Christmas functions

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!

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

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

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

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

Wedding photos

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

October heat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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!

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

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!!