Blimey, what a weekend. I had been looking forward to my London visit for a few weeks now. It had been a month since I left Leamington and hit the city. I was also happy to extend my visit with Talia that began the previous weekend. This time we had two nights together, and we enjoyed some pretty excellent adventures.
I arrived on Friday afternoon. London was dreary, rainy, and the sun had already set as the train sailed across the sheepy fields. Of all the places Talia could be living in London, she's positioned around the corner from Marylebone Station, which is where all the trains from Leamington stop. It happens to be my favourite train station in London for this reason, also because it's pretty tiny and manageable. Thankfully, now that I've got a handle on the dissertation, I am able to read for pleasure once again. I spent the whole two hour train ride engrossed in a novel. Tal and I hit a local grocery store that stocked all kinds of wonderful produce. Upon arrival at her place (a really great sized flat with TWO outdoor terraces) we had a coffee and caught up. Talia then cooked a wonderful dinner consisting of soup, broccoli, and a delicious tomato chickpea dish from the Panchancho cookbook. Because it was Friday evening, it was shabbat dinner - so we enjoyed the meal alongside candles and wine. It was really nice to share in one of Tal's family traditions.
After dinner we sipped on wine and talked and talked. We talked so much that we lost track of time. There was a bar called Flavela Chic where one of Talia's classmates was celebrating a birthday. By the time we arrived the line was extremely long and not moving. After waiting the obligatory fifteen minutes we decided it was best to just hit the town and see what we could get up to. Bar 1: Free cover and really sick beats. We started with a few drinks and blended in to the hip East London crowd. Three rounds of OPD later and Talia and I were all over the place scouting options and plotting schemes. Unfortunately this bar turned the lights on abruptly at 1:30 so we decided to migrate down the street. Bar 2: Free cover and a DISCO theme. Not only were the beats authentic 70s throwback (not even mainstream) but the decor and the clientele all looked like something out of that decade. Tal and I felt a bit out of place but enjoyed ourselves immensely. There was one real character there in a wild frilly disco suit, apparently there by himself. Even in the disco club it looked a bit odd - I couldn't help but picture him on the tube heading home. We jumped on two night buses (making incredible timing with each) and arrived home in the wee hours. We had a proper "lie in" (britcabulary) the next morning.
Saturday, we left the flat after breakfast and made our way to the Barbican Museum which was featuring a poster exhibit on the fall of the Berlin Wall. Before arriving we stopped in at a Costa and had a delicious coffee - I treated myself to a hazelnut latte. The Barbican Museum is a wonderful place. It's divided into six floors of different rooms, galleries, and performance spaces. On Saturdays it seems they have a free stage devoted to musical acts. There had to be two hundred people milling around, listening to free music, and enjoying the museum. We listened to a really smashing jazz quartet and then checked out the Berlin exhibit. Since we're both heading there next week (with one night overlap!) it was a wonderful reminder about the kind of history we'll be surrounded by in the city. I'm excited to be there twenty years to the month the wall fell. We enjoyed a bit more music (some Indian inspired beats) and checked out a WWII bunker reconstruction at the museum. It was extremely impressive. They have converted a neutral space in the museum into an authentic WWII bunker complete with train tracks and all kinds of furnished rooms. It was a spectacular exhibit. Tal then took me to a radical left bookshop. Apparently there are only about three of them in London - in a city that big! It has a great vibe and contains all kinds of really amazing reads. If I was in a permanent place I would have picked up a gaggle of used books.
That evening Talia and her flatmates were throwing a housewarming party. Talia admitted to me earlier in the week that she wasn't sure if a lot of people would show up. Since it's a big flat, the group was hoping that over fifty people would come so the place looked full. The party was part of the reason for going down this weekend. Apparently word got around - there had to be close to eighty people that went through the house on Saturday night. I can't say I've been to a house party that size (with that kind of atmosphere) in such a long time. Talia and Rob Macnamara were the only two that I knew at the party so everyone else was someone new to meet. Because of the international makeup of the house the party consisted mainly of Canadians, Aussies, Americans, and Brits, but there were students there from all over. I talked to a lot of fellow Canadians about life in the UK, and met some really great friends that Talia goes to school with. At one point we were like sardines in the kitchen. Talia and I shared a lot of laughs about the crazy connections at the party (friends of friends of friends of friends...). One of the more interesting and bizarre happenings (that actually became quite depressing) was the arrival of a 54 year old woman named Kristina who "heard the music from down the street" and came on down. She requested a stiff drink, and we were more than happy to oblige. At that point she was very polite. I felt a bit sad for her so I spent some time listening to her stories (mostly depressing) on the terrace. I naively thought she'd join "the kids" for a drink or two and hit the road, a moment of generosity and genuine interest shared between strangers. I was wrong. She was the last one to leave, and turned belligerent when we asked her to head home. It by no means ruined the fantastic party, but was a reminder about how much sadness there is in the world. We shared some delicious pizza before heading to bed. It was one of the best houseparties I have ever been to.
This morning we had grand plans to head to Hyde Park before I jumped on my train, but because of the late night we had yet another "lie in" this morning. Hyde Park (which Talia and I were really keen to see) will have to wait until the next visit. It was a whirlwind of a weekend with two extremely late nights of true London partying - it was comforting to know that at 25 I've still got it. Talia was a wonderful host. I'm now home for 36 hours before jumping off to Berlin. Sooooo excited. Jetset.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: If you have nine frozen pizzas for a housewarming party and you place them in the oven at 3:00am, it doesn't matter how many people are left, they will find the pizza and eat every last bit. Also, for Talia, there are starving drunks all over the world.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Decisions, Decisions.doc
I'm happy to announce that the future is starting to look a bit clearer. There's nothing groundbreaking to report but some decisions have been made in the last week in effort to get a better hold on just what I'll be up to in the coming months. The muddy waters are starting to settle.
The first task was to make a decision about the rapidly approaching holidays. This was the toughest call of them all. One of the kickers of the program is a Dec 31 final submission for our dissertations. I don't know if there could be a more inappropriate choice for the formative conclusion to the program. What this has lead to is utter uncertainty about the month of December - Will I be free and clear by mid-month? Will I have the dissertation approved by Christmas day? Or will I be revising alongside getting ready to ring in the new year? I hope the last option isn't anything I'll encounter, but it's all unclear. Add to this the fact that when I board the plane home to Canada I want to have my second MA (over-qualified much?) all wrapped up. I want to be reading for pleasure on the plane, not thinking about revisions. Add the third ingredient, one more week of Euro fun and traveling before heading home and I think a mid-December departure would be too rushed - hell, it'd be in four weeks.
Unfortunately, this means that I'll be missing the holiday season for two years in a row. It's the worst time of year to be away from my family. BUT, what we both have to look forward to is a return home a few weeks later. Hopefully turkey and a few Christmas themed dinners can be had in the new condo in January. That's right, as you might have guessed, I'm staying the holidays but then making a prompt return to Canada in mid-January. I've even been eying a few flights. What this allows me to do is get the dissertation wrapped up by the end of December, travel for a week or two in the new year and bid adieu to Europe for the time being.
As much as I was originally interested in exploring the possibilities of work over here, in addition to bleak job prospects and huge starting costs, I realized that deep down I want to return home. Staying over here and starting to blaze a new path would mean moving to a new city, making new friends, finding a new job, and generally starting from square one. I've started from square one three times already in the last year and I'm ready for some stability. So you're on alert - the Doctor is returning to Canada mid-January. The hope is that an apartment in Toronto will follow, as will some sort of employment by the month of March (fingers crossed).
With this tentative plan mapped out, I've managed to secure some holiday work to tide me over for the month of December! After interviews at H&M and Bank Fashion (both of whom balked at my student visa restrictions in one form or another) River Island (one of the more popular stores here on the High Street) recruited me on for the Holiday season. I head into the store tomorrow to learn more about what exactly I'll be doing, but I think it will make for a productive December (and make the time before homecoming go by much quicker). I searched out a small job for three reasons: a) I need a bit of money to travel in January before the trip home b) Forty hours a week on revisions is just ridiculous - I'd rather do 20/20 and c) British Pounds just about double when crossing the border and are converted into Canadian dollars (a little start up money is desired). It may not be the most glamorous, but it'll pay some future bills. I can also finally add retail clothing to the LONG list of other jobs I've had in addition to school.
A tentative date home: CHECK
Holiday work to make some cash: CHECK
A plan for the first quarter of 2010: CHECK
Plans for one last hurrah before the journey home: CHECK
It's hard not be home for the holidays, but after a lot of soul searching, this is the way to do this chapter justice. Loose ends get tied, the dissertation is finished properly, and I hit two or three more spots before touching down on Canadian soil. I am looking forward to it immensely.
Tomorrow is a whirlwind day. I've got a huge to-do list before heading off to London to visit Talia for the weekend. Berlin isn't far off!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The visit to Coventry this past week brought home the reality of the atrocities of war - the city was decimated. The journey to Berlin next week will be yet another time for reflection. The ghosts of young innocent men and women lurk around every corner in Europe. Lest we forget.
The first task was to make a decision about the rapidly approaching holidays. This was the toughest call of them all. One of the kickers of the program is a Dec 31 final submission for our dissertations. I don't know if there could be a more inappropriate choice for the formative conclusion to the program. What this has lead to is utter uncertainty about the month of December - Will I be free and clear by mid-month? Will I have the dissertation approved by Christmas day? Or will I be revising alongside getting ready to ring in the new year? I hope the last option isn't anything I'll encounter, but it's all unclear. Add to this the fact that when I board the plane home to Canada I want to have my second MA (over-qualified much?) all wrapped up. I want to be reading for pleasure on the plane, not thinking about revisions. Add the third ingredient, one more week of Euro fun and traveling before heading home and I think a mid-December departure would be too rushed - hell, it'd be in four weeks.
Unfortunately, this means that I'll be missing the holiday season for two years in a row. It's the worst time of year to be away from my family. BUT, what we both have to look forward to is a return home a few weeks later. Hopefully turkey and a few Christmas themed dinners can be had in the new condo in January. That's right, as you might have guessed, I'm staying the holidays but then making a prompt return to Canada in mid-January. I've even been eying a few flights. What this allows me to do is get the dissertation wrapped up by the end of December, travel for a week or two in the new year and bid adieu to Europe for the time being.
As much as I was originally interested in exploring the possibilities of work over here, in addition to bleak job prospects and huge starting costs, I realized that deep down I want to return home. Staying over here and starting to blaze a new path would mean moving to a new city, making new friends, finding a new job, and generally starting from square one. I've started from square one three times already in the last year and I'm ready for some stability. So you're on alert - the Doctor is returning to Canada mid-January. The hope is that an apartment in Toronto will follow, as will some sort of employment by the month of March (fingers crossed).
With this tentative plan mapped out, I've managed to secure some holiday work to tide me over for the month of December! After interviews at H&M and Bank Fashion (both of whom balked at my student visa restrictions in one form or another) River Island (one of the more popular stores here on the High Street) recruited me on for the Holiday season. I head into the store tomorrow to learn more about what exactly I'll be doing, but I think it will make for a productive December (and make the time before homecoming go by much quicker). I searched out a small job for three reasons: a) I need a bit of money to travel in January before the trip home b) Forty hours a week on revisions is just ridiculous - I'd rather do 20/20 and c) British Pounds just about double when crossing the border and are converted into Canadian dollars (a little start up money is desired). It may not be the most glamorous, but it'll pay some future bills. I can also finally add retail clothing to the LONG list of other jobs I've had in addition to school.
A tentative date home: CHECK
Holiday work to make some cash: CHECK
A plan for the first quarter of 2010: CHECK
Plans for one last hurrah before the journey home: CHECK
It's hard not be home for the holidays, but after a lot of soul searching, this is the way to do this chapter justice. Loose ends get tied, the dissertation is finished properly, and I hit two or three more spots before touching down on Canadian soil. I am looking forward to it immensely.
Tomorrow is a whirlwind day. I've got a huge to-do list before heading off to London to visit Talia for the weekend. Berlin isn't far off!
Doc's Prescription of the Day: The visit to Coventry this past week brought home the reality of the atrocities of war - the city was decimated. The journey to Berlin next week will be yet another time for reflection. The ghosts of young innocent men and women lurk around every corner in Europe. Lest we forget.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
A Rad Visit.doc
This weekend I was blessed with the gift of a visit from my good friend Talia. We've known each other since my second year of university at Queen's. I met Talia through Walkhome where I worked for a year. Tal didn't exactly work at the service but any given night I could expect to see her in the JDUC. From there on we became fast summer friends, worked together at the Lonestar Texas Grill, and bonded in our mutual drama crew. Talia is over here to study an MA in Social Policy and Planning at the London School of Economics. I was lucky enough to watch the New Years Eve fireworks with her over Edinburgh Castle this past year.
Tal arrived on Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful weekend weather wise in Leamington. It reminded me of those autumn weekends in Niagara spent visiting the Pumpkin Patch in Welland. The leaves are vibrant, the temperature is brisk but not cold, and the air smells of burning wood. We walked from the train station to the apartment to drop bags off. We sat and caught up for an hour before heading out into town to catch the last moments of sunshine (the sun is setting around 4:30/5:00 these days). This whole catching up chat was the defining quality of our time together. It felt like we chatted a whole day away going back and forth about our respective experiences and observations about the UK. We'd continually start a conversation, divert into fourteen different tangents and try to navigate ourselves back to the original question. Impressively, I think most times we were able to return back to the topic at hand. What I appreciate most about talking with Talia is that I respect and admire her opinions immensely - it was intelligent conversation (without being overly academic) the whole weekend.
So before the sun totally set we made our way down the parade and into Leamington. Tal, like most people, is surprised at how big the town is. When people describe it they usually say its a posh little place without really giving its size justice. I took her to one of my favourite places in Leamington: the sweet/milkshake shop. Tal and I couldn't resist the 100 milkshake flavours offered in the shop so we indulged in quite the treat. The really wild thing about the shop is that they don't recreate the flavours with syrup or through imitation flavour but through actual ingredients (they blend in Reece Peanut Butter Cups for instance). Talia settled on Peanut Butter and Jelly and I got a dark chocolate Bounty Bar. Really decadent choices. We perched ourselves in the Gardens and snacked on hummus and veg alongside our milkshakes.
After the sun set in Leamington we headed back to the flat where I cooked up a pretty standard dinner - piri piri chicken with rosemary potatoes and carrots. Tal and I sipped on some wine as we cooked the leisurely dinner, and chatted about our respective programs, future life plans, and all that jazz. After a wonderful dinner we marched on down to the Clarendon to meet the MAIPR gang for some pints. It was a pretty low-key affair but nice nonetheless. I always like it when Canadian friends of mine meet the program mates over here. We called it a somewhat early night and headed back to the flat after two pints.
After a short sleep in today, we had a quick breakfast and morning chat before heading off to Coventry to see some sights. You see, Talia has family in Kenilworth which is just around the corner from me. The family invited her for Sunday dinner and were more than happy to extend the invitation. We joined her family, Fiona and Richard, that afternoon and they took us on a tour of Coventry's more interesting sights: the bombed Cathedral maintained as a memorial of ruins, the new Cathedral built in commemoration, and an interactive art gallery. I had seen the ruins of the old Cathedral before, but the new Cathedral was a first time visit. The museum also provided oodles of fun for Talia and I, and we managed to catch a live music act in the cafe. It was a really well spent afternoon.
Fiona and Richard took us to their place in Kenilworth for Sunday dinner. Fiona's parents and Richard's great aunt joined us for the meal. Talk about an enjoyable group of people! We had a fantastic time. Fiona cooked lamb for dinner and we had it with all the trimmings and sauces. I'm going to miss Yorkshire pudding when I head back to Canada. It was the leisurely type of meal that included wine, an abundance of desserts, and even after dessert chocolates. It was so nice to have a homecooked meal after a month of my own cooking. The house also had a fire going which was a wonderful surprise. Tal's family was so warm and welcoming!
All in all the weekend with Talia went too quickly, but it was such an enjoyable way to spend two days. I'd be disappointed at just how fast it flew by if I wasn't heading to London next weekend to visit her! There is a housewarming party at her place that just couldn't be missed.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Remember, remember the 5th of November. It was Guy Fawkes night this past week. There were fireworks for seven days in a row. That's a bit excessive, yes? "Penny for the guy?"
Tal arrived on Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful weekend weather wise in Leamington. It reminded me of those autumn weekends in Niagara spent visiting the Pumpkin Patch in Welland. The leaves are vibrant, the temperature is brisk but not cold, and the air smells of burning wood. We walked from the train station to the apartment to drop bags off. We sat and caught up for an hour before heading out into town to catch the last moments of sunshine (the sun is setting around 4:30/5:00 these days). This whole catching up chat was the defining quality of our time together. It felt like we chatted a whole day away going back and forth about our respective experiences and observations about the UK. We'd continually start a conversation, divert into fourteen different tangents and try to navigate ourselves back to the original question. Impressively, I think most times we were able to return back to the topic at hand. What I appreciate most about talking with Talia is that I respect and admire her opinions immensely - it was intelligent conversation (without being overly academic) the whole weekend.
So before the sun totally set we made our way down the parade and into Leamington. Tal, like most people, is surprised at how big the town is. When people describe it they usually say its a posh little place without really giving its size justice. I took her to one of my favourite places in Leamington: the sweet/milkshake shop. Tal and I couldn't resist the 100 milkshake flavours offered in the shop so we indulged in quite the treat. The really wild thing about the shop is that they don't recreate the flavours with syrup or through imitation flavour but through actual ingredients (they blend in Reece Peanut Butter Cups for instance). Talia settled on Peanut Butter and Jelly and I got a dark chocolate Bounty Bar. Really decadent choices. We perched ourselves in the Gardens and snacked on hummus and veg alongside our milkshakes.
After the sun set in Leamington we headed back to the flat where I cooked up a pretty standard dinner - piri piri chicken with rosemary potatoes and carrots. Tal and I sipped on some wine as we cooked the leisurely dinner, and chatted about our respective programs, future life plans, and all that jazz. After a wonderful dinner we marched on down to the Clarendon to meet the MAIPR gang for some pints. It was a pretty low-key affair but nice nonetheless. I always like it when Canadian friends of mine meet the program mates over here. We called it a somewhat early night and headed back to the flat after two pints.
After a short sleep in today, we had a quick breakfast and morning chat before heading off to Coventry to see some sights. You see, Talia has family in Kenilworth which is just around the corner from me. The family invited her for Sunday dinner and were more than happy to extend the invitation. We joined her family, Fiona and Richard, that afternoon and they took us on a tour of Coventry's more interesting sights: the bombed Cathedral maintained as a memorial of ruins, the new Cathedral built in commemoration, and an interactive art gallery. I had seen the ruins of the old Cathedral before, but the new Cathedral was a first time visit. The museum also provided oodles of fun for Talia and I, and we managed to catch a live music act in the cafe. It was a really well spent afternoon.
Fiona and Richard took us to their place in Kenilworth for Sunday dinner. Fiona's parents and Richard's great aunt joined us for the meal. Talk about an enjoyable group of people! We had a fantastic time. Fiona cooked lamb for dinner and we had it with all the trimmings and sauces. I'm going to miss Yorkshire pudding when I head back to Canada. It was the leisurely type of meal that included wine, an abundance of desserts, and even after dessert chocolates. It was so nice to have a homecooked meal after a month of my own cooking. The house also had a fire going which was a wonderful surprise. Tal's family was so warm and welcoming!
All in all the weekend with Talia went too quickly, but it was such an enjoyable way to spend two days. I'd be disappointed at just how fast it flew by if I wasn't heading to London next weekend to visit her! There is a housewarming party at her place that just couldn't be missed.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Remember, remember the 5th of November. It was Guy Fawkes night this past week. There were fireworks for seven days in a row. That's a bit excessive, yes? "Penny for the guy?"
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Time Bomb.doc
The first song that played when I flicked on itunes was Beck's Time Bomb. It's a great song, and a coincidental jam for this current blog post. You see, I'm feeling the time ticking away and I haven't made solid plans yet as to the holidays, a return to Canada, further travel plans, and the like. A decision and a flight must be booked within the next two weeks, but it truly is like a time bomb. I can hear the seconds wind by in the kick-back reverberation of that ever moving sweep hand (n.b. - a sweep hand is the thin red one that joins the other two - now you know).
Bottom line, the clock is ticking. If I had it my way there's a plan I'd set up right now and follow through with. But like everything else, it's dependent on a lot of variables - the one I'm currently considering applying for is an early January internship. I don't think I'd get it, since it's not theatre related, but it would be a piece of the puzzle that would help determine everything else. I couldn't even interview for it because I would be in the UK. Maybe they'd do skype? What is that pop culture expletive I'm looking for at this critical juncture?! Ah yes, BLERG. Trying to get a Canadian life in order from Leamington Spa is like trying to fit an elephant into a negligee. I've started using the word variables a lot to describe those outside circumstances that decide the next move. There really isn't a more appropriate word. Hindering my decision is the fleeting hope that I can control exactly how each phase of this will go down. The key to my success in plotting out the next twelve weeks will be sacrificing control of a variable or two and throwing caution to the wind.
In the spirit of keeping all my options open, I had two very funny interviews last week for holiday work in Leamington. Note: Don't panic. I have not decided 100% to stay in the UK for the holidays yet, but I'm leaning towards it. The real desire comes from wanting to board the plane with closure on my Euro chapter and I don't think I'd be able to do that with the dissertation not 100% over. So the thought is to spent December here and wrap up the whole MA in the last week of the month instead of returning to Canada and having to work from home. I'm still unsure. But anyways, I figured if I was here I might as well explore my options. The first interview was at H&M. I was under the impression it was for temporary holiday staff - my first misconception. They were looking for a part-timer for long term. So in true interview style I told them I planned to be in the UK as long as possible and then sort it out if I was offered the job. I pretty much aced the interview (six years of customer service and an MA tends to help) but they seemed a little hesitant once they realized my visa expired in April. See they thought they might get only six months out of me, when I knew it would only be two max. Strike three and you're out. I received a nice call the next day saying they would love to recruit me but the length of the visa makes me ineligible. The second interview was at Bank Fashion, a pretty hip brand in the UK. The interview was a joke and the manager seemed too cool for school. I have to much pride to work for someone like him. Fortunately/unfortunately, my visa only allows me to work twenty hours a week during term time and that wasn't enough for him.
So it has been odd to say the least. To keep all my options open I've been looking for Nov/Dec possibilities while here but also browsing Jan/Feb jobs back home. It makes my head hurt sometimes. Thankfully I know that it will all work out in the end and come March I'll find myself settled somewhere again (hopefully for longer than four months as has been the norm over here). Thankfully, I can get lost in the dissertation and not worry too much. I'm back at it this past week and will be sending the Canada chapter to Milija on Friday. Last evening Courtney and I took in a film here in Leamington. As part of a mobile promotion we got two for one tickets! How's paying 2.60 pounds for a film sound? How about awesome?! We saw Wes Anderson's newest Fantastic Mr. Fox with George Clooney and Meryl Streep. Overall it was really well done considering it was stop animation. I still prefer his earlier stuff but it's hard to compare that to a Roald Dahl classic. I don't think the adaptation could have gone any better though, and it seemed distinctly Anderson. A solid recommendation.
This weekend I have a visit from Talia to look forward to. I'm going to show her some of Leamington on Saturday and then we'll catch up over a few pints that evening. And her family in the area has generously invited me along for Sunday dinner. It should be a relaxed weekend, after a week that has FLOWN by.
Doc's Prescription: Time bomb ticking, the time bomb ticking, got a, time bomb ticking going tick, tick, tick.
Bottom line, the clock is ticking. If I had it my way there's a plan I'd set up right now and follow through with. But like everything else, it's dependent on a lot of variables - the one I'm currently considering applying for is an early January internship. I don't think I'd get it, since it's not theatre related, but it would be a piece of the puzzle that would help determine everything else. I couldn't even interview for it because I would be in the UK. Maybe they'd do skype? What is that pop culture expletive I'm looking for at this critical juncture?! Ah yes, BLERG. Trying to get a Canadian life in order from Leamington Spa is like trying to fit an elephant into a negligee. I've started using the word variables a lot to describe those outside circumstances that decide the next move. There really isn't a more appropriate word. Hindering my decision is the fleeting hope that I can control exactly how each phase of this will go down. The key to my success in plotting out the next twelve weeks will be sacrificing control of a variable or two and throwing caution to the wind.
In the spirit of keeping all my options open, I had two very funny interviews last week for holiday work in Leamington. Note: Don't panic. I have not decided 100% to stay in the UK for the holidays yet, but I'm leaning towards it. The real desire comes from wanting to board the plane with closure on my Euro chapter and I don't think I'd be able to do that with the dissertation not 100% over. So the thought is to spent December here and wrap up the whole MA in the last week of the month instead of returning to Canada and having to work from home. I'm still unsure. But anyways, I figured if I was here I might as well explore my options. The first interview was at H&M. I was under the impression it was for temporary holiday staff - my first misconception. They were looking for a part-timer for long term. So in true interview style I told them I planned to be in the UK as long as possible and then sort it out if I was offered the job. I pretty much aced the interview (six years of customer service and an MA tends to help) but they seemed a little hesitant once they realized my visa expired in April. See they thought they might get only six months out of me, when I knew it would only be two max. Strike three and you're out. I received a nice call the next day saying they would love to recruit me but the length of the visa makes me ineligible. The second interview was at Bank Fashion, a pretty hip brand in the UK. The interview was a joke and the manager seemed too cool for school. I have to much pride to work for someone like him. Fortunately/unfortunately, my visa only allows me to work twenty hours a week during term time and that wasn't enough for him.
So it has been odd to say the least. To keep all my options open I've been looking for Nov/Dec possibilities while here but also browsing Jan/Feb jobs back home. It makes my head hurt sometimes. Thankfully I know that it will all work out in the end and come March I'll find myself settled somewhere again (hopefully for longer than four months as has been the norm over here). Thankfully, I can get lost in the dissertation and not worry too much. I'm back at it this past week and will be sending the Canada chapter to Milija on Friday. Last evening Courtney and I took in a film here in Leamington. As part of a mobile promotion we got two for one tickets! How's paying 2.60 pounds for a film sound? How about awesome?! We saw Wes Anderson's newest Fantastic Mr. Fox with George Clooney and Meryl Streep. Overall it was really well done considering it was stop animation. I still prefer his earlier stuff but it's hard to compare that to a Roald Dahl classic. I don't think the adaptation could have gone any better though, and it seemed distinctly Anderson. A solid recommendation.
This weekend I have a visit from Talia to look forward to. I'm going to show her some of Leamington on Saturday and then we'll catch up over a few pints that evening. And her family in the area has generously invited me along for Sunday dinner. It should be a relaxed weekend, after a week that has FLOWN by.
Doc's Prescription: Time bomb ticking, the time bomb ticking, got a, time bomb ticking going tick, tick, tick.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Turtle Power.doc
October is a really great month. The leaves start to turn colour and litter the footpaths, and one can bundle up in warm autumn clothes. There are also three separate holidays packed into one month – my birthday, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Some months just have a certain ‘feel’ about them. Like August and December, for instance, bring to mind a bevy of wonderful connotations. Some months like say February and May don’t have the same vibe. But for me, October is the most distinct.
We said goodbye to October yesterday the only way we know how – with a big Halloween bash. Last Halloween was straight up a bit lame. While we ended up having a decent night in the end, there were only a few of us who dressed up and got into the spirit. This year, however, was totally different. The party was in honour of Bec and Jamal, both of whom celebrated a birthday this past week. Courtney and Jamal hosted at their house and had the whole MAIPR crew plus students from the new year. Just about everyone was dressed up this time around.
I fulfilled one of my childhood fantasies as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It was a return to old favourite - my brother and I use to love that series. I chose Leonardo since I think he’s closest to my personality, and the turtle I’d be if I had my way. He’s smart, quiet, more mature than his turtle counterparts, and the unacknowledged silent leader. He also carries a big sword, that doesn’t hurt. I think it was yet another way to procrastinate from the dissertation, but I put a lot of effort into the costume. I wore green tights and cut up a similar pair for my arms, ripped up a Tshirt for the blue accessories, and fashioned a chest shell out of old clothes. It was a lot of fun, and I had the honour of being one of three nominees for Best Costume. Hollah.
There were a collection of interesting costumes: Tory was a Greek goddess, Bec an 80's Prom Zombie, Zoey a cat, Jamal a Monk, Ridzal a surgeon, Hetta was a ghoulish Amy Winehouse, Courtney a Roma (Gypsy), and Zhenya was an impregnated flapper. Unfortunately, Halloween isn't as big here as it is in Canada. There were costumes here and there out on the street and I'm sure in some of the bars throughout the city, but not as widespread as I would expect in Toronto.
Bec and Jamal made a nasty Halloween brew that packed a punch. We all just brought a bunch of alcoholic ingredients and they mixed it together in a huge bucket…in the bathtub. I felt like I was back to uni basics again. We shared some laughs, played some games (the Horsey Hop gift we got for the birthdayers provided loads of entertainment), and went to our favourite spot, Saint’s Bar once it got late. Afterwards we returned to Courtney and Jamal’s to finish up the punch. It proved to be impossible – there was just too much! By the time we got home it was in the wee hours of the morning, but it was a great party. The MAIPR group hadn't gathered like that since the last birthday celebrations for Tory and I so it was nice to see everyone.
The end of October signals back to work after a bit of a break from things. I'm going full tilt for the next two weeks so I can leave the dissertation in a good condition when I take off to Berlin for a bit. Here's hoping that November will be as fun as October was, and that the warm fuzzy fall feeling continues.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Heroes in a half shell - Turtle Power.
We said goodbye to October yesterday the only way we know how – with a big Halloween bash. Last Halloween was straight up a bit lame. While we ended up having a decent night in the end, there were only a few of us who dressed up and got into the spirit. This year, however, was totally different. The party was in honour of Bec and Jamal, both of whom celebrated a birthday this past week. Courtney and Jamal hosted at their house and had the whole MAIPR crew plus students from the new year. Just about everyone was dressed up this time around.
I fulfilled one of my childhood fantasies as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It was a return to old favourite - my brother and I use to love that series. I chose Leonardo since I think he’s closest to my personality, and the turtle I’d be if I had my way. He’s smart, quiet, more mature than his turtle counterparts, and the unacknowledged silent leader. He also carries a big sword, that doesn’t hurt. I think it was yet another way to procrastinate from the dissertation, but I put a lot of effort into the costume. I wore green tights and cut up a similar pair for my arms, ripped up a Tshirt for the blue accessories, and fashioned a chest shell out of old clothes. It was a lot of fun, and I had the honour of being one of three nominees for Best Costume. Hollah.
There were a collection of interesting costumes: Tory was a Greek goddess, Bec an 80's Prom Zombie, Zoey a cat, Jamal a Monk, Ridzal a surgeon, Hetta was a ghoulish Amy Winehouse, Courtney a Roma (Gypsy), and Zhenya was an impregnated flapper. Unfortunately, Halloween isn't as big here as it is in Canada. There were costumes here and there out on the street and I'm sure in some of the bars throughout the city, but not as widespread as I would expect in Toronto.
Bec and Jamal made a nasty Halloween brew that packed a punch. We all just brought a bunch of alcoholic ingredients and they mixed it together in a huge bucket…in the bathtub. I felt like I was back to uni basics again. We shared some laughs, played some games (the Horsey Hop gift we got for the birthdayers provided loads of entertainment), and went to our favourite spot, Saint’s Bar once it got late. Afterwards we returned to Courtney and Jamal’s to finish up the punch. It proved to be impossible – there was just too much! By the time we got home it was in the wee hours of the morning, but it was a great party. The MAIPR group hadn't gathered like that since the last birthday celebrations for Tory and I so it was nice to see everyone.
The end of October signals back to work after a bit of a break from things. I'm going full tilt for the next two weeks so I can leave the dissertation in a good condition when I take off to Berlin for a bit. Here's hoping that November will be as fun as October was, and that the warm fuzzy fall feeling continues.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Heroes in a half shell - Turtle Power.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
