE it on account of there being no instructor. GRRRRRRR So that not cool at all. I am jinxed I swear....

Number six; well I think I am out of reasons, my gramma is stressed about me going alone. And I am not THAT worried but people worrying about you starts to get into your head sooner or later.

Number seven; I kinda want to be here when Jen Burton gets back, even if its only to see her once. I really miss you Jen and I want to show you that you have friends back home that will be there for you no matter how long you leave for. Because that is what I hope for in my case. We always hope that when we come back from 'where-ever' that our friends will still be here for us. I know I will always try to be that friend.....

So the plan is the beginning of November, I just am tired of talking about my trip with people, its kinda like when you go to a family reunion and dozens of relatives you don't know at all ask you about school.."Hows school, what are you taking?". You just don't want to talk about it anymore........ I am sure I am also mad at myself for not already being there, but in my heart I know I will get there, and I may be dragging my feet a little in aprehension, bit I know I will get there. So that is my rant, any questions anyone :) ?

You don't love me yet

2006-09-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

So last night I went to the Gaslight Saloon with my sister Kel and my dad to see his friend's son's band play "The Balling Jacks" it was pretty good I thought, but WAYYY late, i didn't get to bed until 3AM!!!!

www.theballingjacks.com Tyler is the one I know lol kinda

anyways on the way home there was this GREAT song on community radio, and it ended with "You don't love me yet, You don't love me yet, You don't love me yet" and that is all I could remember. So I tried to find it, and all I could come up with it "You don't love me yet" by Bongwater... lol And upon listening, that is NOT the right song. Sad Sad Sad

I worked 13 hours today between two jobs :)
fun times indeed

hugs to all

Who taught you to live like that?!!!

2006-09-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hello again, and welcome to everyone whom I never sent the link too before now because I am a dummy and ofcourse you wouldn't know that Alexis the Viking is me from reading Jen's page! lol Ok then........... :)

I present to you the weekend that was - - - - - - -

a momentary lapse of judgement !!

OK, so Jen has come back from Oklahoma for a few short days and we are here at this moment to visit her, at kevins? house... lol anyways Crystal drove me, as everyone knows I usually drive, soooooo I got very easily talked into drinking, yah yah I know, but I have never been drunk yet so I thought hey this be the night! First Nicole maybe be this peach vodka ginerale business and it was very good.......drank it was while watching the Bombers get killed by the Stampeders....

So I played a drinking game with everyone, drink number 2 = vodka and strawberry banana juice.... couldn't taste the grossness so I got crystal and corrie to make it stronger for me......... now it was EWWW

Drink number three, same stuff........... Head starting to feel swayish, giggled uncontrolabley once lol covered mouth with hand........

So drinking game over.......... I know I am in the drunk area, but its only been

3 drinks right!? SO I have a shot of vodka just to make sure it happens for me!

I talked much, learned all about Nicoles boyfriend and sara's upcoming marriage.....

Crystal and I went home at around 1am and THANK GAWD

It was more like EIGHT drinks, because they were BEER CUPs lol so too much wayYYYY too much

cause the moment i walked in my door I was not doing well..... I went to go downstairs to write a drunken email lol cause well thats just what drunk people do, and I only made it to step two! before laying on the stairs for the next hour...................until I could crawl to my bed

Yes the hang over lasted all the next day through................... I do not regret the things I have done LOL I will just never do them again!!!!

thee end

Work Indeed

2006-09-08T15:34:00.000-07:00

In the spirt of Tanya's post of her office and such, I present to you all....

The bakery

in pictures

lol and considering this may have been my last day working here, it was a good time to take some pictures!!!
Alright then, lets get on with it :)

Me, Ruby and Trish in this one, trying out the sepia style ;)

I called Trisha Beebee "Trish" for years, until I found out she hated the name trish lol well this is the "real" Trish" and she is actually my step-aunt, ah yes :) the bakery is a family affair.

I look like a large-headed galoot in this hat lol but o'well... White hats in a bakery, man what were they thinking!! dirtyyy

THis would be Lisa cutting up giant hunks of roast beef, ok no this isn't the bakery, its the deli!! which I help in a nights while those lovely deli-girls go on their brakes.... Good times, I love the slicers, they are exactly like the one Kramer had in that Seinfeld episode, that Elaine borrowed or something lol oh Seinfeld, but a size bigger I think...

One this picture makes my work place look like some sort of gettho concentation camp thingy... This is where donuts are made people!!! beware of evil donuts....

Giant boobs of dough lol enough said

Ok so this is where I would slice bread. Looking at these pictures, I can see that someone who suffered from claustrophobia would not beable to work here... well YAY I am not claustrophoic!!

Anyways I have worked at the Coop Bakery for over 5 years. Since the summer between Grade 11 and 12, its not the greatest job, but life is what you make of it right, and I had some great co-workers and have had some fun times and good memories, and that is all anyone can ask for....

2006-08-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

This post is not really an event, just babysitting my cousins etc. Melissa and Camryn live only 2 minutes away. Aged 6, good times

But Madison and Fallon live in Shilo MB, they came to stay with us for a week.... Most hot week of the summer i tell yous!! Like 33 everyday..... One morning I woke up and it was so hot in the house already I just went straight from my PJs to my bathing suit. I entered a photo contest at the Leaderpost and i won 3rd place!!! so look in the paper this saturday and see my work lol thats all for now........ :) cause i am lazy !

Nipawin Road Trip

2006-08-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

So this weekend, I went with Crystal and Benson up to Nipawin to visit Tanya. Tanya's new man, Steve, was up visiting as well, so we got to meet him... A nice guy :) Good work Tanya!! Tracy and Evan were also there staying in a cabin (Friday and Saturday night) . We went up Saturday morning and stayed at Tanya's apartment until Monday afternoon.

Much fun was had.
We went for a walk on one of the trails, I got to hold Toni's leash (Evan and tracy's dog, he's a cutie)

We went too the Nipawin Museum, and saw many old things. This is a wooden Santa, he looked jolly.
Crystal was trying out her teaching skills in the one room style classroom. She was loving the math problems from the 1926 textbook.

Benson and Tanya were not enjoying the lesson quite as much :) !
We drove on a bridge across the river..
We drove up to Tobin Lake (20 minutes from Tanya's) and went swimming at the beach, the water was beautiful, clear, no rocks in the water, so sandy, I had so much fun swimming. Beautiful...

And on the way we stopped at Tanya's friend Elsa's farm and there were animals, piglets and cows and a huge garden and raspberry bushes Mmmmmm, I had "a few"

We had pizza, went to Vista point to see the dam, and went to the park to ride on the zip line wOooooo it was fun fun, and there is a cool bridge there too.... Nipawin is really in a beautiful spot. Up north I tells ya, its the trees, pretty pretty trees. We had DQ treatza-pizza and rented Sin City, Tanya only lasted half an hour, preceeded to call us "sick fucks" and go to bed LOL I thought it was alright myself....

On Monday we went golfing at the Nipawin golf course and I was actually hitting the ball! I was pumped... Anyways thanks tanya for having us, I had a lovely time. And thanks crystal for driving.... Hugs too all.

Camping at Madge Lake

2006-07-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

So Kelly, mom and I went camping to Duck Mountain Provicial Park July 11th to 15th. This is where Jen Boychuck always talked about going to remember! Madge Lake, I thought of you Jen while driving there, and I looked for your Trailer in the Seasonal Camping, but to no avail, I would assume that you are still in Oklahoma, miss you !!!

These candles burned quick! LOL no story there... Anyways, I ran into Janelle there, she works at the Campground office and her family has a cabin out there. We went over for coffee and cookies on the one raining day out of 4 that we had. Oh man it wasn't just rain it was like flash flood downpour!!!
Kell and I were trying to get creative for this picture, kinda a Kung-fu theme going on there!
The water was very clean really a beautiful place, trees and such, people can't say Saskatchewan is only bald-ass-prairie when we have places like this!
A sunset indeed
Chopping wood with little axe was not the easiest! But I have to say that there is something strangely therapudic about chopping wood. Its a stress reliever or something, you just don't want to stop!

We went horseback riding and it was great!! I got to "lope" which is a notch up from trotting,, kida like a slow gallop, much smoother and so fun. I imagined I was back in the 18 hundreds and galloping across the plains. Very freeing :)

Some hiking, and such, a bit mosquitoee tho!!!!
This picture hear makes me think of Africa or something! I don't know why... Anyways a good one of me and mom :)

Winnipeg Folkfest at Birds Hill Park aka Hippies on Grass

2006-07-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Well hello too all that read.....

Todays post deals with my trip to Winnipeg with my dad and kel...

We went to the folk festival, about 20 minutes away from the Peg, thursday friday and saturday July 6, 7, and 8th.

It was great, everyone sits on tarps, its crazy, i have never seen so many tarps, and if you have lawn chairs they are only those kind that are really low to the ground, as to not impeed the ground sitters view,
Oh the hippies, so laid back, shoeless wonders....
Everyone is so nice, and curtious.
Everyone leaves their bags laying on their tarps and just walking around, no worries of thievery.. No litter, and real plates at all the food vendors! Boys in sorangs.... Free Free Free :)

Little kids dancing in bubbles, who knows where their parents are lol.... But nice kids, not screamy ones, the kind of kids that only hippies could raise.

This is the main stage at night, i moved the camera so it would look all CRAZY lol, there is some hippy bandana in the forground there :) ..............

THis be a list or some the the people i saw:

Bedouin Soundclash

Solomon Burke

Neko Case

Steve Earle

Alejandro Escovedo (was awsome) i here also saw a crazy dancing hippy lady with hairy arm pits :)

Ruthie Foster

Dan Frechette (grreat voice... i liked him)

The Grande Mothers (who are apparently like members of the mothers of invention, frank zappas band, lol who knew :) yes i know i am dumb)

Crooked Still (crazy cello player with an elf toque good times)

Low (sweet)

The Sadies

Son Volt (soooo goood, i sang every song) woops jay is sideways, oh well, its was awsome :)

Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience (people were dancing like mad!!)

Hawksley Workman (pooh-full-of-his-face mcgee)

These popcicles must have been on like dry ice!!!

They were steaming!!!

Beautiful weather

Awsome time is the moral of this tale!

hmm hmm hmm

2006-06-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

how does one get pictures on here!!?

woot woot I think I got it!!!

Well this would be kel, jen and I's trip to The Peg for the Death Cab for Cutie/FrazFerdinand show

which was AWSOME!!!

and my cousin nick, is this boy

We are doing our best to capture the EMO image in the picture (I think I am the worst at it)

On the way the Winnipeg, the car broke down, we hitch-hiked in 3 different cars and a tow-truck! Good times LOL and it was like 28 degrees outside in April, I love the praireis!!!!!

The tow-truck ppl had a dog named bettsie, she slobbered alot.... that would be our broken car in the backgound!!

The concert was so worth it.... Road trips :)

ok well that is all for now.........

I think I need to shower LOL

currently listening TOO

Beating Hearts Baby..... Head Automatica

June 14th and Feelin Fine

2006-06-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Well, Jen I am joinin up :)
Maybe I will keep this up if I travel too....
And until then I can post to talk to you!