Baby when you're gone...

“A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.” - Carl Sandburg (American Historian, Poet, and Novelist, 1878-1967)

I am over the moon right now. I am the proud auntie of one Frances Kate Gill, to be affectionately known as "Frankie". I am absolutely gutted that I can't actually see her in person as she's in Edmonton, but I have pictures on my computer and my ipod so I can look at her whenever I want. And now, through technology so can you....

I meant to put loads of pics in here, but for some reason it won't let me, might be my internet connection, so you can all just enjoy this one!

Who says you can't go home?

"You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." - Samuel Johnson (English poet, critic, and writer. 1709-1784)

I arrived in London Heathrow Airport and was soooooo excited. I walked through arrivals and found Alison with a "Welcome Home" banner, and cards from the other girls who couldn't be there. In a way it was a homecoming because London was my home for just under a year, the same way the Nish was my home for 3 years, Innisfil was my home for 15 years, and Glasgow will be my home. I stayed with Alison and it was so great to catch up with her. She is one of those people that I wish I'd met on my first day in England, instead of all the way into second term.

Maya came over that night and after much screaming we finally went for something to eat. It was as if no time had past - a true measure of friendship.

I met up with the girls at Covent Garden for the night market and had such a good time - great food, great shopping, great friends. We found a tea stall and I bought Chocolate Flake tea, and Maya bought, are you ready for this? Popcorn tea!! I'm posting the link for this site because there are so many different/unique teas out there, and if you want some I can try and get it for you.

http://www.teapigs.co.uk/tea/black-tea/chocolate-flake-tea/

Alison and I outside Covent Garden market - this pic took many attempts as people kept walking past and I kept laughing. Maya was nearly run over so that I could have a pic in my blog.

We continued our tour of London and had a blast. London at night is so beautiful, so many lights and things happening. Truly never a dull moment.

Canada House

On my last day, Alison and I, being the history fiends that we are, went to Hampton Court - Henry VIII's home on the range. First, we walked through a park where the deer are the descendants of those that Henry would have hunted. They truly rule the roost around there, and while somewhat fenced in, they just climb under and walk across the cricket pitch.

Hampton Court is incredible. (sidenote of irony, I'm watching The Tudors right now!) We went through the maze there and got only slightly lost.

Alison getting "lost".

Me after defeating the maze.

I also got to visit Mr. Toby Lester whilst in Twickenham, and again it was as if nothing had changed. We talked about nothing of any importance and just got caught up. I even scored a hug out of it.

I had a bit of a struggle getting from Richmond station to the Victoria coach station. I took the tube to Victoria rail station but then had to walk with 2 suitcases, my backpack, laptop bag and purse to the coach station. I was sweating bombs and then had to sit on the bus for 9 hours to Glasgow. The high point of my journey? I met Lucy from Brittany. We sat on the bus together and thanks to her ability to speak English (despite my poor French) we kept each other company.

I arrived in Glasgow just before 8:00am and after being ripped off by a black hack taxi, I made it to Cumbernauld safe and sound.

Peace out brusselsprouts!
(Entry about Glasgow to come soon - I've already given you two what more do you want?)

It was my party and I almost cried because I wanted to....

“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.” - George Harrison

This will be a very short blog about my birthday (and the shortness is in no way a relection on the wonderful time I had). I left for Nova Scotia on Friday Aug. 8th, well that's when I was supposed to leave. However, since I hadn't slept the night before, I fell asleep the moment I got on the plane, woke up 45 minutes later, and we still hadn't left the runway. Apparently there was something wrong with the brakes so we had to get off the plane and board a new one. I wouldn't of minded but my lovely friends Mick and Scott were already at Halifax airport, but since as I've mentioned that they are lovely, they waited around until 2:00am and we got a hotel room in Dartmouth.

The next day - which was my 22nd birthday, started off with a road trip back to the Nish for one last farewell. We stopped at Swiss Chalet (mouth watering at the thought of that chicken) for a birthday lunch. When we got to Mick and Scott's place, Mick gave me a wonderful birthday present. It was a book of photos of St.FX that she'd taken. I seriously show it to everyone so they can understand why I loved that school so much (however, upon taking a tour of my new uni, it might rival X in terms of architecture). And finally, the piece de la resistance was the birthday cake. I have never seen a cake like this in real life. It's the kind of cake you would see in a movie that looks so delicious and yet they blow out the candles and never actually eat it.

If I could see your faces at this moment in time, I know jealousy would be written right across them.

We met up with Drew and Syl for dinner at BP the next night, and then had lunch with them again and BREANNE!!! Throw a few Star Wars movies into the mix, and it was easily one of the best birthdays I've ever had. I was worried as this was my first birthday away from home (yes I'm a big baby), but my friends made it incredible.

I was sad to leave the Nish again, and as usual, tears were a must for the occasion. However, this adventure in the Nish laid rest to my fears of my friends moving on without me. I know they will grow and change, and I won't be there to see it all, but our bond and relationship will never change.

Just sit back, relax and enjoy

"How full of trifles everything is! It is only one's thoughts that fill a room with something more than furniture." - Wallace Stevens (American poet whose work explores the interaction of reality and what man can make of reality in his mind. 1879-1955).

Here it is, the much anticipated blog about my recliner. I love this chair more than any other piece of furniture. It resided in my family room for over a year and oh how I coveted it. I was so pleased when we got the new couch because that meant that the little recliner that could would become a permanent fixture in my very own room.

I used this chair to watch several episodes of American Dreams, and also used it to play super nintendo, yes I kicked it old school, and yes I won. Super Tennis was my game of choice, and I could beat the computer every time, I'm that good. I stayed up super late playing this game, but it was so worth it. A dose of childhood before I enter into the real world.

This is my game...

This is my chair...

My next entry will be about the wonderful birthday I've had, but I'm kind of tired right now and wouldn't be able to do it justice.