My foot is all better! You can all look forward to no more stupid foot posts.

Jenna is away for work in Aberdeen this week and I am all alone, so I’m having people over to the house almost every day because I get lonely. Last night we had a maple salmon dinner party with haggis samosas and broccoli. And tonight I’m making a roasted chicken with veggies and potatoes (hopefully). Hopefully because I don’t have a roasting pan and don’t know where to get one which might pose a slight problem for the chicken bit of the dinner. I need to stop writing about food; I’m even boring myself writing this.

I had a job interview yesterday for a bar on Cowgate, apparently very popular with students and backpackers because of their ridiculously cheap drinks. The lady interviewing me loved me and said I pretty much have the job if I want it, but she hasn’t contacted me yet which is suspicious. I’ve been wrong before about these things, so I’m trying not to get my hopes up. I’m in no rush to get a job anyways.

Jenna and I are going to go into Glasgow on the weekend to see the sights (and to shop.) I only have one word to express my excitement... Primark. Oh, ya.

Foot Update

It's getting better, but it's taking fucking forever. It's been a week already and it still hurts, the little shit. Can you tell I'm bitter? Although it hasn't stopped me from partying at all...

Also, I applied for a few jobs today. Very exciting stuff. I'll keep you posted.

F*** YOU FOOT!

I don’t know how, but I’ve managed to seriously injure my foot. I think its ligament damage of some sort. I’ve been a good girl and stayed indoors doing absolutely nothing for the past two days with my foot elevated and iced, but still it’s swollen and so so sore. And I’m extremely bored. The worst part is there’s no crazy story to go along with this mysterious injury. I think I’ve just been walking around too much. Booooring.

But on a happier note, our first potluck Sunday went very well! It was, by pure fluke, an entirely vegetarian meal, and entirely delicious. And the best part is everyone brought way too much food, so much of it was left in our fridge for lunch the next day. Also, everyone was very impressed with the calibre of beauty that is our apartment, so it was another ego boost in that department. It’s on again for next Sunday, but we’re having a different batch of people over. One of Jenna’s co-workers birthdays is coming up, so we’re having her and a few others over for a little soiree. We’ve also decided to go clubbing on Friday and Saturday, so it’ll be a lively weekend. So long as my foot gets better (the little bastard, ruining my fun.) We’re also cooking our friend Daniel dinner tonight, the lucky lad. Some sort of pasta, I think. I don’t know why we insist on holding all these dinner parties when the kitchen is the smallest room in our apartment.

I’ve decided to hold off on the job search until next week, at least until my foot feels better. I can’t be attempting to limp around Edinburgh for interviews, or it’ll never heal. So for now I’ll just lock myself in our apartment… alone… with my stupid foot. Don’t be surprised if I start talking to it, as it’s my only company during the day.

Ta for now.

A note on life, despite mono-tired hands and head.

Okie-dokie, now that I have convinced you all that I had mono (very believable lying ability) I shall progress to write a blog.
We have the best flat to exist as far as we know; and might I add, we know quite a lot really so we must be right. In addition to our flat (will post pictures soon) I have found myself quite the job if I may say so myself. It's great money and raises awarness about various charities and helps thousands of people in need on a daily basis. -feeling good about this one-.
So, I have completely developed my Irish accent, despite the fact that we are in Edinburgh. Very annoying/embarrasing for Emily I think, but sadly it has seemed to become my inner voice and is an unescapable condition that I fear I will be faced with for some time. Sorry Em!
hmmm, what next...
Today the sun is shinning yet again. Emily and I are spending a huge amount of time on our computers in our conveniently located wi-fi cafe, which if you ask me, is the perfect way to climb Arthur's seat (as initially planned). It is such a beautiful view from this black leather chair and my laptop is keeping my legs warm which is a lovely little addition to our hike. I'm almost breaking a sweat.
Later this evenning Emily and I are having our first pot-luck which we are quite excited about really. I foresee a happy night ahead. I must note as well...I am still true to my somewhat obsessive side ...I worry "I hope the pasta people use whole wheat instead of white...What if they don't? Is it rude not to eat it, or should I just put piles of food on my plate in attempt to tricking them into not noticing that I resisted their deliciously evil dish of simple carbs?"
There we go. I admit that this seems like a silly type of thing to be brewing about, but that's just the way it is and I've accepted this and my Irish-inner-voice-condition as part of my identity. I fear that this lassie will never change.
Lots of love to everyone and I miss you all loads.
...I should really get some rest though, before my hands start to cramp up.
Curry potatos and Salad here we come.

Alright...So, I haven't written in a long time, but I had mono. I hate mono really. It sucks and it makes it totally impossible to type, because your fingers get really sore. I think it is from all the exhaustion really. You honestly feel like the smallest, but most valuable :) task most definately impossible. I was so sad to be away from the adventures blog, but I am certainly glad that I am feeling better. Rest is always the best cure for anything.
xo

JENNA IS A LIAR

*See above.

Happy Early V-Day

Happy Valentines Day to everyone I love and miss back home. I can’t believe it’s been three weeks already since we left. I was alright up until now, but I’m really starting to miss everyone. Don’t lose touch people (or else)!

Jenna and I are all moved into our new apartment and we’re settling in. After a very interesting trip to Ikea yesterday (which involved lugging the heaviest desk in the world home on the bus and almost peeing ourselves more than once) we’ve almost got it looking like we want it. I still need to visit the poster store and get some prints for the walls, but other than that we’re in!

Jenna has a job already too, which she’s very excited about, so it’s as if everything is kind of falling into place. I’m going to start job searching within the next few days, so I’ll let you know how that goes.

House-warming party will be tomorrow night, and then karaoke. Messy times ahead.

Miss you all.

Emily... Are You the Blow Job Girl?

So, we didn’t get kicked out, but I am now the butt of every blow job joke ever made.

We have an apartment!!! We are so stupidly excited about it. We’re going to see if we can move in by tomorrow after we sign the lease, because Jenna keeps waking up with bug bites and we have a female stalker at our hostel. She’s a bit leech-y [not the fruit, the cling-on. (Not the alien, the slimy, blood-sucking one who lives in ponds.)]

Anyways, YAY! We’re throwing a massive house-warming party, the pictures are going to be amazing, I can already tell. This apartment is gigantic! I didn’t even like it at first because it was so large; I thought we didn’t need so much room. It seemed less cozy with such an excess of space, but Jenna and I will warm it up. We’ve already got decorating plans and I’ll post pictures soon.

Love and miss you all. Don’t forget to send me an e-mail every once in awhile.

Emily is Pretty and Likes to Blow Men

Miss. Jenna, write something! This is turning into my personal interpretation of everything that happens.

All is well; We're still in Edinburgh, still apartment searching, still partying. Our day consists of sitting in the internet cafe next to our hostel all afternoon e-mailing potential landlords, and all night we socialize. Our hostel is great here, there's always something to do and people are so friendly, although I may have been threatened today of getting kick out. Here's a funny story...

Jenna and I went to bed early last night and in the middle of the night (3:36am to be exact) all I hear in a very loud Manchester accent is "Jenna! Cheese! Psssst, Jenna. Jenna, Cheese!"

I open my sleepy eyes and in our room trying to awaken Jenna in a drunken state is one of our friends (who we met earlier that day.) He wanted a midnight snack of cheese and apparently he knew Jenna and purchased some Brie recently.

So after much badgering, Jenna (laughing hysterically the whole time) got up to feed the poor, hungry lad. She returned with him fifteen minutes later and tried to go back to sleep, but Manchester guy sat himself down on my bed and proceeded to discuss how disappointed he was with the quality of Jenna's cheese. "It twas more cream than cheese. I prefer a nice smoked cheddar." We kept shhhing him because he was being very loud and there were several other people asleep in our room, but he informed us that he was unable to whisper. He just didn't know how. And he also proceeded to tell us how happy it would make him if we all could wake up early and shower at the same time the next morning. Not "together" but in separate stalls... I guess so we can talk? A bonding thing perhaps? He thought it would be really fun (but we didn't so don't worry, mom.)

Finally he left and Jenna and I were left in stitches. We thought this whole fiasco was the funniest thing that had happened in a long time. Jenna peeked downed from her bunk and told me that while they were in the kitchen eating cheese, Manchester guy said he really liked me and wanted to write something nice about me on the fridge with a dry-erase marker. He wrote "Emily likes to blow men." Then he decided that that wasn't so nice after all, and scratched out "likes to blow men" and instead wrote "is pretty." Turns out it was a permanent marker, and after trying to clean the graffiti off for awhile they gave up and decided the world should know that I'm pretty and like to blow men. This is the reason for me almost getting kicked out of the hostel today. The guy at the front desk this morning (who thinks he runs the place) asked me if I knew who wrote on the fridge, and I said no. I don't want people getting kicked out for a silly, drunken mistake. But he then informed me that he would have to kick me out if I didn't tell him. At this point I flipped and started yelling and asked him what grounds he had to kick me out. I didn't do anything, after all.

It was all very dramatic.

After the shouting match I came to have a coffee, and here I am, so I still don't really know my fate. I'm sure I'll be fine, up until this point I'm pretty sure the front desk Nazi was trying to sleep with me. And I'm also pretty sure he knows who wrote on the fridge now, after all that. Word gets around fast.

Anyways, there's the story of the guy from Manchester and the cheese. I'll let you know if we get kicked out of the hostel! Cheers!

Edinburgh

So we've been staying out in the country for the past four days with no internet, hence why we've been MIA. But it was really fun and very relaxing... turns out Darlington wasn't as close to Edinburgh as I originally thought and we weren't actually staying there, we were staying in this teeny village called Ingleton with a lovely lady named Hilary and her dog Spice. This lady was the most kind and generous person I've ever met. I'm convinced generousity doesn't exisit that way in Canada because I didn't know anyone could be so accommodating. Jenna and I had our own rooms in her house, our own bathroom and she cooked for us, let us do laundry, made us tea and took us out to the towns to see old castles and villages. It was a really nice break from the hustle of London, and I never felt so relaxed in my life than when I was sitting by the fire with Jenna and Hilary with a cup of tea.

Not only is this woman kind, but she is interesting. She told the most amazing stories, and would have Jenna and I totally captivated one minute and in stiches the next. Her son is a talent scout for EMI records, a real high up, and he was also in the band who wrote "Come on Eileen." Another story was about her dog which she adopted. Spice used to be a laborador retriever for the Queen's gamekeeper, and was aparently one of her favourite animals. The Queen mother used to ask for her, apparently.

So now we're in Edinburgh! We've already had several leads on apatments, so we're working away on that front. No hurry though, we've booked a hostel for a week and we're content just being here. Will post again soon :)

Woven

When we were purchasing our tickets at Waterloo station in London, our ticket porter told us a story about an American couple that put Jenna and I both in stitches on the floor. This is a true story.

An American couple was standing in cue at a busy London station on one of the hottest days of the summer. The line was long and people were hot and bothered and waiting for their tickets, and this loud, boisterous woman was demanding of everyone’s attention.

“In Kentucky, the summers are waaaaay worse than this. Oh my gawd, I almost died of heat stroke this one time…” And as she blathered on about nothing important her silly, skinny husband stood in the background looking quite bored with his life. She was clearly the one who took charge of everything in their marriage and this little man just went along for the ride.
When they stepped up to the porter, he asked her where she would like to go.

“Woven, please, it’s in Scotland.”

The porter proceeded to click away on his computer, and came up with nothing. “Are you sure this is the correct name?” He asked.

“Yes, of course, I’ve booked a hotel and everything.” At which point she exploded at the thought that a ticket wouldn’t just appear magically in her hands. She proceeded to angrily accuse the entire British civilization of not knowing anything. “I just knew when I came here that you people wouldn’t understand us! Why does this have to be soooo difficult, oh my GAWD!” In an attempt to calm her down and prevent any fights from breaking out between her and the other twenty Brits standing in line listening to this conversation, the porter asked her to pull out her hotel reservation. Maybe there is a phone number they could call and ask where the nearest station is?

She proceeded to begrudgingly retrieve a sweater from her handbag and showed the tag to the porter. The tag read: Woven in Scotland.

The entire cue proceeded to erupt in laughter, and the porter had to explain the error. Her husband snuck out of the cue unnoticed, clearly embarrassed, while the woman turned a bright shade of scarlet and gathered her things while she stormed out.