Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Canada! In Waterloo now with one of my best friends, Michelle, for a New Year's extravaganza. She has a cat named Dr. George O'Malley, who is super super cute. Photos to follow once I find my USB cable.

So, a belated Merry Christmas, belated Happy Channukah, and Happy New Year!!!

Hopping the Pond Again

I'm coming home in 2 days, and I am SO excited!! I can't wait to see all my family and friends, and the familiar sights in Toronto. But there will be some people and some things I will miss in London. I'll have to make the most of my Canadian adventure, as I won't be back again for 8 months.

Here's a photo from Brussels this past weekend: it was gorgeous! Will post more about it soon:

Aberdeen: Where I seem to always be holding either a baby or a glass of wine

A few weeks ago, I went to Aberdeen to see some family-of-family. Y'see, my Dad's sister Patty married my uncle Allan, who is from Aberdeen, and most of his family is still there. They often visit us in Canada, and I've visited them twice (before this trip) in Aberdeen. So, it's one big family of family!

This is me with the newest addition - baby Lauren

And with my Aunt Pat, her sister-in-law, and mother-in-law

Drinking with my Uncle Allan

Standing in front of Kildrummy Castle

Drinking again, before flying back to London (there were many more photos of me with a wine glass in hand, but those just get redundant after awhile, eh?)

Covent Garden wanderings

So, today is being spent doing loads and loads of work. I need to:

- make notes on the social constructivism of human rights

- prep an essay on whether the sociological attempt to explain and understand perpetration of atrocities requires exoneration (I'm saying NO)

- read two articles in French on Sarkozy's promises and summarize them for a presentation

- prep a presentation on Mozambique's reconciliation process, which consisted of traditional spiritual healing techniques rather than tribunals.

And this is all needs to be finished by Tuesday or Wednesday!! This is not even counting the other essays and notes I have to do. Ick.

But, I did take a study break earlier this afternoon to wander around my Covent Garden neighbourhood. I popped in to a few stores to browse, bought cheese at Neil's Yard Dairy (scrumptious! and the boy who served my wasn't too shabby either), and got a latte from the infamous Monmouth Coffee Company. De-lish!

And at least I can look forward to next weekend, when I'm off to Brussels and Aachen (Germany) to the Christmas markets of those two cities. I'm going with my friend Stacey, with a tour company, so we're going by coach bus to Brussels and staying there, then doing a day trip to Aachen. Can't wait! And then I'm back in London for 3 days to work my ass off, and then I fly home to Canada to see all of YOU!! 

Are y'all excited? :-)

French and Saunders, Part 2

So, I went to see French and Saunders at their last performance a few weekends ago, with my cousin Deirdre from Ireland. It was AMAZING, again!! And there were a lot of celebs there too - Robin Williams walked right by me! But at first I thought they said ROBBIE Williams, so I didn't really care, and then I later found out it was ROBIN Williams, so I really wish I was paying more attention. But I did see Alan Rickman - LOVE him!! And one of the guys from Little Britain (I know, I know, I really should pay more attention - it was the tall one if that helps). But I did get a fantastic photo with Jennifer Saunders - SO EXCITING!!!

Ok, so this will be the last time I mention them for awhile...I will try to avoid celebrity commentary for awhile. But it was just SO awesome!!! :-)

This is me and Deirdre, after the show:

ALAN RICKMAN!!!

I love this photo of me and THE comedy goddess. It is currently my desktop photo (I know, I know - but I need something to distract me once in awhile from my readings about rape, torture, death, disease, etc, etc)

The Queen!!

So I randomly saw the Queen and Prince Philip on Monday.

They were in a car driving through Piccadilly Circus.

I guess I can cross that off my list of things to do in London! :-)

Restlessness

It's not that I don't love London.

I do.

But I need to get out of this city!!!

So I'm off to Brighton tomorrow.

By the sea.

Maybe I'll see a bird that ISN'T a pigeon.

That would be lovely.