4th annual uk/canuck thanksgiving

it was the last uk/canadian thanksgiving this year. it was a lovely gathering as always of about 17 of my nearest and dearest. however, i did predict in the morning that it was going to be *worst thanksgiving ever* that morning.

the fridge was too cold that night, i screwed up my mashed potatoes and generally was quite stressed about the lack of large pots and the fact that 17 people were coming over for dinner. davoud and i fought at least three times before 2pm and i cried for at least a half hour. i should note though that this wasn't as a result of the fighting, but just general homesickness. it's weird because i haven't felt 'homesick' in the strictest meaning of the word since i declared to the world i was going to be back in canada by september 09.

but it was good fun. most people had a seat at an actual table and the last crew left at about midnight when i kicked them out because i was tired. i'm looking forward to cooking thanksgiving for my own family, but not next year. next year i need some time off ;) i suppose i could bring dessert though...

trip pics

looloo in front of chex loulou

eglise st-sulpice

on our canal boat ride dogding buses in amsterdam

a replica dutch ship and the science museum in the background

davoud took many, many pictures of himself with my camera in amsterdam, but this was by far the funniest. he really had lost the plot.

party pics

lou, kel, paul, peter (back row) and val, davoud, me, harriet (front)

val and paul looking very scottish. somehow val managed to look really good in her tartan hat and wig!

the birthday boy

me and my balloon portrait. i got bored and started drawing people on them with a sharpie

chris supporting local brewery cains, which is going through some very tough times

a party and a trip

after a very intense week at school two weeks ago, we had davoud's 30th birthday party on saturday 20th september before flying to paris the next day. the theme was scotland primarily because davoud was scheduled to open a 30 year old bottle of lagavulin and we'd found the perfect gift for him to open on his 40th birthday: a bottle of 1978 ardbeg. oh, and i also bought him a very, very small piece of land in the highlands so he is now lord davoud davies. so help me...i think i'm going to regret that one for the rest of my life.

we then flew out to paris and then flew around it too. it was a whirlwind three days. davoud lived there for two years about five years back so there were many things he wanted to show me whilst we were there. we saw some wonderful art and were blessed with fabulous weather. i also got reaquainted with my love of all things croissant related.

amsterdam was much more relaxed and admittedly reminded me a bit of montreal. there were tree-lined streets, steps up to colourful houses, lots of bicycles and everyone just seemed much too laid-back for their own good. there were also canals and we had a very fun pedal boat ride around them one sunny afternoon. i successfully steered us clear of canal buses and other crazy boats. davoud just walked around the entire time saying 'yesh' like goldmember in austin powers. not as much museum going for us here, just the science museum, photography gallery and the world's *best* library.

you can check out davoud's photos on the flickr link in the favourites box at the right hand side of this page.