Keith's Holiday Rota.doc

I really haven't had an inch to maneuver any blog time into my schedule of the past few days. It's a right shame, but I've been jam packed with Christmas commitments. Not only has work and social events snatched up my days, but they've made it impossible to get any free time in. I am thankful, however, of two things: that the social events have been really fun and uplifting, and that it means the weeks of 'work' are flying by en route to having no more commitments, the ability to travel, and the return home.

In the UK, they call work schedules and job lists 'rotas'. I figure this is short for rotation. If I'm looking for my weekly hours at work, I check the ROTA. If I had to sign in at work, I would do it on the ROTA. To see where I am working each day, I check the ROTA. For today's blog post, I will be giving you a description of what my own personal rota looked like from the last few days as a way of catching you up. It may not be poetic and whimsical, but I'm severely lacking inspiration during this busy time.

THURSDAY

1100 - 1230: Gym
1230 - 1630: Work @ River Island
1800 - 2400: On Thursday evening, Courtney invited Adam and I over and prepared a wonderful dinner. She roasted a whole chicken and made some pumpkin pie with the left over mix from Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful gesture (to go along with a wonderful meal) and great to spend some time with two of the closer friends I've made in the program. We talked about a wide range of topics during dinner, had a few beers, and then went to the local around the corner. There, Bec and Jamal met us for a few cheeky pints. I called it an early night since I had work the next morning.

FRIDAY

0900-1800: Work @ River Island
1800 - 1900: Train to Birmingham
1900-0200: There was a MAIPR program finale dinner organized in Birmingham on Friday evening. I arrived just a wee bit late. It was wonderful to enter the restaurant and see a table full of familiar faces. I saw some fellow students I hadn't seen recently, as well as Janelle, Milija, and their partners. The restaurant served some really delicious Thai food. It was a bittersweet end to the course (even though there will be a few final 'unofficial' get togethers in the next two weeks) and it was sad to see Janelle head back to California. She has been a really inspiring professor to work with. After the dinner, we went out for a few pints in the city. We managed to nab the last train back to Leamington Spa (barely).

SATURDAY

0900 - 1800: Work @ River Island
1800 - 2100: Dinner
2100 - 0200: It was Hetta's last night in Leamington Spa with the whole gang so we hit the town. She hosted people over to her place earlier in the evening. It was a Moulin Rouge theme. Unfortunately, with so many of us busy, tired, and overworked, it turned out just to be the usual drinks and socializing (not much Kidman antics). After drinks with the girls we headed out to Moo which is one of my favourite spots in the city. Never heard of it? That's because we don't go as often as we should. The bar played really great tunes and we danced the night away until the glaring lights came up. Uber fun.

SUNDAY

1000 - 1200: Train from Leamington to London
1200 - 2200: London with Jono! I jetted out of good old Leamington Spa on Sunday to meet up with one of my good friends Jonathan Heppner who is on a three week tour of Europe (intelligence reconnaissance I think...). It was great to see him emerge from the tube with sunglasses on and a big smile. We went to Brick Lane market to check out the grounds there. We walked through some of the cozy bo-ho streets and had lunch at a place called Leon which Em and I had eaten at previous. Afterwards, we headed to South Bank (over the Millennium Bridge) and walked around taking in the sights. We jumped into the Globe theatre, the beautiful cathedral in the area (where they encouraged us to stay for carols), and then to a warm pub for a Sunday roast. Over three pints we caught up about life in Toronto, what Queen's friends are up to, and the state of the world. It was a wonderful day-trip away from home spent with an old friend. I bid adieu to Jono at Baker Street station, but I'm certain I'll see him in Toronto in the next two months.

MONDAY

0900 - 1800: Work @ River Island
1800-2000: Gym
2000 - 2300: Ridzal's birthday. A friend in the course from Singapore was celebrating his birthday last evening so we joined him for some celebratory pints. It was the fifth consecutive holiday social in a row, but it was important to acknowledge his special day. I'm sure the revelry will carry over into Christmas.

Thank you to the great friends that have sent me Christmas cards (you know who you are). I am thankful that they thought of me this holiday season. It's going to come super quick, but I'll be spending the holidays with the MAIPR group with great food, a few drinks, and some Secret Santa. It's not the family Christmas I wish for, but it'll be unique in its own way.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: The holidays are a BUSY time of year (see above), but make no mistake, I will stop to remember what means most to me this Christmas. You should too.