i have a LOT of packing to do

I'm slightly intimidated.....

time's catching up with me...

....so I'm slowly but surely edging into the final straights here. I'm a lot sad about that. It's funny when I think about coming out here, I was crying SO much - even when I got off the plane in Canada. But now I love it. It's weird how you cope and just get on with stuff....I think....is it? Maybe it's not. I don't know.

Anyway - enough of that!! I went to my first hockey game last week and i LOVED it!!! I'll get some pictures up soon..I could totally love that game :-)

yes, i know - but i've been busy!!!

So it's been a while.....

Am still super busy at work, so I won't bore you with that - still randomly enjoying it which is good.

Weather update: it is very very very cold. Anything I've said earlier about being cold, please disregard as I obviously didn't know what I was talking about. Today the high was -11 and that's the warmest it's going to get for the foreseeable. In the next few days, Calgary will be seeing lows of up to -29 and HIGHS of -24 ish. I just don't have the words.

So - the best thing that I've done in the past few weeks is make a quick weekend trip back to London for "the wedding of Fran and Kris". Fantastic, fabulous and formidable (the french version, not the english there....). It was a joyous day to be part of (and well worth sitting necy to The Most Annoying Man In The World Ever on the flight over) and I'm so pleased I had a good seat for the event!! I may have cried a bit - oh, alright then, a LOT. I actually sobbed my little heart out. I think it was obvious how much it meant to those two and everyone was quite touched. The reception in the Guildhall Crypt was amazing, such a cool venue and I don't think I'll ever forget the sight of all the guests out waving sparklers around outside at almost midnight. Thanks to Mary, the ubiquitous Irish landlady, the festivities continued well into the wee hours.

It was great to get back to London after all this time and see all my friends. It really made me realise how much I've missed you all and London. It also made me realise, or reminded me I suppose, that I am an 'out of sight, out of mind' type rather than an 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. I wonder if that's a coping mechanism?? Before getting back to London, I could definitely have stayed in Calgary for years and years, but I'm not so sure now...the shoe shopping alone is reason enough to move back! Speaking of, I have a return date. I shall be arriving in London on Sunday 17th December for good. The Canadian adventure draws to a close. Which makes me a bit sad. The time has gone by far too quickly and I could do with another six or twelve months....but time waits for no man and all that...

Right - before I 'treat' you all to another Mooney stream of consciousness, I think I'll head to bed, I'm still not quite over the jetlag!

Ooooh - before I go, forgot to mention: the night I arrived back into Calgary after the London weekend, I managed to stay up until 8pm before I hit the sack. I was wonderfully ensconced in sleepyland when I was rudely awakened by the fire alarm. I tried my best to ignore it, until I heard faint sirens in the distance getting louder and louder. A fire truck and a police car pulled up outside my window flashing blue and red lights into my room. I peeked out my door, starting to worry that it was more than a false alarm only to see about six firemen running past. I promptly shut the door and went back to bed - I was soooo tired and figured they'd wake me if there really was a fire!! I couldn't get back to sleep (alarms, flashing lights, general pandemonium outside) and tried to think about what I'd save from my flat if there was indeed a fire. My handbags I think came top of the list....and then I fretted about whether or not I should go and put some clothes on just in case I did get bundled out in a hurry. After 40 minutes of crazy inducing noise, the false alarm was outed for what it was and quietness descended...until an hour later when the bally thing went off again, thankfully only for five minutes or so this time.

How bad is that though - handbags?!?

30

So.....there we are....and here I am...

30. Wow. That's old. I remember thinking about this age as a youngster and being convinced that at this ripe old age I'd have it all figured out, probably married with a few kids of my own. Turns out that's not really happening. What I do have is a lot of good memories and plenty more good friends. And the knowledge that the concept of age is a shifting thing. At 16, 30 felt ancient, light years away....but now? I know plenty of 40 year olds who still haven't matured (read: grown old). I can't pretend that I'm not slightly devastated at being THIS OLD, but I'll deal with it - there are plenty of other things in life to worry about.

I've done some pretty cool/ amusing things thinking about it, including living and studying in France, living and working in the US for a summer, jumping off a mountain (with a parachute), being stretchered off a mountain (yeah - not one of my highlights!!), moving from London to Dublin, moving back again to London, buying a house, paying bills, pretty much being independent from the age of 18, living in Canada, seeing Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge, travelling in Thailand, making new "best" friends in the ladies, hanging out with male models, being a godmother, kitting the parents out with a new front room, getting a job, getting a better job, travelling to South Africa for a weekend (and staying in a fanTAStic hotel), being the 'May Queen', going undergroung in a gold mine, playing on a massive mining truck in Fort McMurray (google it), graduating Uni (certificate in 8/11/2000 - cool!!) and having the ceremony in Irish and Latin so I understood NOTHING, recording an album, meeting Rolf Harris (paj - that one's for you!!), winning a PJ and Duncan competition on my 18th birthday (Fran - remember that?!?!), having my parents call the police thinking I was a "missing person", owning stuff already that appears in magazines' "hot lists" (I recognise that this might not impress anyone but me!) and knowing you lot through it all.

I think the best thing that I've done is make some fantastic friends. Friends who won't let me wallow as much as I'd like, granted, but bloody good people all the same.

cold

has a whole new meaning to me now. This week, when i heard on the news that the high was -4, i was pleased that it was warming up. Heading out in the morning with the knowlegdge that's it's -14 is scary stuff.

I need to get me some gloves

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

So....after being totally freaked out that I was late (EVERY YEAR that gets me, every year!!) I have now put all my clocks back the requisite one hour. Hopped into the shower while I put the coffee on to brew, out of shower, in my robe feeling luxuriously clean and moisturised, caffeine in hand, open the blinds to see what the day has in store for me

and BAM

Welcome to October in Calgary.....it's a winter wonderland out there! And still snowing. And I don't own a proper snow proof coat. And I don't own a hat. And I've lost my gloves (been talking about getting new ones for months now).

It's making me feel strangely Christmassy though, I've got all those "walking around the Christmas tree...la la la" type songs in my head. And it's not even Halloween!!!

[As an aside, I really miss Halloween in school, drawing witches flying through the moonlight over a darkened row of houses - you know the idea]

so...ummmm.it's been a while

How the devil are you all??

I've been a busy bee in the last month. I went home to Ireland for my cousin's wedding (photos on flickr) which was GREAT. It was lovely to get home to see the parentals and the two kids and it was also great to meet up with the extended family which I don't do too often. We stayed two nights in a hotel in the wesht which was a nice break for us all. The week FLEW by, but I did manage to buy not one but TWO dresses (including a nice blue one, so I'm all set for Fran and Kris's upcoming BIG DAY).

Since I've got back to Calgary I've not actually had a day off work, which sucks but (GEEK) I'm also really enjoying the work. And that's pretty much all I've been doing - just in the door at 11.40pm!!! It's kind of nice for the ego to be working on deals that are getting lots of press coverage though.

I actually don't have much more to add than that really....I'm not sure when my last day here will be, but it's rapidly approaching :-( I'll really miss it here, it has proven to be exactly what I needed and I've made loads of new friends and feel like it's done wonders for my confidence (I know there's some of you out there who probably think I don't need any help in that area at all!!!)

So...hopefully I'll be back to more frequent updates in the life of the moon. Tell me your stories!

Night xxx

whodunnit??

They're having to remove the microwave from the second floor kitchen at the London office because "someone has taken the glass plate".

I have nothing more to say...

wow I'm tired...

...I've just spent the day building houses!! Got picked up at 6.45am and have been busy sawing, hammering nails and shifting bits of wood about...I know this may be a surprise to a few of you, but I'm actually pretty handy on a building site - its just so much easier to play dumb and let someone else do things for you normally, but I have that smug glow of someone who's satisfied with a hard day's work. And I might even make the local news (yes - me working hard for a change IS a newsorthy item out in Calgary!!!).

I've had a bath and a shower and feel nice and refreshed and ready to take on the night's entertainment :-)

Before I go - just enough time for a big WOW for Cath - jumping out of planes over lakes??! I'm jealous!! Can't wait to catch up with you in November!!!

Holiday!!

So…..I’m back again after traveling the length and breadth of the country….well, almost!! I had a great time, felt like much more than just under a week and a half which can only be a good sign! So what did we do I hear you ask? The first part of the holiday was spent in…

Calgary/ Rockies

I took Anne and Claire to the nice steak restaurant the night they arrived as I don’t think they really had the energy to do much else. It was really nice – old fashioned with some scary interpretations of interior decorating, but we survived the evil fairy things on the wall and the scary paintings and managed to have a very nice meal washed down with a few drinks in the bar/ drawing room. Next day it was up early and away on our tour of the rockies with our guide Petar who is originally from Croatia. It was just the three/ four of us which was great – much more personal than the trip I took previously and no annoying waiting for the silly girl who never managed to make it back to the bus anywhere near on time! We saw more lakes and mountains, but no waterfalls this time although we did get out to the Athabasca glacier which was pretty cool (naturally enough for a glacier I suppose!!). It was a long old day, but a good time was had by all including our guide who acted like he was on a tour of his own and took pictures left right and centre. He posed for one with myself and Anne which was when he declared “I like to hug” and proceeded to put his arm around Anne!! I think she has a husband here if she ever wants one :-). I went back to work the next day and then on Thursday it was off to…

San Francisco!

We arrived in the afternoon after an early-ish morning flight, dumped our bags and set off to explore. Our hotel was in a fab location and I’d definitely go back to it (despite the old people’s home smell!). We found an Irish shop so went in on a whim as Claire wanted teabags. Once inside we discovered a world of tat and were about to leave when Anne asked if there were any local Irish bars (we’d read that there isn’t much of an Irish scene in San Fran really). Turns out there was one (pretty much right behind our hotel) so we made our way there to have a late lunch. Claire’s flatmate and sister (Una and Mairead) were in San Fran having spent the weekend in Vegas, so they decided to meet us there…despite deciding to only stay for lunch and ‘the one’ we didn’t end up leaving until about 1am that night!! It was a great bar – brilliant barmen and we’d stumbled upon a live music night courtesy of Nikki, the friendly local transsexual! She was great – had a big list of songs for everyone to request from including some serious Irish rebel numbers. Add to that a few songs done in the style of Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash (yes – all in the same number) and a few shots on the house and you’ve pretty much got an idea of the night that was had. Great craic altogether. The next few days were spent visiting Alcatraz, going on a wine tour in Sanoma, shopping, going to the aquarium, looking at the sea lions, taking street cars, eating at the worst restaurant in the history of the world ever (you know who you are, Swiss Louis) avoiding crazy people (of which there are legion) and trying to keep warm. I hadn’t heard before that the coldest winter Mark Twain ever spent was a summer in San Francisco but I don’t think I’ll forget that in a hurry – the fog is a killer!! On the Tuesday morning it was an EARLY start for the flight to…

Toronto!

We arrived in the afternoon again and followed the concierge’s recommendation for a steakhouse a short walk away. I chose badly it would seem, but everyone else seemed happy with the food. The waiter however was a different matter, we had encountered our first experience of what I had heard about lots in Calgary – the infamous ‘tood of those ‘out East’ (apparently Toronto only counts as out East when you live faaaar in the West as I do as its actually more like Central Canada – those truly out East in St Johns tend to take offence at that description!!). Craig, our friendly waiter was the sort to bring us the cheque without enquiring as to our appetite for seeing the dessert menu or drinking some coffee. Naturally we demanded coffee after the cheque arrived just to make a point. Hmph. Next day we went to the CN Tower which is a bit rubbish actually. We’d expected a whole floor of glass, but there was only a tiny bit mostly overrun with Japanese tourists throwing themselves on the floor and making the peace sign all over the place. We mooched around and ate some LOVELY food and didn’t go to the cinema. We had a tour of Niagara the following day which included a tour of a winery. At 10am. The three of us opted out of that one….Niagara on the lake is a gorgeous little town and the actual falls are pretty awesome, especially when seen from the boat. Niagara the town is not. I have NEVER been anywhere as tacky in my life. Ever. The three of us were pretty gobsmacked at the state of it, a complete tack attack next to one of the most amazing natural sights of the world!! Anne and Claire left on the Saturday and I stayed on until labour day with the fabulous Ms Proll. It was great to catch up and hang out in Toronto – you live in a very cool area Sarah and I am jealous!! I’d start worrying if I was you – I know where you live and I might just find the excuse to make a weekend trip to Toronto in the not so distant future!!

So – a whirlwind of an adventure and I haven’t even begun to tell all the stories, but if I did that then I’d have nothing to talk to you about the next time I see you all! My next adventure will be at the end of the month when I go home for a week as it’s my cousin’s wedding which I’m greatly looking forward to! Hope all is well in the world of you all – let me know if you’ve any news, but feel free to say hi even if you’ve been boring!! ;-)

Link to pics on the sidebar....

xxx

low fat cheese

it just doesn't work. I think if you're going to have cheese then you just need to be a man about it and have the cheese. anything else is just horrible. yes, i realise it's taken a large part of my life to figure this out, but there you go. words of wisdom for you all. i suggest you take note.

my best friend's wedding

Its suddenly dawned on me that Fran's getting married.

That's awfully grown up...and that's not meant as a slight to your maturity Fran, I just think it is a BIG THING. Are you officially a grown up now? I think you must be. But I know you're not really...well, you are in some ways. Lots of ways. But not in others. When are we officially grown up? I definitely don't feel it, but I have an ugly birthday ahead of me...although I think I'm going to be in Canada until Christmas so I don't have to face any of you lot on my 30th, I can just slide into it...unnoticed :-)

As an aside, there's just been such a loud thundercrack that its honestly hurt my eardrums and all the car alarms are going mad!!!!

I can't actually believe I'm this old...I don't feel like I've actually acheived anything yet...I'm still in the whole 'stop the world, I want to get off' frame of mind. Maybe that means I haven't found my "thing" yet?? Fran's got her writing and Cath's got her travelling...and....I'm going to figure out my thing. Hopefully before I'm 40. Or 50. Who knows?

Ok...I'm going now because it sounds like fireworks out there and I don't want to be connected to anything electrical!!!! Maybe this is God telling me to stop thinking so much!!!!


ARGH

Mountains, lakes and waterfalls - oh my!

Yesterday I took a trip around Alberta's m, l & w and all I can say is WOW. Wow wow wow. I got picked up yesterday morning at 6.05am (well, actually 6.15am as busman was late...either way, still WAY too early for a Sunday!!) and after a few stops, we made it to Banff, which is a ski resort from November - April/ May and gorgeously pretty the rest of the year.

It’s also quite cold. Getting dressed at 5am, I was focusing more on the glorious forecast of 29C and not on the fact that I was going UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS. Suffice to say, when I got off the coach to spend 90 mins looking around Banff and I could see my breath in front of me, my t-shirt didn't seem like such a good idea. At all. My first clue should have been the attire of all the other seasoned travelers who were all in parkas and/ or jumpers. After calling my sister to practically cry down the phone about exactly how cold I was, I saw, incredibly, (don’t forget, this is about 8am on a Sunday) a shop that was open. Hurrah! After a nice chat with the woman who ran the shop who’s been here 23 years but is originally from East London I was the proud owner of a new black fleece.

Banff itself is gorgeous, I’d love to go there again; hopefully I’ll be able to hit it in ski season. First stop was a lovely waterfall at Johnston Canyon. After that, it was a whirlwind of incredible upon incredible. My favourite places were Lake Louise where we stopped for lunch and Lake Moraine . Just breathtaking. The water is a crazy turquoise green and they are just so peaceful.

You can see pics on my flickr site here

long weekend!!

They kind of creep up on you over here....but this weekend is a long'un. I was going to go whitewater rafting tomorrow, but that's had to be postponed. So instead, I'll be going to work....yay....

Apart from that, I've got a tour planned for Sunday. 15 hours of exploring Alberta's waterfalls and lakes - including Lake Louise!! [cheesy photographs beckons methinks :-)]. On Monday, I'm going for a facial dahlink....one must treat oneself now and then - don't you think? A lot of this weekend will be spent in my own company and I'm looking forward to it. I've never taken a tour by myself before, so will be interesting. I'll bring my ipod just in case there are worse nutters than me out there!!

I will be partying with the laydeez tomorrow night - dinner then maritinis in a fab bar about 2 minutes from my place, so I'm looking forward to that!!!

I've not really figured out what I'll do on Saturday...so if any of you have any suggestions, let me know!!!

So what have I been up to?

Not a whole lot - just chilling out after Stampede and planning my next holiday - I'm really looking forward to it! Travelling around Calgary, to Banff (to go visit the glacier) and then off to San Fran for some redwood, Alcatraz and wine tasting and then off to Toronto where we're going to see Niagara falls which I'm childishly excited about :-). I'm going to stay on with Proll for a bit after my sister and Claire leave which should be much fun as I'll be there for the bank hol too.

I saw Pirates 2 this weekend. It was good...although I can' t help feeling slightly disappointed as in my opinion it had about 30mins too much fluff. I'm looking forward to 3 though....Louise Depp.....it has a ring, non?! I also played 5 pin bowling. NEVER heard of the game before, but it was much fun...after I figured out how to play it. Its different to 10 pin (apart from the obvious name) in that you have less pins and only one size of ball (about half the size of the ten pin). No holes, you kind of have to get a grip of it (which is hard for those of us 'blessed' with dainty hands) and fire down towards the pins. Plus, there are less pins and they're more spaced out so you often just hit one. I managed to win the first game which I was most impressed with, but didn't do so well on the other two! I am hooked though - its much harder than the traditional bowling!

I'm also back to doing some finkin bout stuff.......not quite figured out what I want to do, but I've got a few irons in the fire!!

So that was Stampede

I made it!!

Wow - I had a BLAST. Actually made it to the rodeo on Friday, my boss gave me a couple of the company tickets which were centre, third row! Was great, almost felt like I was a part of the action myself!!! I'm really pleased I got the chance to see it up close, not many people get that opportunity. You can check out the picks I took by following the link on the right....

Friday night I *was* planning to have a quiet one in, but the guys at work had other ideas, so I headed out after the rodeo and I'm so glad I did! It was a great night and I took loads of pictures. Last friday of Stampede and it was spent at Cowboys (a club which is becoming my local). They had a big tent in the carpark during stampede which was the place to be and we got there around 7.30pm and stayed until the wee hours. Lots of dancing and fun had by all.

So - back to normality now. It seems strange being back at work in a suit, everyone seems so overdressed!!

BBQs and pancakes

Today was really busy at work - lots of stuff coming out of left-field and random meetings. The day was started with a traditional stampede breakfast of pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and potato things. I could only manage some of the pancakes and bacon (washed down with about a litre of maple syrup!).

I managed to escape at a decent hour though and after a disastrous attempt at getting the c-train, I met up with a friend and we headed to the night's activity which saw me attending a conservative fundraiser!! I suffered through a LOT of speeches and clapping and standing up and even had to pretend I knew the words to the Canadian national anthem :-) I did get to speak to the man (aka the Canadian Prime Minister) though, so am working through royalty and the hob nobs in parliament whilst out here!! I need to meet a few hockey players and rock stars next!!!!

Watch this space....

Whatever happened

to John Malkovitz????

Still alive.....

Wow. I made it through the weekend. I am very impressed!!! Yesterday was a whole lot of fun and I have added to my collection of things to stick on my person/ hat and things to hang around my neck!!!! I have no idea what time we left, but it was dark, so I put in a good innings. My feet KILL me today and I remember lots of dancing, including leading a conga line!

I managed to get out to watch the world cup final with a guy from work and a couple of his buddies. After starting on diet coke, I braved a beer and nursed it for an hour and a half!!! The rest of the day has been spent lazing around and trying to stay out of the sun/ hail.

This Stampede thing is great, but I'm going to have to pace myself. There's a huge party on Wednesday and I think I'm being taken to the rodeo/ chuck wagon races tomorrow or Tuesday (which is also the BBQ with the Canadian Prime Minister!). And best of all, MC Hammer is playing the wrap party next Sunday! You can't touch this.....

Cowboys rock!

yeeeeee haawwwww!!!!!!

Stampede has arrived! My day at work yesterday consisted of arriving at around 10.45am, leaving to get beer and burgers (on order of the boss!) at 11.15am, getting back to work at 1.30pm, planning the afternoon's festivities then leaving at 3.30pm.

We went to a club called coyotes and whiled away the time on the patio drinking beer (and the occasional shot) and listening to a few bands. I red carded myself at around 10pm which was one of my better ideas! I woke up this morning at 5am feeling like death, but a few cups of coffee and two english muffins and I'm ready to do it all over again. Which is good as that's exactly what's going to happen. A taxi is coming at 11.45 (about 25 mins time) to take me to the first stop on today's club call.....lord help me! I think I'll probably be going home at around 3pm, but festivities aren't scheduled to end until 3am!!!!!!! These Calgarians are kerazy. Still, I'm wearing my I 'heart' cowboys t-shirt and I'm ready to give it my best shot!!!!

Only in Calary

I got off the plane expecting the nice 'dry heat' I have come to expect only to find HUMIDITY and hotness...argh! I noticed, on my walk to the 7-11, the charcoal grey clouds in the sky and felt that a storm was a brewin. I was right. We had heat, sun, hail, rain, thunder and lightening all in one.


WOW

Miss me??

I'm baaaaaaack!!!!

I had a GREAT time - so first up, thanks a million Shauna and Jim, I had a ball and am more in love with Charleston now than ever!! I demand you find me a nice Southern boy to marry so I can move down there forthwith....

Was a bit of a trauma getting down there, in part my fault and in part idiocy on the part of airline staff in general. And customs.

Friday morning my flight was at 7am. I was informed that leaving at 5am would be fine, so I booked a taxi for 4.50am just in case. I set my alarm for 4am (bathed and pretty much packed the night before, so not much to do...). I then panicked and decided to set it for just before four. I awoke from a bizarre dream to the sound of a buzzer...it was 4.55am, the taxi was slightly late and I err...was still in bed. Turns out I'd forgotten to change the hour along with the minutes and had set the alarm for 4.56am....d'oh!!! So I ran around panicking, dumped the last few things in my bag and jumped in the taxi.

I made my way to the Delta checkin. It was quite confusing, but I found the right line. After queueing for about 30 mins and with one other person in front of me, we were informed that our line was now first class only and we had to join the back of the other queue


!!#$%$@#@!#!!!@

so anyway, I finally got through, only had carry on luggage, so made my way to US customs. Only one person ahead of me - woo hoo!!! So I got up to the chap who proceeded to give me all kinds of grief the like of which I've never experienced before about what I was planning to do in America, what I was doing in Canada, why I had an Irish passport...I was probably there for about 5 minutes (time now was 6.30am, plane leaves at 7am.....) before he told me I had to fill out some form - he pointed to 4 boxes I had to fill in and the time we spent arguing about why exactly I couldn't fill it in there and then instead of going to some table and getting back in line I could have probably translated the bible into irish, but anyway - so I go fill out the boxes, get back in line, smile my best smile at some hard nosed chick who promptly turns the form over and points to the other four boxes and back I head to my table. I finally fill out all boxes, get through customs and then queue again to get scanned (time check: 6.47am). It takes a few goes before I am beep free, at which stage my shoes, cardigan and belt are no longer on my person. I also had the indignity of the french canadian requesting that she touch the area around my jean button/ zip...after which she had a good feel of my bra fastener area (all which I'm trying to do the job of my much needed belt), much to the amusement of the guys in line behind me.

Finally made it to the boarding area and was the second last person on the plane. I sat in my seat hot, flushed, stressed and very aware of the fact that I hadn't showered that morning. To the cute guy that sat next to me who also had to put up with my jerking awake and drooling (why lord, WHY?!?!?!) I can only apologise!!!!

Still, it was ALL worth it. To those of you who haven't been yet, make it a priority. Charleston is a great place - full of history with a nice slow pace of life. And great seafood :-)

So - what did I miss??

Friends and Life and STUFF (2)

So. I wrote a while back about feeling a bit 'argh' about life, the universe and everything. I've not really thought about that kind of thing again until now, but I think I've got a different perspective on it all (obviously not got the PMT influence of the last post...). I think its GREAT that I know people in random places and that all my friends aren't in the same place. Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if we all lived on the same street...the same TOWN would be a start. But, I've realised that because we're all in difference places (both physcially and emotionally/lifestyle-y.....maaan) we all have different perspectives and insight into things. Just talking to someone who you don't see every day about something that's going on in your life can make you appreciate it from a different angle. Actually saying things out loud and describing situations can either help you realise that you're not mad....or maybe realise you are and totally overreacting.

It also makes me think that I'm not such a bad person if I'm such good friends with people who I'm not just friends with because circumstance (ie: living next door) makes it easy.

So..who would pick the easy life? It'd probably mean I'd know less than half of you lot as I'd never have gone to Ireland/ America/ France/ back to London/ Canada.

xxx

hello there

I am so excited about going to Charleston this Friday!!!! wooooo hoooo!!!!! Holiday. yay :-)

AND i get to see shauna again.

Shauna for the unitiated is the best person in the whole world. And Jim's ok too ;-)

Nothing much has been going on, I'm pretty boring really. I'm just happy. Happy's good.

sod's law

no one likes it...apart from sod i guess..

so...normally when we go out, its to a club called Mynt. Its fun - a few different dance floors, one of cheese (where I normally hang out) and a few others. Tonight we fancied a change so we went to Whisky. Which is 'ok'. Huge club, bit cheesy. Fun.

However....

Tonight, Josh Hartnett and Samel L Jackson were in Mynt. Dammit. Apparently they're shooting a film here...

Dammit. Times a million.

First day of summer???

Lovely day today...sun, blue skies, beautiful.

And then

Thunder storms and the most hail I have ever seen in my life.

Good Lord.

Its nice again now, but seriously - I thought the end of the world was nigh there for a minute!!!

Well hi there!

I've realised I've not chatted to you in a while, so I thought I'd make sure you're all still ok out there. How's it all going?

Things is good here, thanks for asking. Am pottering along at work and still finding it all interesting and CAN'T wait to go to Charleston next week - YAY SUN!!!!! And then when I get back its Stampede time. Preparations are underway - the town is slowly but surely becoming cowboyified (yes, its a word). The information kiosk at the bottom of bottom of bankers hall is now an information wagon (it really is a wagon now). There are wagon wheels popping up all over the place, invites to numerous stampede breakfasts coming through thick and fast and I'm feeling the need to buy myself a cowboy hat. And maybe some boots. And a big old belt buckle.....

a bit sad

That's what I was today....not for long though. It was a bit of a shock to the system to be honest. I've been through periods of my life where I feel like I've been sad an awful lot, although thankfuly not recently. I don't know what brought it on. Well, maybe I do a bit. My problem is that I sometime have too many ideas...all of which have merit, but I can't focus on just the one and then end up getting in a funk because I can't do it all and then end up doing none of them!! Which is ridiculous. But true.

So how do I fix it?? Focus. I need focus. And I also need to get some of my self-belief back. I used to think that I could do anything, but now it seems like I need some affirmation from someone else. Which shouldn't really be the case. I should be capable of making life decisions, sticking to them and not being afraid to tell people when I've DONE something instead of talking great ideas to death...and ultimately talking myself out of them. I've done some things in the past (including coming to Canada) like that, where not everyone was supportive, but I knew it was the right thing for me. And I knew I could do it and make a success of it. I need to apply that belief to all parts of my life.

I'm also not very happy at all about my upcoming birthday. Which I need to get past....and SOON!! I think I've become aware of this a lot more accutely recently...so maybe that's step one?

Argh!! I've just realised this whole post has been about me thinking about things that probably don't need to be thunked about. Sheesh...

Suffice it to say I've got lots of ideas floating around in my head now for my next step...some of them a lot more crazy (and interesting) than others. So I think I might just try and surprise you lot sometime soon. And I think I believe I can. That's the best I can do for now!!

Hello hello

Thought I'd check in before I get told off for not writing enough!! Have had a good week and great weekend. Bought lots of nice clothes yesterday including two great bikinis for Charleston -woo hoo!! Can't wait to get down there!!

Got my hair sorted yesterday - ended up being at the hairdressers for 3 and a half hours!!!! Didn't realise that it was some kind of crazy makeover place, he took one look at my hair and devised cut, colour and highlights. It looks GREAT!!! I was slightly worried at one stage, but really - all good :-) And dead cheap too (well, compared to London...)

AND - I've been invited to a BBQ during Stampede where the Prime Minister of Canada is the guest...dahlink, I'm really moving in different social circles over here ;-)

Weather has been crappy and that's the ONLY downside. I think its going to be better next week though - and there are lots of BBQs planned for next weekend.

Hope life's treating you all well xxx

Last night

turned out to be a good night in the end. We arrived at around 6.45pm for the champagne reception and I was one of the 'chosen' ones who actually got to speak to himself the Prince. Must have talked to him for oooh 5 minutes. Did my half curtsey as instructed on the invite materials (how to address HRH if you have the opportunity to meet him) and talked to him about how I was enjoying Calgary/ my job/ the weather...

The dinner itself was really good - lovely food (foie gras, lamb then some kind of frozen creme brulee thing) and good wine/ champagne flowing throughout. We had a few speeches which were dangerously close to TOO LONG, espeically since the first few ocurred while our starter was sitting in front of us! We decided not to stay for coffee & liqueurs since by then it was 10.30pm and we were all starting to fade. On the way out we got a nice pen in something that looks like a tiny clutch bag from a London goldsmith, so all in all an interesting night. Something I'm sure I'd never would have had the oppportunity to attend in London: yet another reason to back up my decision to come out here!

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to bring out own cameras (official media only dahlink) but I was actually photographed whilst speaking to Ed and had to give my name to some PR chap so I don't have any pictures to prove the presence of my legs to you, Kris. However, I'm sure you're an avid OK/ Hello/ Tatler reader, so you'll probably see the pictures of me in a glossy society mag near you soon!!!! ;-)

Legs!

I'm sat here in a dress waiting for my taxi to take me to a gala dinner where the Earl and Countess of Wessex are the special guests.

I know!!!

And I got told at 9.30am this morning. So I went shoppping at 10am...I really haven't done much work today. (Women have to wear cocktail dresses...). I like my new dress :-) and I do believe it likes me - woo hoo!!!

I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow...

Happy June

wow....its been a while since I last wrote! Things going along well, I'm settling in more and more. This weekend has been great and it seems like I've been away from work for more than two days which is always a nice feeling. I went out for dinner on Friday night and ate Caribou for the first time. And it was very nice thank you very much :-) It was great - sat outside, listening to a fantastic band. They did loads of covers and managed to sound like whichever artist they were covering, brilliant. Then we went dancing - I've not danced that much in AGES and I had great fun. I met some crazy girl from Russia who's been in Calgary for 7 months. She decided I was very beautiful and wants to make me up. I don't think I can ever go back to that club ever again. Ever.

Yesterday I did something that I think will make my dad proud - I was at Calgary Irish rugby club, watching a game! Was great fun, although I managed to get myself a bit sunburnt. I'm the proud owner of a farmer's tan -my uncles would be so impressed! Then after a bit of 'hanging out' I was back out again as some of the guys in the office were celebrating the end of exam season. Another good night and got walked home by three nice young men (Mooney magic on form, good to see...).

Today I just chilled in the sun and did some shopping - finally picked up 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' which I am looking forward to reading, its taken me long enough!!

So - all well in the world of Louise, am still having the big fun and I'm looking forward to the next few months. I'm especially looking forward to going to San Fran and Toronto with Anne and Clare, might even take a helihopper ride over Niagara falls - woooo hooooo!!!!!!

Argh!!

Why why why why does it always happen? So I'm waiting for a delivery that was supposed to come between 6-7pm (ish). I hate waiting for things, so have been agitated that it wouldn't come, or something would screw up all afternoon. I couldn't take a bath, change into my pjs or whack a face mask on or do any of my usual "good lord, its Sunday night and I have a whole week of fun ahead" rituals: just in case my delivery came.

Then at 9.50pm I thought 'screw this, I'm going to at least brush my teeth and clean my face'. So just when my face is covered with foam?

The buzzer goes. I quicky rinse and go out to the door...where cute guy is standing with my package. I get through the encounter, go back to the bathroom and realise I hadn't quite rinsed as effectively as I'd thought and still have foam bits on my face.

Nice.

Friends and Life and STUFF

Yeah so I don't really know what I'm going to say here except I fear, dear readers, that you are about to meet a Mooney stream of consciousness. For some people this may be a first - others of you are already raising those baby blues to the skies....

So things are weird. I love it here. Really, its cool and I LOVE being in different places. However, this little love of mine means that I'm away from people I love a lot. I've never really felt "at home" since I left home at 18 to go to Uni. And mum, when you read this, I don't mean that I don't feel at home in Enniskillen, because I do when I'm there - how could I not, with you and grizzly and the TEENAGER and anne and the ever amazing wishbone...but its weird. Since I left home, my accent has never been quite right, or I've lived on a different island to my parents, or SOMETHING - you know? And I'm wondering when it's all going to come together and I'm going to live near the family and CLOSE to my friends and just feel like I fit. Somewhere.

I feel really really old sometimes: like I'm supposed to have done SO much already by this age..I think I work in an industry that favours the young and I'm getting past it very very quickly. Other times I feel really young and inexperienced in a lot of life stuff that I should really have gotten to grips with by now...but don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to say that everyone doesn't feel like that most/ some/ all? of the time too...Believe me, I know I'm not special in that regard! But I do wish I was five years younger sometimes!!

I think that the point of this is to say that I miss you lot loads. Sometimes I'm not forthcoming with that kind of information, but I have to be independent and I have to get on with it all and try and make new friends and the best of wherever I happen to be otherwise I'd be a complete mess and I do think one of (the only?!?) my better qualities is that I can (superficially at least) fit in and make new friends and get on with stuff wherever I find myself, but that's because if I let myself think about the brilliant people in my life who I love who aren't around me all of the time I think I would have a breakdown!!! I have people who I count as friends of mine in Enniskillen, London, Haywards Heath, Essex, Toronto, Charleston, Sydney, the Philippines, RANDOM parts of South America and potentially Calgary. Which is both fantastic and irritating.

When does it all come together?

hello kids

i hope all is well in the worlds of you all...

just wanted to let you know that even though i'm over in canadia, i'm still the same mooney. i am still super clumsy...

friday i hit my hand on the light over my bed and cut myself

sunday i hit my hand on the fan above my bed when it was going on high - thought i'd broken it!! - i have a gorgeous HUGE bruise and a nice cut on the back of my hand

and i've just cut my finger on the sharp bit of the cling film

i am a special special girl....

a propos de nothing

well i really have nothing to report, but fancied writing a blog anyway...I don't let anything like a reason for writing get in my way!! I'm quite tired, was in work at 6.30 this morning (oops - 10 mins late...) and the next time I looked at the time it was 7.30pm!! Had a bit of a crazy day, lots on and random unplanned meetings to attend...I'm quite tired, was in work this weekend (two 12 hour days - living the dream baybee) and am at that stage where I can't quite shut down and sleep at night; am permanently focussed on work. Weirdly, however, I'm still enjoying it (although I'm looking forward to some time off!!! Fingers crossed for the long weekend...). Its nice to be around smart people who expect 'great things' from me as it kind of makes me step it up a notch which is something I've not felt for a while...so that's good. If a bit geeky, but then those of you who know me well know that I'm a geek at heart :-)

I really like it here. Its not home, but I suppose you get used to things quickly. Everything is getting more and more familiar...the main thing I miss is having a network of friends/ family around. I don't often feel lonely, but there has been the odd time here and there where I've wished that one of you was here to play with me. But you have to get on with it and make it work otherwise you'd go mad I guess....

I don't want this to sound down or depressed or anything because its really not how I'm feeling.

On another note, I really want to be a singer. Am watching american idol and although its essentially a rubbish programme, one of the girls has an excellent voice and I'm all jealous....in my next life maybe.

6.20am

that's the time i have to be in work tomorrow.....

Brilliant! (Again)

Forgot to say, I saw another 'good' ad - this one is about the deodorant that avoids those nasty white stains on your LBD. It depicts the lengths girls go to to avoid this disaster, one of which is to take a nose dive out of an appartment window from about the fifth floor to go straight into a dress. But, we are advised (by way of some 'small print') that this is a dramatisation and should not be attempted in real life.

I'm just concerned for all those people who don't read so well....

road trip!

Today i was out of the office all day as i had to go to edmonton for a meeting. This is a town that looks like its about 45 mins north of calgary on a map, but is actually a good 3 hour drive... i really need to get a handle on this canada distance thing!!!!

It was nice to be out of the office actually and i had fun :-) We stopped off at a museum on the way back which was all about the first oil well in alberta and we met the son of the guy who's well it was. Interesting to walk all around an oil rig and put a few things in place in my mind. We grabbed a burger from a really cheesy place - a real 50s diner joint and i had my first experience of frosted root beer. odd odd odd. i can't quite decide whether i really like it or if its hideous......

AND i had another topless experience (...the CAR was topless obviously, mum!!) i think i might have to buy me a nice car when i get back to London...or Ireland...or France....or wherever I end up next!! i've seen a few DB7s that don't seem extortionate.....again, if anyone wants to buy me a car (and you should...) then i'm open to all forms of charity...

Life is good, albeit busy - I hope you're all doing well, drop me a line and let me know what's new. Fran - I need WEDDING details! Shauna - I'm still working on a Charleston visit, maybe early June? Andy/i when are you off to the homeland?? Anne - details needed on when you're coming out, I want to start planning San Fran. And Mel - I'm up for going loco in acapulco before Christmas...lets sort it out :-)

oh oh...

...I'm in trouble

for not updating this often enough!! Wow you lot are demanding!! :-)

So...what've I been up to? Not a great deal, its kind of settling into normality for me over here. Last weekend saw FAB weather, but I was unfortunately in work for a fair portion of it - work has suddenly found me! I did manage to get out a bit though and have a slightly red nose for my troubles! I also went to see MI3 with some peoples. Interesting film. Made me almost find Tom Cruise (nutter that he is) quite attractive, but everytime there's a shot of him face to face (or slightly taller) than his leading woman/random bloke I can't help but picture him standing on a huge block!

I also got my first spin in a convertible! Very cool car - went very fast and made a good noise, especially under bridges. Jeremy Clarkson would have liked it.

Oh - and I was at a fundraiser dinner/auction thing last Thursday night and met one of Calgary's breakfast TV dudes who was MC-ing the event and we had about an hour of Rick Mercer who is a Canadian comedian...and actually quite funny. Canadians seem to have a good British sense of humour and he did a whole series called "Talking to Americans" which from the clips he brought with him looks hysterical!

So that's all for now. This week I will be mostly working, hopefully escaping for a beer on a patio somewhere and trying desperately to find a way to fly to Charleston that doesn't cost a million trillion dollars. If anyone owns an airline/ private jet then don't forget: I'm not proud, I accept all forms of charity!

Oi, white leggings!!!

NO!!!!!!!!

Right...

...so, what've I been up to? Nothing much really - normality is setting in. I went out on Friday night and it ended up being quite a night. Started off fairly early (5.30) going to a local bar for dinner and drinks for a workmate's friend. (All good - expanding the social network!). We didn't get round to eating too much, but definitely had lots of the local beer (Keiths again). My shoe broke, so I had to pop into work to get another pair - thankfully I have a few choices under my desk! We headed on to another bar (this was about 11pm) where I was introduced to the jaeger bomb. Which is a bad bad thing. From there, we met up with some more work people and the night went uphill/downhill from there. It was decided that I had to see cowboys (a local classy establishment....), so we all headed off there at around 1am. A very amusing place. More jaeger shots were had and lots of fun was had by all. I met some chap from Kent quite randomly and had a rose bought for me. I also had a long conversation with a policeman about guns and tasers whilst waiting for a taxi....no, really: don't ask.

Saturday hurt. A lot. I wasn't able to eat until 7pm and spent most of the day wondering if I was strong enough to crawl to the local hospital. I have come to appreciate that Vodka redbull and shots of jaegermeister are only fun in the moment. I'm getting slightly concerned for my health with all the upcoming festivals!!

Sunday I got myself out most of the day and bought a lovely Michael Kors handbag from the local answer to Selfridges. Am trying to convince myself that things are soooooo much cheaper over here, but I think that attitude might well bankrupt me! Still, at least I'll be surrounded by pretty things on the way down....

So. Things are still going well, I'm really loving it over here. Everyone's been dead friendly and I'm looking forward to the next few months and starting to not want to go back to London already!!! But I do miss you all - would be nice to somehow mix you lot and this lot and Calgary and London and all would be well with the world.....

I love this place

There's a section on the local news right now about a beauty pageant for bulldogs. The winner got a crown and cape.

The adverts for redbull have to state that it doesn't *actually* give you wings.

In the supermarket yesterday, I noticed that everything in the freezer and the raw meat section stated "must be cooked" on the packaging.

comments

i've had to moderate them thanks to randoms

update: i've had my suspicions confirmed about the identity of these randoms.....you know who you are, don't make me out you!!

Interesting facts for you

My microwave is beeping at me and I don't know why. My fridge beeps when its been open too long, my oven beeps when its reached my desired temperature setting and my washing machine beeps when its done.

I'm getting a LOT of static mini shocks.

My kettle takes an inordinately long time to boil.

My walk to work is either two or four songs long depending on the album and if the lights are with me or not.

There is a LOT of sunshine in this city.

I have to set my alarm for 5.30am tomorrow as I have a meeting at 6.45am. (This fact I'm not so excited about). (But you could have probably worked that out on your own).

They get some random english programmes over here: Gordon Ramsey hells kitchen and the nightmare one, Jamie Oliver in Italy, Antiques roadshow, lots of DIY things, dad's army, you are what you eat and the one about the scottish estate that i forget the name of with Archie in it to name (well...nearly name) but a few.

US versions of english programmes are rubbish.

They have Canada's next top model and Canadian Idol (neither of which I've seen yet, but I am very excited at the prospect.

AND - most exciting of all: Miles has asked his lady to marry him ANDSHE'SSAIDYES!!! How is Anna going to take the news??? What's going to happen between Millie and O'Donnell??? and HOW does she find him even remotely attractive???

Yesterday

I got my work permit through the mail, I got some new business cards and I opened a bank account.

I am official!!

Now I just need to get some money to put into my bank account and we're laughing!!!

my head

hurts. Actually its not as bad as it was when I first got up - a cup of tea, a muffin, a vat of orange juice and a strawberry yoghurt have all combined to work their magic.

People start work way too early in this town.

Way too early.

oh

i meant to say - i went to get coffee at TH at 10.35 as advised and there was only one other person ahead of me instead of 30! So I ordered a drip/dark with milk and a sour cream timbit. Also as advised. And what do you know? But they were both good. I didn't really have faith in the sour cream timbit, but I did what I was told and I am glad. Glad. It was all lovely. Slightly sugary (the timbit). But good.

Fran - I know I've started sentences with a "but". But it's late goddammit.

well

I went out to a bar tonight and I had me some beer. I was drinking the local brew - Keith or something like that and my companion was drinking guinness. Then gin. A good night was had by all even though we had a few flakes. I think I am going to like it here. I might be a leetle bit tipsy. Jussaleelte. I had fun. And apparently I'm going to have some more fun tomorrow since that's the first night of the playoffs. Whatever they are. But I have an invite to go drinking and meet some more people. So that can't be bad.

Good night John boy.

My mission

should I choose to accept it today is to get a cup of coffee from Tim Hortons [and I may as well accept it since its self imposed...]

Apparently having been in Canada this long without tasting some of this coffee is a travesty. In my defence, I have tried a few times, but the queue has been ridiculous (we're talking waaaaay out the door). At first I thought maybe there was someone famous in there or some kind of free coffee giveaway, but I've been by it at least twice since and the queue has been just as silly.

Today I am going to try and find out the optimum queue/coffee ratio time of day.

Wish me luck....

thinking up titles is hard....

Today was a good day....went to a meeting, got taken to lunch, had a mint milkshake from Peter's (or Pete's - something like that) which was very good, but I could only manage about a quarter of it!!! HUGE. But good. Pottered about at work, didn't notice the time going which is good as last week was a bit trying - hard to pass a 12 hour day when you have NOTHING to do.

Went for a beer with some of the boys. I think I'm going to like it here :-) I'm starting to get the inside line on some of the characters so am feeling part of things a bit more...

American Idol nearly on, I'm eating the Canadian attempt at cambozola with some french bread and a glass of red: all is well on the Western front...(I still have to do that 'never eat shredded wheat' thing to figure that out - please tell me some of you are with me there???)

mmm mmm...

I have just made THE nicest sandwich in the world ever!!! Wholegrain bread, turkey, white trash cheese slice (fat free mozarella - whatever next??) tomato, cucumber, spring onion, lettuce, shredded carrot and pickles. mmmmmmmmmmm

mmmm mmmm mmmmmm

Admittedly I should probably have made the ratatouille that I made the effort of buying ingredients for on the way home, but I'm crazy like that sometimes. Just wild.

snow?!

Its no wonder I'm a bit under the weather...am just back from my walk (turned into a bit of an epic stroll). Weather when I started out was warm and sunny, thought I'd pop into safeway on the way back to get milk and when I came out (10 mins later) it was snowing!!!

Snowing?!!? Its freezing now!

poor me!!

Turns out my tiredness on Thursday was actually the cold I picked up en route from London coming back with a vengeance and I have spent large quantities of time in bed dozing and feeling sorry for myself - so no drinks on Thursday night and no Banff today :-(

The good news is that I'm starting to perk up (just in time for work tomorrow - sod's law) and am also suffering greatly from cabin fever, so am off to explore 17th Ave and 4th St - the so called trendeeee areas of this city and right on my doorstep! Nothing more exciting to report at this time other than I *think* that I've now mastered the required coffee/water ratio for the machine....oh and I also think my dishwasher is leaking...

quick update

turns out that the dishwasher issue was not mine, but the dishwasher's!! All is fixed now now and I have clean things once again. I thought I had a problem with the oven, but I managed to press enough buttons and got it working.

The work permit issue is going to be resolved without me leaving and re-entering Canada. Amazingly they are able to do what I was hoping all along: issue a permit and send it to me. WOW. Amazing. Well done guys...its only taken the best part of a week for the lawyers/ immigration people to see sense. This is both good news and bad as I was kind of looking forward to heading off to somewhere interesting this weekend. Hey ho. This Saturday I have an invite to Banff from some of the guys from work which is nice and I am in work on Sunday which is less than nice (although perversely I'm not that annoyed - will be nice to feel like a fully functioning part of the team and I don't think its going to be more than 2-3 hours). I am supposed to be going out for some beers tonight, but I'm in my pjs already and have faded somewhat.....

No idea what I'm going to do tomorrow, but I want to do some more exploring - there's loads of this city that I haven't seen yet. Keep the e-mails and comments coming, nice to know there's someone out there!! ;-)

Happy Easter to all xxx

...

generally feeling quite :-)

although i can't work my bloody dishwasher. its not the obvious option.

am just watching a programme about some girl who's having a 16th birthday party and is dying her poodles pink. seriously. the world has gone mad.

work permit

forgot to say yesterday, my next idea is to go to seattle on the weekend so that i can re-enter canada for the permit....its not all bad!! either seattle or san francisco.....not sure

First Day

well....that wasn't so bad! Although i do realise i'm in the honeymoon period right now, but everything went well - even got taken out to dinner by a couple of the guys! I sit in a room off the main drag of the office with two other guys and it seems that guys will be guys whether in London or Calgary!! They're nice - easy on the eye and good company thus far; I have had much cause to laugh. I have a feeling that there will be less crazy drunken nights out than there have been, but that's fine - I'll take what I can get! Stampede sounds like it will be a big office affair as well - if I get the time out of work!

Today I am mostly smiling. Actually, today I am all about smiling :-)

It might not be Kansas, but I like it....

scary stuff...

I'm watching the local news to keep a check on the time and it was proving quite amusing until I caught the story of the woman who has been fined/ prosecuted for traffic obstruction. Yes - you've guessed it: she was on the road when the red hand was up. Her argument was that she started at the green man but didn't get enough time. Now I actually support her in this as there are some crossings, and you don't actually know which one, where it does seem like you're taking part in a horrible computer game and the man changes back when you're at the midpoint. I kind of like these random challenges, but there is an apparent 'crack down' by police and I have a trusted informant who tells me this is a BIG DEAL.

I don't feel so stupid any more...

underground, overground wandering free....

Up until about two minutes ago, I was having a great day. Started off with discovering that Special K over here is how it used to be YEARS ago over in England; kind of like discs made out of rice crispie type stuff. Lovely :-) Since breakfast, I've been traipsing around town generally exploring - I walked from the apt to work to see how long it would take (15 mins....would be less than 10 if I didn't have to wait at the red hand with everyone else even though there were NO cars in the vicinity...).

I then went to the main post office and bought some stamps in preparation of the new letter writing phase of my life...quite excited about that. Am having visions of Jane Austen type scenarios, I wonder if I could fashion a seal with some of my candles and a potato masher?

Then I just mooched about - went to the tourism office and talked for ages with a nice old chap about his house swapping antics. (Yes, I did mean house). He directed me to the Calgary 'plus 15' system which is basically a network of walkways (15ft above street level - you see?) which connect loads of shopping malls in the first few floors of all the big office blocks in the downtown area. LOTS of shops. LOADS. Quite daunting actually, but I intend to face my fears as frequently as possible armed with my debit card!

Wandered home via safeway, feeling quite in the Calgary vibe having wandered for hours. I'm now a card carrying member of the safeway "club" which today saved me about $20 on my shopping bill!!! woo hoo!!! I even bought some lemon iced tea. Ok, not intentionally; I was rather absent mindedly reaching for the "coke zero" and got distracted by a cute guy. However I was thirsty so drank it and...gasp: it wasn't that bad!!! Actually there were quite a few cute guys in the supermarket so I was paying attention to my shopping basket and trying to put items in there that said 'hey, I'm a single girl about town who's fun, eats well and you'd probably do well to ask her out to hang with you and your other cute single buddies'. This lasted all of 2 minutes - they've got heinz barbie pasta shapes over here too!!! Sparkly pink tins of joy :-)

Anyway - back from random tangent. Came home to an email saying that I'll have to drive [in my imaginary car] to a US/ Canada border point in order to get a work permit as the people in Montreal messed up. That's all I know at the moment, but it does NOT sound like a fun thing to have to be doing...

However even this news cannot dampen my mood, so I think I will crack open my solitary bottle of wine (thanks Proll!) and toast myself. In a way that doesn't sound too loser-ish.

Cheers!

WHY

am i awake??

Not in kansas anymore...

I am beginning to notice some differences over here.....its strange as most things are familiar, but there's something 'not quite right' about it all.

Size: things are BIGGER over here! Its hard to find orange juice/ milk/ anything smaller than industrial vat sized which makes carrying things back from my local safeway less than fun

Brands: some are recognizable although on closer inspection, tous est en francais. There doesn't seem to be as much choice over here...especially in things like washing powder. Tide. That's it. Fabric softener doesn't really factor into their lives as everyone tumble dries things over here. [Connected to the tumble drier concept - EVERYTHING seems to go into the dishwasher...couldn't find drying cloths anywhere and then when I look at my sink area, there isn't actually any space to dry stuff...]

TV: there really are 57 (and then some...) channels and nothing on. Bruce got it right.

Crossing the road: everyone seems to wait for the green man; even if there's no traffic at all. I kind of want to just cross the road as I normally would, but concerned that I'll set off some alarm and it will all be horribly embarassing so I wait with everyone else feeling slightly stupid. Also - cars actually stop for you when you're waiting at the side of the road if there's no green man thingy.

My bed

Is about 10ft high and I sleep on something that looks like a duvet with a sheet on top of that, then I sleep underneath TWO sheets, TWO duvets and some kind of blanket thing. Why??? Why would anyone need this kind of bedding? It feels as if you're under 10 tons. Needless to say it all ended up on the floor apart from the lighter of the two duvets...which seemed like a good idea until I had to make it this morning. I'm about half a stone lighter now...proper workout. Although I've just noticed on my welcome sheet that someone makes my bed Mon - Fri and I have housekeeping during the week - wooo hoo!!!!

Right....am off to try and figure out how to make coffee with my scary looking machine....and I may have some toast and marmite (courtesy of Mel) although I don't want to resort to that just yet.....

The adventure begins...

Right. Well this is day one in Calgary.....rather than actually sort my stuff out, I thought I'd set up a blog. Priorities, priorities....

This is just a short post, mostly to see what it's all about before I start unloading on you all!! I hope to keep this as up to date as I can to let you all feel part of my tour in Calgary!!

UPDATE: I've now finished unpacking....so many things. Now I need to go and find my local supermarket which happens to be a safeway and is apparently 1km walk away - not too bad. Hopefully it'll be somewhat recognisable from the name...although they do weird things over here...milkyways like mars bars and other travesties. It's 4pm here - 11pm back home and I feel like its actually 3am, but hopefully that will all sort itself out soon.