quite possibly officially my favorite place in the uk. absolutely phenomenal...and the company wasn't bad either.
i've been trying to upload the pictures, but it is taking too long and i'm losing patience. so, the report. friday night we arrived at twilight. i met dipak and davoud at the arrivals gate and have to admit i got a little teary eyed when all the little kids were saying hello to their grandparents.
we took the bus into town, eventually navigated ourselves to the apartment we'd rented - davoud was holding the map - kicked off some shoes and went in search of food. had some thai and then went back to the apartment to work on a bottle of scotch.
saturday was absolutely stunning, which meant lots of park sitting, frisbee playing and a little beer drinking. we ate at our now favorite restaurant in edinburgh, henderson's. its all organic, vegetarian, and wholefood goodness. mmmm. i cooked dinner for the boys that night and we just chilled out at home with some more whisky.
sunday starting out a little cloudy so we wandered up to the scotch whisky heritage centre for some tasting, barrel rides, and purchasing. once the sun came out we were back at the park with the frisbee.
that night we go down as one of the best nights ever...mainly because we found the bartender from heaven - i'm telling you it should be edenburgh - chris who made us the most delectable old fashioneds. amazing.
it was an awesome weekend. great food, great drink, amazing company, awesome weather, card playing - although dipak does need to learn that 8 comes before 9 - delayed flights, amazing photos (i'll try to sort that out soon) and just general loveliness. the kind of weekend that makes you actually believe that the week, that pesky working time, doesn't even exist.
5.02.2006
4.27.2006
update on the royal tour
it depends on how you look at two months, but i'm going to be home soon! so soon! and i'm really excited. but there have been a few changes in plans.
unfortunately, sam and kel aren't coming any more. they've both had loads of financial commitments in the past couple of months and just can't make a trip like this right now. i'm really upset about it because i wanted to show them home and all the people, places and things i love about it, but as my dad said...canada's not going anywhere and this isn't going to be their only opprotunity to visit.
but...dipak is still coming so at least someone thats close to me here is going to get a behind the scenes tour of the things that shaped lauren. and yes, most of you have probably figured out by now that there's something a little more going on there. i mean, why would anyone voluntarily go down to coventry so often? there is substance behind the saying "being sent to cov."
schedule has changed *slightly* too:
june 16-18 markham/toronto
june 19 goderich
june 20-23 montreal
june 24 oka
june 25-28 cottage
june 29 markham
june 30...fly back
i'm hoping to see as many people as possible as usual. save up the sun, humidity, black flies and nice patches of grass. and start pouring those pitchers of beer...7 weeks to go!
unfortunately, sam and kel aren't coming any more. they've both had loads of financial commitments in the past couple of months and just can't make a trip like this right now. i'm really upset about it because i wanted to show them home and all the people, places and things i love about it, but as my dad said...canada's not going anywhere and this isn't going to be their only opprotunity to visit.
but...dipak is still coming so at least someone thats close to me here is going to get a behind the scenes tour of the things that shaped lauren. and yes, most of you have probably figured out by now that there's something a little more going on there. i mean, why would anyone voluntarily go down to coventry so often? there is substance behind the saying "being sent to cov."
schedule has changed *slightly* too:
june 16-18 markham/toronto
june 19 goderich
june 20-23 montreal
june 24 oka
june 25-28 cottage
june 29 markham
june 30...fly back
i'm hoping to see as many people as possible as usual. save up the sun, humidity, black flies and nice patches of grass. and start pouring those pitchers of beer...7 weeks to go!
4.25.2006
income tax hell
right. so oddball canadian tax rules.
filled out my lovely federal income tax form with quick tax and was all ready for the netfile with my access code and all when suddenly it remembers that i'm no longer a canadian resident because i now live in the uk.
but wait! *am* i a canadian resident still? sure, maybe i don't have any primary ties (ie. car, residence, husband, kids) but i do still hold a canadian passport, driver's license and bank account. well, that's for good ol' revenue canada to sort out.
and then i made the mistake of living in quebec, which has its own set of weird and wonderful tax laws. so after much stressing over doing my federal taxes (i was getting *really* angry and spiteful, wishing i'd never moved from 186 ramona and dreaming of whisky) i called revenu quebec. explained my situation to the lovely french canadian girl at the other end when...
"no, you don't have to file a tax return in quebec. yes, you may have lived here and paid tax for 6 months of the year, but because you didn't reside in quebec on *31 december 2005* you don't have to file a tax return."
riiiiiiiiiiiight.
bring on the whisky cause that's call for a celebration. except i don't have any...going back to edinburgh this weekend to stock up.
filled out my lovely federal income tax form with quick tax and was all ready for the netfile with my access code and all when suddenly it remembers that i'm no longer a canadian resident because i now live in the uk.
but wait! *am* i a canadian resident still? sure, maybe i don't have any primary ties (ie. car, residence, husband, kids) but i do still hold a canadian passport, driver's license and bank account. well, that's for good ol' revenue canada to sort out.
and then i made the mistake of living in quebec, which has its own set of weird and wonderful tax laws. so after much stressing over doing my federal taxes (i was getting *really* angry and spiteful, wishing i'd never moved from 186 ramona and dreaming of whisky) i called revenu quebec. explained my situation to the lovely french canadian girl at the other end when...
"no, you don't have to file a tax return in quebec. yes, you may have lived here and paid tax for 6 months of the year, but because you didn't reside in quebec on *31 december 2005* you don't have to file a tax return."
riiiiiiiiiiiight.
bring on the whisky cause that's call for a celebration. except i don't have any...going back to edinburgh this weekend to stock up.
4.24.2006
4.21.2006
continental excursion
(first pic: the john lennon wall in prague on the quieter side of the river)val and i had an awesome little excursion to the continent and were delighted with loads of art, culture, opera, ballet, wiener schnitzel...
starting the first few days in vienna visiting come lovely churches, the belvedere (where we saw the infamous painting "the kiss"...unbelievable), and the prater. i think i have to say i enjoyed the prater thoroughly. its an amusement park and i got to go on rides and play air hockey. much fun.
(second pic: the view from prague castle, maybe from the tower)prague was awesome. ended up there after a 5 hour train journey and a couple of stamps for ye olde passport. it's definitely more of a working city and you can see how its tumultuous history has shaped its character. stunning architecture. visited the museum of communism and felt very educated; lots of reading of museum panels involved in that one.
(third pic: the giant ferris wheel at the prater)i like rides. this made me want to revisit my youth and season's pass to canada's wonderland.
(fourth pic: val)val sitting in one of the best garden restaurants of all time in vienna. we visited Kunst Haus Wien, which is this building conceived by artist Hundertwasser. *very* cool stuff and may have to post more photos of that place.
(fifth pic: st michaels, petrin hill)thanks to my keen sense of direction and navigational skills (*skills* haha) we made it down to this little wooden church that was moved from the ukraine to this spot after flooding. it was tiny and beautiful and i wish the lighting had been better. val and i were constantly saying "i know the lighting isn't right, but don't tell davoud."
oh. and don't forget to wish a happy birthday to val...it's today!
4.09.2006
spring break
i'm digging this system. the three weeks of work and then two weeks off system...it's great.
yesterday i did work though. i took two students to FACT (new media/theatre centre in liverpool) with the art teachers: miss sheena smith and miss kate challinor. it was really great for the students i spending the afternoon with sheena and kate was fab. i think i've found my new best friends at work. the other plus is that their both artistically active as well which is encouraging me even more to do it myself! i'm even going to set up studio/shop in dipak's basement in coventry and spend some dedicated time painting during my vast amount of holidays.
work has gotten a lot better because i am now actually doing stuff...working on projects and making things happen. its a much better feeling, but i realise that of course it was going to take time to adjust to everything. and i still have to do that too.
so off i go for the first two weeks of my awesome hols. going down to cov today for some painting, then back to the pool to meet up with val and fly to vienna and prague for a few days. back down to cov when i get back for some more painting and sean's record label launch, and then back up to the pool with dipak and davoud to go to a gig in manchester. busy and much fun.
i'll try and post from the continent if val and i find an internet cafe.
happy trails.
yesterday i did work though. i took two students to FACT (new media/theatre centre in liverpool) with the art teachers: miss sheena smith and miss kate challinor. it was really great for the students i spending the afternoon with sheena and kate was fab. i think i've found my new best friends at work. the other plus is that their both artistically active as well which is encouraging me even more to do it myself! i'm even going to set up studio/shop in dipak's basement in coventry and spend some dedicated time painting during my vast amount of holidays.
work has gotten a lot better because i am now actually doing stuff...working on projects and making things happen. its a much better feeling, but i realise that of course it was going to take time to adjust to everything. and i still have to do that too.
so off i go for the first two weeks of my awesome hols. going down to cov today for some painting, then back to the pool to meet up with val and fly to vienna and prague for a few days. back down to cov when i get back for some more painting and sean's record label launch, and then back up to the pool with dipak and davoud to go to a gig in manchester. busy and much fun.
i'll try and post from the continent if val and i find an internet cafe.
happy trails.
4.03.2006
the elite league
I’ve never seen anything quite like it. A handful of hockey fanatics, painted faces, wigs, jerseys you name it…in the UK! Shocking.
I went down to Coventry this weekend to see my boys, and surprise, Dipak had found out that the Coventry Blaze were playing the Sheffield Steelers (that’s Sheffield, not Pittsburgh) in a knock out game as they’re at the end of their season. Not only did I have the best seats I have ever had for a hockey game (and it had nothing to do with the fact that the arena only sat about 200 people), but I went with three people who had never been treated to the board hitting, pucks flying, blood flowing game that is my national sport.
It was also one of the most exciting games I’d ever been to. Coventry did play horribly during the first period (think the style of TML this season) and got several cries of “wake up!” from the crowd (sound familiar?) and I was actually quite impressed with some of the skills from Sheffield. At the end of the first period it Sheffield was ahead by one.
Then the oldest zamboni known to man flooded the ice.
Coventry scored towards the end of the second period and it was tied throughout the third. They went into 5 minutes of extra time (no one scored) and then a shoot out! Awesome. Unfortunately the home team lost, but the crowd from Sheffield definitely had more spirit and took up about three sections (so that’s about 20 people?).
During the game a panel of glass above the boards was broken, two incidents of blood on the ice needed to be cleared up, a couple of good fights, ref heckling, and players in the penalty box getting yelled at. Much fun.
But there was the oddity of the cheers, drinking beer out of plastic bottles, the fact that fans for each time are separated (a la football match), and there were several Maple Leafs fans in the crowd. I was glad I brought my blinking pin and TML socks.
Next year I want season tickets.
It was an awesome weekend. Made an amazing meal for the boys Saturday, read the paper, made amazing breakfast of French toast and Canadian bacon on Sunday, and crafted the road trip mix with Davoud.
Monday mornings are hard after such good times…
I went down to Coventry this weekend to see my boys, and surprise, Dipak had found out that the Coventry Blaze were playing the Sheffield Steelers (that’s Sheffield, not Pittsburgh) in a knock out game as they’re at the end of their season. Not only did I have the best seats I have ever had for a hockey game (and it had nothing to do with the fact that the arena only sat about 200 people), but I went with three people who had never been treated to the board hitting, pucks flying, blood flowing game that is my national sport.
It was also one of the most exciting games I’d ever been to. Coventry did play horribly during the first period (think the style of TML this season) and got several cries of “wake up!” from the crowd (sound familiar?) and I was actually quite impressed with some of the skills from Sheffield. At the end of the first period it Sheffield was ahead by one.
Then the oldest zamboni known to man flooded the ice.
Coventry scored towards the end of the second period and it was tied throughout the third. They went into 5 minutes of extra time (no one scored) and then a shoot out! Awesome. Unfortunately the home team lost, but the crowd from Sheffield definitely had more spirit and took up about three sections (so that’s about 20 people?).
During the game a panel of glass above the boards was broken, two incidents of blood on the ice needed to be cleared up, a couple of good fights, ref heckling, and players in the penalty box getting yelled at. Much fun.
But there was the oddity of the cheers, drinking beer out of plastic bottles, the fact that fans for each time are separated (a la football match), and there were several Maple Leafs fans in the crowd. I was glad I brought my blinking pin and TML socks.
Next year I want season tickets.
It was an awesome weekend. Made an amazing meal for the boys Saturday, read the paper, made amazing breakfast of French toast and Canadian bacon on Sunday, and crafted the road trip mix with Davoud.
Monday mornings are hard after such good times…
3.30.2006
the new national sport: air hockey!
notice how i *score* against nick. this was in an arcade in whitby, home of the best fish and chips ever.
(thanks davoud!)
3.29.2006
all a bit strange
it's official. i'm having trouble adjusting to the new job. i think part of it is that i'm so far away from the people i work with, part of it is the new environment, and part of it is that there is always this staff/faculty divide and its hard to conquer.
don't get me wrong, i will enjoy the work once i actually sink my teeth into it, but at the moment when i'm still trying to find my feet i feel a bit lost. my gemini personality is kicking in because one moment it will be fabulous and i'll love it (usually when i'm talking to the art teachera nd we're generating ideas) and the next minute its all a bit blasé (i get blank looks when i ask for a statement of the account i manage so i can budget the money accordingly).
this was the longest day ever.
oh, and i think i just got serious used to pushing paper around and the sense of accomplishment that comes with that type of work at the end of the day. my brain isn't quite used to *thinking* yet and turning those thoughts into action.
a couple of laps on my bike around sefton park should clear my head.
don't get me wrong, i will enjoy the work once i actually sink my teeth into it, but at the moment when i'm still trying to find my feet i feel a bit lost. my gemini personality is kicking in because one moment it will be fabulous and i'll love it (usually when i'm talking to the art teachera nd we're generating ideas) and the next minute its all a bit blasé (i get blank looks when i ask for a statement of the account i manage so i can budget the money accordingly).
this was the longest day ever.
oh, and i think i just got serious used to pushing paper around and the sense of accomplishment that comes with that type of work at the end of the day. my brain isn't quite used to *thinking* yet and turning those thoughts into action.
a couple of laps on my bike around sefton park should clear my head.
3.23.2006
the death slide
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3520535906885208062
hope you all can view this, but i cant! bah to firewalls...
hope you all can view this, but i cant! bah to firewalls...
3.22.2006
county tally & photo link
so here are all of the counties we drove through last week (can't we count the ones we flew over on the way home??) to make a grand total of 18. blimey.
North Yorkshire
York
East Riding of Yorkshire
Redcar and Cleveland
Darlington
Stockton-on-Tees
Middlesbrough
Hartlepool
Northumberland
Tyne and Wear
Scottish Borders
East Lothian
Midlothian
Edinburgh
Warwickshire
Gloucestershire
Worcestershire
West Midlands
...and i know i went through some on the way back to liverpool.
the link to the photos
North Yorkshire
York
East Riding of Yorkshire
Redcar and Cleveland
Darlington
Stockton-on-Tees
Middlesbrough
Hartlepool
Northumberland
Tyne and Wear
Scottish Borders
East Lothian
Midlothian
Edinburgh
Warwickshire
Gloucestershire
Worcestershire
West Midlands
...and i know i went through some on the way back to liverpool.
the link to the photos
3.21.2006
workin' 8:30 to 4:30
well, i'm back at work. this job in itself will be good i can feel that, but i really miss the museum. miss the environment, the people...but i haven't made a cup of tea for anyone other than myself in weeks!
now *that's* a good feeling.
don't get me wrong, everyone here seems very nice, but there is always this divide between faculty and staff at any educational institution. maybe this time i'll figure out how to get past that.
i'm currently on detox after last week. i'll try and let you know where you can see some pictures soon as i'm sure they'll appear on davoud's flickr site at some point.
now *that's* a good feeling.
don't get me wrong, everyone here seems very nice, but there is always this divide between faculty and staff at any educational institution. maybe this time i'll figure out how to get past that.
i'm currently on detox after last week. i'll try and let you know where you can see some pictures soon as i'm sure they'll appear on davoud's flickr site at some point.
3.18.2006
scotch tasting
so i just wrote a post, but lost it because i tried to add pictures and then it all went a bit pear shaped...so you're just getting words.
words that stick.
i had an absolutely amazing eye opening time with nick and davoud. brilliant in fact. there a things in life that will stay with you an lifetime and this trip was thankfully one of them. i have been blessed with the friends i have made here in all of their wonderfulness.
we left from york and headed north through f-14s and other such wonderful things as snow. we hit whitby for perhaps the best fish and chips i have ever eaten and then north to newcastle where we tasted some brilliant old fashioneds.
the road to edinburgh proved nasty as bella decided that she had given us enough (aka the car davoud drives). but the aa and enterprise sorted us out - not to mention the vast amounts of scotch - and we ended up flying back to birmingham.
don't want to go home tomorrow. and definitely don't want to go back to work.
i'm will make it back tomorrow to watch val finish to liverpool half marathon tomorrow morning and i will manage to make soup.
time for more of davoud's scotch collection...
words that stick.
i had an absolutely amazing eye opening time with nick and davoud. brilliant in fact. there a things in life that will stay with you an lifetime and this trip was thankfully one of them. i have been blessed with the friends i have made here in all of their wonderfulness.
we left from york and headed north through f-14s and other such wonderful things as snow. we hit whitby for perhaps the best fish and chips i have ever eaten and then north to newcastle where we tasted some brilliant old fashioneds.
the road to edinburgh proved nasty as bella decided that she had given us enough (aka the car davoud drives). but the aa and enterprise sorted us out - not to mention the vast amounts of scotch - and we ended up flying back to birmingham.
don't want to go home tomorrow. and definitely don't want to go back to work.
i'm will make it back tomorrow to watch val finish to liverpool half marathon tomorrow morning and i will manage to make soup.
time for more of davoud's scotch collection...
3.10.2006
last day and pre-road trip
it's my last day at nml and i'm feeling a little nostalgic.
the perception is probably that when you've spent such little time working somewhere that you haven't really made any attachments. but the truth is, i think because i'd just moved countries and home i kind of latched on to my colleagues and space quicker than i normally may have.
i'm going to miss this wonderful view and wide open space. i'm going to miss working in town. i'm going to miss the dynamic in this place that just seems to improve daily, but i had to evaluate my professional career and move on.
two quotes from the sisters calendar wendy and terran sent me at christmas that have been up on my little shelf beside my desk, thought i'd write them down somewhere before i scrap them:
where thou art, that is home - emily dickinson
nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone - maya angelou
...
i am incredibly excited about my road trip. davoud, no surprise, has plotted out the perfect route and planned this thing better than i would have. i'm looking forward to open road, good tunes, good company and hopefully some very fine whisky and ales. fingers crossed that the sun comes out and i'm treated to another 16 degrees and sunny day when i'm in edinburgh. last time i was there - albeit for 4 hours - we were blessed with a beautifully sunny day amidst the cold winds of march.
so te'ra for now.
the perception is probably that when you've spent such little time working somewhere that you haven't really made any attachments. but the truth is, i think because i'd just moved countries and home i kind of latched on to my colleagues and space quicker than i normally may have.
i'm going to miss this wonderful view and wide open space. i'm going to miss working in town. i'm going to miss the dynamic in this place that just seems to improve daily, but i had to evaluate my professional career and move on.
two quotes from the sisters calendar wendy and terran sent me at christmas that have been up on my little shelf beside my desk, thought i'd write them down somewhere before i scrap them:
where thou art, that is home - emily dickinson
nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone - maya angelou
...
i am incredibly excited about my road trip. davoud, no surprise, has plotted out the perfect route and planned this thing better than i would have. i'm looking forward to open road, good tunes, good company and hopefully some very fine whisky and ales. fingers crossed that the sun comes out and i'm treated to another 16 degrees and sunny day when i'm in edinburgh. last time i was there - albeit for 4 hours - we were blessed with a beautifully sunny day amidst the cold winds of march.
so te'ra for now.
3.05.2006
i know, i know
its been a while, but i haven't been in work loads and when i have been there its been manic!
my mum has been in the country for the past week or so meaning i get to take some time off and tour around. we spent the first few days in liverpool and are currently in the lakes at val's place, hence why i can post. i've hijacked her computer.
the beginning of the visit was a bit stressful as my grandad went into hospital with a bleeding ulcer and we thought mum was going to have to go back the next morning, but everything seems to be stable now even though he's still in hospital.
i only have four more days of work next week at nml and then i'm off on a whisky road trip up to edinburgh with davoud and nick...much fun. there's just something about driving around the country that equals instant relaxation for me and a certain sense of calm.
i had a bit of a panic when i received my contract from st. helens and it was about £3,000 less than i'd thought. they'd calculated my pro rata salary on term time only meaning i get loads of time off, but also a significant amount less pay! so i think that's sorted now and i'll be working the whole year through with just 22 days leave...woe is me...for the salary i was expecting.
well, should be getting ready to leave the house for the day. we're heading up to carlisle so mum can cram in some last minute shopping. we went on a brewery tour yesterday...much fun indeed.
my mum has been in the country for the past week or so meaning i get to take some time off and tour around. we spent the first few days in liverpool and are currently in the lakes at val's place, hence why i can post. i've hijacked her computer.
the beginning of the visit was a bit stressful as my grandad went into hospital with a bleeding ulcer and we thought mum was going to have to go back the next morning, but everything seems to be stable now even though he's still in hospital.
i only have four more days of work next week at nml and then i'm off on a whisky road trip up to edinburgh with davoud and nick...much fun. there's just something about driving around the country that equals instant relaxation for me and a certain sense of calm.
i had a bit of a panic when i received my contract from st. helens and it was about £3,000 less than i'd thought. they'd calculated my pro rata salary on term time only meaning i get loads of time off, but also a significant amount less pay! so i think that's sorted now and i'll be working the whole year through with just 22 days leave...woe is me...for the salary i was expecting.
well, should be getting ready to leave the house for the day. we're heading up to carlisle so mum can cram in some last minute shopping. we went on a brewery tour yesterday...much fun indeed.
2.17.2006
new job
...and i'm moving on the greener pastures, which hopefully won't turn out to be astroturf!
i have been given the job that i went for interview on wednesday as community arts co-ordinator at a high school in st helens, about a 20 minute commute from wavertree by train, and will be putting a specialist visual arts community development plan into action! i hope that means something to everyone ;)
i will be sad to leave nml because i have really enjoyed working here, but with no progress being made because of all the funding issues, it's time to move on. i could feel my mind beginning to dull and getting too used to taking minutes and not contributing. i'm really excited about this and hope it will provide me with lots of opportunity to learn too.
it's a two year contract, which i plan to stick out, so i'll be on this side of the pond for at least that long. it's kind of nice to have my future secured for the next little while as scary as that is for a person who likes change, but it's also kind of nice to have a little stability. now i can start doing things like making commitments to mobile phone contracts and broadband...
another random thought i had this week after a convo i had with sam. i came here partly to get in touch with a part of my roots and ancestry, to feel at home somewhere completely different. yet in some ways, i've never felt more canadian in my life! i know it's probably an obvious one, but to actually *realise* and *understand* that has been different. lovin it...
i have been given the job that i went for interview on wednesday as community arts co-ordinator at a high school in st helens, about a 20 minute commute from wavertree by train, and will be putting a specialist visual arts community development plan into action! i hope that means something to everyone ;)
i will be sad to leave nml because i have really enjoyed working here, but with no progress being made because of all the funding issues, it's time to move on. i could feel my mind beginning to dull and getting too used to taking minutes and not contributing. i'm really excited about this and hope it will provide me with lots of opportunity to learn too.
it's a two year contract, which i plan to stick out, so i'll be on this side of the pond for at least that long. it's kind of nice to have my future secured for the next little while as scary as that is for a person who likes change, but it's also kind of nice to have a little stability. now i can start doing things like making commitments to mobile phone contracts and broadband...
another random thought i had this week after a convo i had with sam. i came here partly to get in touch with a part of my roots and ancestry, to feel at home somewhere completely different. yet in some ways, i've never felt more canadian in my life! i know it's probably an obvious one, but to actually *realise* and *understand* that has been different. lovin it...
2.14.2006
neglect
i know you're all feeling neglected, what with the lack of posts, but i've just been too busy at work and there is a serious lack of internet at home. but since no one's in the office yet...
so, you remember last time i went through this interview rigamoral i had 3 in one week? well, it's happened again. i have the admin job interview in the office i currently work in today, one in st. helen's tomorrow as a community arts co-ordinator at a specialist visual art high school that also happens to be catholic, and one on monday in manchester as an events officer at urbis.
wish me luck...i'm really liking both the job in st. helen's and in manchester and they would both be worth the commute, but we'll see how it goes.
off to see broken social scene tonight (which i'm *so* excited about). going to wear my cbc t-shirt and flashing toronto maple leafs pin to see if i get noticed. sad i know, but anything to chat with a fellow canuck.
so, you remember last time i went through this interview rigamoral i had 3 in one week? well, it's happened again. i have the admin job interview in the office i currently work in today, one in st. helen's tomorrow as a community arts co-ordinator at a specialist visual art high school that also happens to be catholic, and one on monday in manchester as an events officer at urbis.
wish me luck...i'm really liking both the job in st. helen's and in manchester and they would both be worth the commute, but we'll see how it goes.
off to see broken social scene tonight (which i'm *so* excited about). going to wear my cbc t-shirt and flashing toronto maple leafs pin to see if i get noticed. sad i know, but anything to chat with a fellow canuck.
2.06.2006
dog tired
it was a good weekend, a *normal* weekend i suppose.
since it was hugh's last day at the office on friday we all went to doctor duncan's for a few pints. sam, kel, lou and jo came along just to lay their eyes on the infamous hugh cavendish. an early night though and i was in bed by 10 pm.
saturday i did some long awaiting sale shopping and somehow managed to buy a pair of jeans, work pants, two t-shirts, a jacket and a pair for trainers for £85. amazing. such the bargain hunter i am. watched movies on my laptop - our television is misbehaving - and drank wine on saturday night.
i went to see the constant gardener on sunday morning, which was amazing. i highly reccommend going to see it, but it will really affect you. nothing has made me want to volunteer with a charity in a third world country as much as that film. stay tuned for lauren's next big adventure...
it's been insane at work and will be for the next month, so the number of posts will probably diminish quite noticeably. its not because i don't love you all, i just can't find the ten minutes it takes to do a full update...unless i stay late like i did tonight!
since it was hugh's last day at the office on friday we all went to doctor duncan's for a few pints. sam, kel, lou and jo came along just to lay their eyes on the infamous hugh cavendish. an early night though and i was in bed by 10 pm.
saturday i did some long awaiting sale shopping and somehow managed to buy a pair of jeans, work pants, two t-shirts, a jacket and a pair for trainers for £85. amazing. such the bargain hunter i am. watched movies on my laptop - our television is misbehaving - and drank wine on saturday night.
i went to see the constant gardener on sunday morning, which was amazing. i highly reccommend going to see it, but it will really affect you. nothing has made me want to volunteer with a charity in a third world country as much as that film. stay tuned for lauren's next big adventure...
it's been insane at work and will be for the next month, so the number of posts will probably diminish quite noticeably. its not because i don't love you all, i just can't find the ten minutes it takes to do a full update...unless i stay late like i did tonight!
2.01.2006
short lived dream
it really was too good to last...no more wireless internet at home. either my neighbour has wised up or they've gone away on holiday and unplugged. nay mind, at least it kept me occupied over the weekend.
it's about to get really hectic at work. hugh - our temp - will be working his last day on friday as nml just doesn't have the money to keep him around, so i will soon be the only adminstrator in an office that should have three. expect the number of postings to plummet!
good news is that they will be interviewing for the admin job that i applied for and i'm still doing some applications for other places as well. i'm certainly not looking forward to the next few weeks of work, but there's light at the end of the tunnel cause i get to take some time off when my mum comes to visit!
it's about to get really hectic at work. hugh - our temp - will be working his last day on friday as nml just doesn't have the money to keep him around, so i will soon be the only adminstrator in an office that should have three. expect the number of postings to plummet!
good news is that they will be interviewing for the admin job that i applied for and i'm still doing some applications for other places as well. i'm certainly not looking forward to the next few weeks of work, but there's light at the end of the tunnel cause i get to take some time off when my mum comes to visit!
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