Try It, You'll Like It / Party Re-cap

I have just discovered - in "Urban Peasant" fashion - that Nairn's Stem Ginger Oat Biscuits (while excellent just on their own) are even better when you put a slice of provolone on top. Mmmm, so good. This came about experimentally today after thinking of a time when Bunny told me to try some cheddar on a Digestive Biscuit. Also good, though - this was a touch more Becky style - as full of flavor in both the cheese and biscuit department, and the result - a party in my mouth. Ah, James Barber would be proud.

Anyway - had an excellent tea party yesterday at my good friend Angelique's house. It was a "going away tea". We posted it on facebook, I invited my 600 friends (much to Angeliques shock and horror) - haha. About 17 people confirmed they would definitely come, and about 10 people - including myself, Angelique and Rick (the hosts) and my parents showed up. (most of whom had not confirmed) That turned out about how I thought. Nobody ever follows through with their commitment to show up for these things. However - it turned out fantastic!!! Some of my MOST favorite people on the planet turned up - including Dale - who stayed all day - I'm honored to say. One HUGE surprise was my friend from High School - Jakub showed up. I haven't seen him in 15 years!!! It was so great to see him. Also a collection of some of my most favorite peeps. Thanks so much for showing up and seeing me off my friends. I had 6 cups of tea whilst sitting there - all different kinds, and Angelique made a lovely assortment of cookies - had my first Christmas Shortbread yesterday. Sorry to say - friends - I don't have any time for 1:1 goodbyes, so - you'll have to visit me in Scotland if you want to see me again. That's great though - come and visit - it will be fun. Yeah - so things are coming along, and I'm getting more and more excited about the move. I guess I should look into getting some furniture. I may have a line on a bed - waiting to hear back from my friend on that one. I guess though - it will take me a little while to get all the little knick knacks sorted that makes up a home. As of today - there's 16 sleeps. I really need to get on with some of my projects that I've been holding on to. Can't do them after the move. Today - I will be scanning pictures - and later - doing a little Yoga. (Must try to burn off yesterday's calories) I also went to Kaly and Andy's Crepe party last night, and had an excellent girly gab session with Kaly, Birdie and Candia. Good times. Kaly's having a baby - so we were talking about that and all it entails; all that I have to look forward to - some day. Gosh - some things - I'm really going to miss, but it will be all worth it as I move forward and make new memories. It's time to do so.



15 YEARS!!!! Reunited. Thanks for the surprise visit Jakub.




Me and Valena - I'll miss you - but you need to come and visit.



Me and my Brother from another Mother - Logan - who is going to visit and celebrate Hogmanay next year.



The host and hostess of the tea party - Angelique and Rick - I'll miss you lots my friends - thanks again for the great send-off.



Some of the best girls ever - Kaly, Birdie, Me and Candia.

Book Review: Long Way Down - John O'Groats To Cape Town by Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman

I love any good story about a journey...

I also think Male Bonding is the cutest thing on the planet. There's nothing more endearing than two "mates" having a great hug after a long journey together. Collectively women - go "awwww". Anyway, as much as I do love that part of the story, I just love the whole story altogether. Long Way Down is Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's book-chronicle of their tv series filmed journey from John O'Groats (the very tip of mainland Scotland) to Cape Town (the very tip of South Africa). It's funny, you know when I read the first book collaboration by Ewan and Charley - "Long Way Round" I was stuck in my B&B room sick with a cold in Dundee. Now - here I am - going there again in 19 days. The first journey was so worth reading about that I HAD to pick this one up - especially since they traveled the entire distance (North to South) of such a wonderful place such as Africa. It's like a Pilgrimage - only Ewan and Charley did it on Motorbikes. Haha. Life is one giant Pilgrimage really, and I think that the main reason I love a good story about the journey is because it's like a miniature version of life. When I was a missionary (and all former missionaries probably could tell you the same thing), we referred to the entire mission in terms of a lifetime. You arrived, you were a greenie (or a newborn), you had a Dad or a Mom (a trainer), you reached a hump day (or middle of the mission), and then eventually - you had a companion "kill you off" when you went home. Haha - that sounds bad. But you know - it's 19-21 year olds making this stuff up - it's the lingo. Anyway, the point is - that it's simple to see the symbolism in a journey, and a journey always teaches you something, as long as you don't lose sight of where you are RIGHT NOW.

So - anyone who has seen the TV series that Ewan and Charley did about their travels upon Motorbike, might not believe this (I told my friend and he was all - really?), but Ewan and Charley are quite charming and sensitive in the way they write. It's like - you get to find out what they're ACTUALLY thinking, and not all that goofy showy testosterone driven stuff that comes out on the surface. Both of them are married (very very happily) and have children, and are sincerely dedicated to their families. They talk about their families in the book and how much they miss them. Throughout the voyage, you actually get to read their sweet sensitive thoughts about the various stops they make to promote a number of charities, the foremost being UNICEF, and also CHAS (Children's Hospice Association Scotland), and Riders For Health - an organization that gets medical professionals on Motorcycles in Africa so that they can reach remote areas fast - getting medical attention where it is needed most. They're really passionate about each of these charities, and they share their thoughts about how each visit touched them individually.

The other thing is - WOW!!! Do you ever feel like you're right there - with them - in Africa. Each country they visited was unique and special, with so many different cultures, and so many different stories. You catch the full (well - half - as they only went down the East side) vision of what Africa really is about. One thing they mentioned is how - everybody says what a dangerous place it is. Well - the real dangers are the warlords, best just to stay away from them, but the people - absolutely everywhere they went were fantastic. They opened their homes, and their hearts, and they made the boys feel right at home. The worst danger they faced - overall (besides wildlife) was wee kids throwing rocks at them in Ethiopia. Haha. Ewan almost got stamped by an Elephant in his sleep, that was entertaining. The whole book is entertaining. I loved it, and truthfully, I didn't want to put it down when I got close to the end. Just like Ewan and Charley - I wanted to stretch out the last bit as much as possible. I guess, since I'm going on my own - big journey - granted - not as big as theirs (but a big - permanent-ish move); this is exactly the kind of thing I WOULD be reading. Gosh, don't let anybody ever tell you that you can't do it. Because anything really is possible. If you have a dream, then make it happen. Do everything you possibly can to make it work, then do it. Ewan and Charley did - twice, and who knows where they'll go for the "Long Way Up"? I'm thinking they should go the Ernesto Guevarra (Che) way and ride up through South America. Only, I think they should do it from the tip of Chile (where the penguins are), all the way up to Alaska. (though they rode through Alaska already once on long way round) - however - it's just a thought. Can you imagine though? That would be a MASSIVE undertaking... their biggest yet I would imagine. That might take them 6 months at least.

All I can say is - I love it. I love it, and everybody should read it. Here's a bit from the end that Ewan wrote that sums it up for me...

"Riders for Health had been hugely inspiring: the work of the clinic and the community health workers on dirt bikes. I thought about Scotland, CHAS and the people we'd been privileged to meet at Robin House. I thought about UNICEF and the mine-affected children in Zelambassa. I could see the village in Kenya where twenty-two children had been massacred. I could hear Daniel's voice, a child soldier in Uganda. All at once the memories began to flow. I could see Bulwer Street on the night we decided to do another trip; the Royal Geographical Society; the first time we saw the workshop at Avonmore Road. I recalled the moment when my bike arrived and I had her painted with zebra stripes. I thought about the Friday back in February when I hit that pedestrian and broke my leg. We'd done it. It was coming to an end, but we'd done it. Only I didn't want it to end. Right then I would happily have turned my bike around and ridden back along the west coast."

Really - that's what it's all about - enjoying the journey so that you don't really want it to end, but are eager to start another one. One should always be ready for the next thing, but also take time to cherish and treasure the memories that you have made.

Thanks for letting me tag along boys. xx

I'm Doing a Tag Thingy...

Haha, I was tagged by my fellow blogger/stalker Michelle - whom I've never actually met, but we keep up on each other's blogs - quite regularly. We're blogger friends. It's fun. I haven't done one of these blog-tag thingys in a while - so here goes...

The rules are that you are to answer the following questions in one word and then pass it on to other bloggers...

Where is your cell phone? Desk
Where is your significant other? Mystery
Your hair color? Blonde
Your mother? Fey
Your father? Crusty
Your favorite thing? Scriptures
Your dream last night? Ambiguous
Your dream/goal? Motherhood
The room you’re in? Bedroom
Your hobby? Food
Your fear? Faced
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Family
Where were you last night? Home
What you’re not? Ordinairy
One of your wish-list items? Books
Where you grew up? Calgary
Last thing you did? Facebook
What are you wearing? Sweater
Your TV? Never
Your pet? Cat
Your computer? Dell
Your mood? Content
Missing someone? Yes
Your car? Gone
Something you’re not wearing? Hat
Favorite store? Chapters
Your summer? Outside
Love someone? Yes
Your favorite color? Green
When is the last time you laughed? recently
Last time you cried? Week

I'm going to tag...

B
Diane M
Katie
Carly
Meaghann - because she hasn't blogged in 5 months according to my list. (she must be busy)

Also - Marsha - you can do this on paper - and then report to me in the morning. But, only if you want to...

My Kidlets...

Here's some classic moments from family dinners...

Mostly videos involving either my niece Chloe or her brother - my nephew Beckham. Chloe's a bit sad that I'm leaving, so she's been extra clingy lately, but she's highly entertaining. The pink hair ones were taken today.



It's true - he is pretty weird. (my brother - bless him)



I love that bit where he thinks he's hilarious because he escaped Chloe's grasp. Haha.



Beckham can make even a napkin entertaining. I don't know why, but this kills me.



Christmas came a little early because - you know - I'm leaving. I gave Chloe my coin collection from all over the world. She loves it.



A fashionista at the age of 6. Already streaking her hair!!! I love that she's wearing a Curious George band-aid.

Pictures As Promised

So, here's some pictures of the new flat that Steve found for me. He sent them this morning. The place looks totally amazing. I'm really excited about it now.



This is the front of the building - I'm on the top floor. No elevator, so it will be an awesome opportunity to get my exercise. Yay!!



Looking East from the front entrance.



Looking West from the front entrance.



The Living Room (I believe the little one belongs to the Landlord)



The Bedroom and Boiler Closet.



The Bathroom - all shiny and modern looking



The Kitchen in galley style. Note - in the UK, the Clothes Washer and Dryer are in the kitchen, you can see it at the bottom there.



The Common Garden - mostly used for drying clothes, but I think they might let me garden if I ask nicely.

So yeah - that's it. It's all finalized too. I've paid my damage deposit, and first month's rent, am signing and faxing documents. It's all mine for at least the next 6 months. Now all I need is a job.

A Wee Place To Call My Own

I now have a place to live when I arrive in my new country. THANKS SO MUCH TO STEVE!!!! for about the 50th time for checking out places for me to live. It helps A LOT to have a very good friend on the other end doing things I can't do myself. I appreciate it so much that you took time out of your busy schedule to check out a few places for me. Seriously, you have no idea how much you have lifted a weight off my shoulders. Little by little, bit by bit - I've experienced this whole weight-lifting off of shoulders over one issue or another. I'm starting to feel better and better about the entire move. I know there's still 10 zillion things I need to do before feeling really settled. Funny how my fortune cookie predicted that the other night... "You will make many changes before settling satisfactorily" (or something like that) doodoodoodoo. ;-) Anyway, yeah - the flat (according to Steve - and Steve is usually right) is amazing. It's in an old tenement building on Clepington Road (pics of Clepington that I found on the internet to follow) which has been renovated and refurbished, and has all modern fixtures, double paned windows, one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen (my very own kitchen), washer/dryer - that's all I need. However, it has more than I need, it also has a great view from the front of the Tay; AND a view of the Sidlaws from the rear window. I'm so excited. My own little flat and home of my own. Hmm, now all I need is a job. Well, I'm working on that, but unfortunately employers don't really want to talk to you about a position until you are right there - in front of them. So, that part, I'll have to take on faith. I know things will work out because I'm doing the right thing, and things have worked out - fairly ok so far. So - yeah - a flat of my own - to call my home. Steve is sending pictures soon, but until then, I have some street pics that I pulled off the internet like I said...



Actually this is one I took myself - 2 years ago of the Tay from the Law - a Giant Hill in the middle of the city.



This is the pic I took of the Sidlaws from the Law on the same trip.



Typical tenements on Clepington Road.



A couple of elderly gents heading to "The Clep" for a pint.



A couple of shops on Clepington Road



No Scottish neighborhood is complete without one of these. Haha.



Nice view down Provost Road - which intersects? I think...


Anyway, there are some pics and that should give you some sort of idea of how it will be. Don't worry, in 26 sleeps when I leave (28 to when I actually arrive in Dundee), I shall give you most of the details.

Today I am Remembering...

James O'Neill - my Great-Grandfather...

... who died while serving his country in World War 1. He also served in the South African Campaign and was only 35 when he died in battle. He is remembered at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He and his wife Emily O'Neill - my Great-Grandmother were separated by death for 65 years. She often could be heard describing him this way... "Aye, he was a grand lad." ;-) in her broad Geordie accent. She missed him all of the time they were separated.

For him, and thousands like him, I take a moment of silence in gratitude for my freedom.



http://www.cwgc.org./search/certificate.aspx?casualty=1622823

http://www.1914-1918.net/dli.htm