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.....