Christmas Wishes

Christmas Eve is my very favourite day of the year and as the sun goes down on yet another relaxing December 24th I watch the holiday lights come on around my neighbourhood, and finally sit here with my laptop to share with you my Christmas wishes for this year...

First and foremost, I wish for good health. Not just for myself but for my family and all of my loved ones. Most importantly for my uncle who is still not well. He will have another operation in the new year and hopefully that will take care of everything and 2009 will be his healthiest year yet. I wish good health on all of you and your loved ones as well.

My second wish, a little bit more selfish, is to find a job that I enjoy in London. I am taking a very big step out of the comfort zone I've been living in for the past 18 months to start something new and exciting. I hope beyond hope that I can make a strong start for myself without too much waiting for things to begin.

Thirdly, I wish that the changes that are going on all over the world will lead to brighter, happier, more stable times ahead. I am an eternal optimist and I refuse to believe that the state of the world will continue to decline. I have high hopes for a positive future and look forward to being a part of those things that get us there, together.

My fourth and fifth wishes are materialistic and fantastic, but come on now it's Christmas! I wish for the Foo Fighters Live at Wembley DVD and I wish for it to be hand delivered to me my Dave Grohl and Barack Obama.

Happy Christmas, everyone!

christmas tree!

On Sunday my family headed up to Drysdale's Tree Farm in Cookstown ON to cut down our Christmas tree. The wagon ride to the field of trees was a lot of fun, walking around in the snow looking at trees was a lot of fun, and watching my brother cut down the tree (his first tree cutting attempt ever) was a lot of fun.

I'm not feeling much like writing too many details or stories at the moment (I'll explain in another post later in the week), but here are some photos for you to enjoy!


Some of the trees we had to choose from


Me and my brother, enjoying being kids for a day


My family in the 'woods'


And finally, our tree.

And it only took 128 posts to get me here

I am officially moving back to England on December 29 2008! My flight is booked and I've started mentally packing my bags (which of course, means simply that I have decided on one pair of shoes that is coming with me no matter what - see below). I even bought some of those vacuum seal bags that hold "10-12 sweaters" once all the air is sucked out - has anyone used them before?? I figure even if I can compress 3-4 sweaters or bulky items down to a smaller size I'm in good shape.

So that's the story, that's the news. I am officially on Christmas countdown and am trying to finish all of my shopping before the 20th. I think I will have no problem doing that - unless my brother and I don't end up giving my parents a joint gift, in which case I'll be shopping for my dad up to the eleventh hour. Any gift ideas for a dad who doesn't read books/has no hobbies? It's hard, isn't it!

We're going to cut down our Christmas tree next Sunday (weather permitting of course) and I will certainly post news of that adventure afterwards. I love December, I really, really do! Especially days like today - I'm still in my (new) pyjamas and am enjoying sitting inside where it's warm watching the snow fall silently outside. It's truly perfect and I'm happy to be getting my snow fix before moving to England - the land of (practically) no snow!

Kisses.

Where to start?

A few weeks ago I did something I have never done and may very well never do again ...

It was my aunt's birthday and my cousin's 40th birthday on November 7, so the two of them decided to have a ladies night out. They chose Brix in Richmond Hill as the destination and had a strict "no men allowed" rule (of course that rule didn't apply at the end of the night when their husbands came to drive them home).

The evening started out harmless enough. My mum and I arrived at the restaurant around 9pm and shortly after our arrival the drinks started to flow. Carolyn, my cousin who was celebrating her birthday, was hooked on Mojitos. My aunt on the other hand couldn't decide what to drink in the absence of Corona - which evidently is the "only drink" that gets her drunk. She had a few different drinks before settling on Mojitos as well. And while she was enjoying her Mojitos quite a lot, she was also enjoying anyone else's she could get her hands on!


My mum and my cousin Carolyn take a shot

I was the designated driver (by choice) and though I enjoyed a yummy gin martini and a couple of shots, I mostly enjoyed watching my mother, my aunt and my cousins down shot after shot. Yes, I said it: shot after shot. My mother suggested they order the shot "orgasm" which I'll admit is delicious, but ordering it from an attractive young bus boy only set the group off into fits of laughter when he blushed and said "You'll have to ask your waitress".


At approximately 9:30pm, while all of the drinking was taking place, the restaurant transformed into a nightclub with strobe lights, smoke machines (actually, there may not have been smoke machines, but something was foggy that night) and Sean Paul on the stereo. The whole group (which totalled about 15 at this point - my 22 year old cousin Jenna, one of the birthday girl's colleagues and myself may have been the only ones who were age-appropriate to the club scene) took to the dance floor.


Me, my mum and my cousin Jenna

It was a very unique experience for sure, one I'm not too eager to repeat (especially since I live at home with my parents and use my nights out as a form of escapism), but a good time none the less.

Good news travels in pairs.

Today was a very good day for two very big reasons and a very lovely third reason.

Reason 1)
My uncle had the lump on his neck removed today and contrary to what the doctors thought before, this WAS the primary cancer which means they think they've gotten it all out. The doctors will have to run a few more tests and determine if he needs more surgery or any other treatment, but so far so good. He is spending tonight in hospital but goes home tomorrow morning, a much happier and relieved man. And aren't we all relieved... P H E W! He's not in the clear just yet, but me-oh-my he's a hell of a lot closer than we thought he was just yesterday.

Reason 2)
When I got home from the hospital I had an email waiting for me that contained six lovely little words: Your entry clearance has been issued. The brutal waiting game and the incessant form filling out and such is all over... well, nearly over as I have to wait for the mail man to bring me back my passport and documents. But now I can start to plan the next stage of my life with a little more zeal. I think I will stick around Toronto for Christmas, but with my visa in hand I should be able to leave anytime after 3 December if a job offer comes rolling in before the holidays. Yipee!!! London, here I come.


And reason 3)
For the first time this season, Toronto is covered in a beautiful blanket of white snow. It is the perfect snow for walking, for building snowmen, or just for looking at from inside of a warm house with a mug of hot cider. I often forget just how much the first snowfall warms my heart. This is one of those very special moments that comes just once a year, and I am so happy to be home for it again.

Today, November 19 2008 (I realise it's into the wee hours of the 20th but I have yet to go to sleep) has been, officially, the best day of the year.

Hiatus Explained

So, it's been over a week since I last wrote and while I don't have any exciting news to report (other than to say my new visa application is currently being processed in Ottawa and I should hear back next week sometime), I felt it might be a good idea to share a not-so-exciting bit of news with you all. Last week we found out that my uncle/godfather has cancer. Now, as scary as that news is, it's actually been about a million times scarier for us this week because they don't know where the cancer is yet. He's had a lump in his neck for some time now that the doctors have determined is cancerous, but have to do more tests to find the root of the cancer.

Needless to say it's been a very stressful week and I suspect the next week will be even more so since we'll all be waiting to hear the results. Generally, I am an optimistic person when it comes to health matters but when I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this next series of testing, I am terrified.

And in hopes of trying not to think about all of this I opted to drown my sorrows in far too much alcohol this Saturday night and paid for it Sunday morning. Thankfully THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT was on TV in the afternoon to keep my hungover self company. I don't really know what to do or feel or think about all of this right now, and without sounding completely selfish, I think I'll just focus on preparing to move back to England until I know more about my uncle. Though, I may stick around Toronto longer than I'd planned... but we'll see.

Thanks for reading and I promise to get back to more writing soon. In the meantime here are a couple of tidbits from the past week:
- I dressed up as a ladybug for Halloween
- I saw the film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE in the theatres and highly recommend it
- I went to a nightclub with my mother, my aunt and my 40 year old cousin (and my 22 year old cousin)
- I've recently started looking more seriously at jobs across the UK (not just London)

38 for the start of 2008

Stolen, nay borrowed, from Nicole... To sum up 2007 and bring in 2008.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I went crab and lobster fishing in the English Channel - true, I didn't do any of the hard work, but I was on the boat before 8am in February... brrr (but I'd do it again in a heartbeat)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make resolutions, but I do try to make changes every so often (as any of you who have read my blog before should know)... in 2007 I made a promise to be more honest about my feelings and to put myself first. It wasn't as easy as I had hoped it would be to do those things, but I am getting better every day.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My wonderful friend Anna gave birth to her gorgeous son Kofi in February. I was so sad to have missed both her pregnancy and her son's birth, but am so proud of her and absolutely adore my little "nephew".

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My granny's sister passed away while I was overseas. It all happened to fast and not being able to say goodbye and not being able to be there to send my love to her husband and children was really hard. But we grow stronger and love deeper with every change.

5. What countries did you visit?
England, Wales, Austria and the United States

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More motivation to achieve the goals that I set for myself.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
15 January - submission day for fall term papers and my first big drink up at Falmer Bar
18 February - the big fishing day on the sea
3 September - submission day of final dissertations... what a relief that day was
6 September - my final day in the UK, spent in London with Jack, before returning to Canada the following afternoon

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my Master's in Contemporary History

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not really a failure per se, but certainly something I am disappointed in myself for - I wish that I had stayed in England in September instead of coming back to Toronto.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My second tattoo... it really does remind me every day to be myself and to not be afraid that I wear my heart on my sleeve.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friend Rupert had a not-so-easy breakup in the fall, and though he calls his behaviour childish and immature I was and still am so proud of his honesty and his willingness to share so much of himself at such a difficult time.


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A friend of mine who will remain nameless.... For constantly disappointing me and for making me feel guilty in times when I was not at fault. For making me question my love, my loyalty and my heart... I am big on forgiveness, but I am not going to forget the hurt that this friend caused me anytime soon.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and drinks in the UK... too much booze!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A lot of little things. Most of which revolved around nights out with the boys of Newmarket Road. Whether they know it or not the four of them made my year so fantastic. Every time I went to their house or went out with them I was happy, and being genuinely happy made me really, really, really excited every time.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Heart of Gold" by Neil Young... it's always been one of my favourites, but I definitely listened to it a LOT this past year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
Sadder, fatter and poorer.... OOPS!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent more time on the beach in Brighton when it was sunny and warm.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting on my butt in my room watching the sea from inside.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with my family... just like old times.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I thought that I might have, though I can't be sure just yet.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office (US)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is far too strong of a word, but I will say that I lost a lot of respect for someone....

24. What was the best book you read?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Simian Mobile Disco

26. What did you want and get?
Wonderful new friends

27. What did you want and not get?
The funds and means to move back to England/remain in England.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Juno (go figure I saw it three times in theatres)

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
For my 25th birthday my fantastic friends (mostly new, and two old) filled the main floor of the Fish Bowl in Brighton - what a great night that was!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Ending it with a fabulous job offer for a proper job.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Longing to wear more exciting and sassy clothes, settling for whatever was comfortable and clean.

32. What kept you sane?
Reruns of Friends and Fraser... and late night gab sessions with Dina and Annie and Genti.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Steven Gerrard and Matt Damon

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm not going there...

35. Who did you miss?
All of my new friends who are scattered across Europe, Britain, Asia and the Americas

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jack. My music and club guru, who knows a little something about everything.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
True friends are hard to come by, and once you find that you have some never let them go.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
No, I don't think I can do this.... I can't think of a specific song, but it would go something like this: "What started out great, got better, and then sucked, and then it was Christmas, and now I have something to look forward to."

lady in green?

ooh la la, i bought a green dress for my cousin's wedding. it's just below my knees, with black trim under the bust and over the bust... encompassing the bust one might say. it has a black ribbon/string that attaches into one of those cleavage peepholes and makes the dress into a lovely halter dress. i will get photos asap.

oh! the wedding. i almost forgot!
my favourite and oldest cousin on my dad's side of the family is getting married. ever since i was a little girl i looked up to erika and her younger sister leanne (who passed away in 1996) as my cool, beautiful, amazingly funny and wonderful older girl cousins. i wanted to be just like them, complete with boston accent. needless to say, i have been looking forward to erika's wedding for a long time and cannot wait to see her in her gown, walking down the aisle.
*sigh* i am a bit of a romantic, a huge sap, and i cannot wait to be there for her special day.

we're going down to plymouth, massachusetts for the weekend (pictures to follow, for SURE) and hopefully some shopping.

---

in other news, the Leafs beat the Habs tonight in OT! GO LEAFS GO