Goodbye Scotland

Jenna and I both woke up with homesickness this morning. I dreamt last night I was sleeping in my bed at home, and when I heard foot steps outside my door I could have sworn they were my mothers.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't at home of course, and I had an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. This feeling will pass, as I've learned that my homesickness comes and goes. This time, it's probably the result of knowing I'll be leaving Edinburgh soon, and I'll have to say goodbye to Jenna who's the only real family I've had here. I've finally settled into this place and gotten to know the people, and now I'm leaving it behind me. I was surprised at how I've grown to love this city. It was a slow growing affection that has blossomed into true love. Many people I know love this city too, but not like I do. I will miss my beautiful flat, my friends and even the shit weather. I'll miss having to duck every time a double-decker drives past my window while I'm changing. I'll miss having to hide food from the mice. I'll even miss my shit job (but I'm sure I'll get over that quickly enough.) I haven't been a backpacker for the first leg of my trip which is how I planned it, but it was a very different experience from what I expected. I thought I'd make so many friends, meet handsome and exotic men, party all the time, jet set on the weekends to Spain or Portugal or where ever the wind blew me. Instead I've learned that I don't need any of that. It may sound silly, but this trip so far as mostly taught me that as long as I take it all in, what ever it may be, I'll be fine. The bad and the good; it's all part of the journey. I've been lonely and tired and bored and rejected, but it was all worth it. The bad bits make the good bits that much better.

So I'm taking off in a few weeks on the next leg of my journey, alone. I'm scared of course, mostly that I'll be lonely. But I've decided to revel in the solitude. I get to do whatever I want, all the time. If I want to take a ferry to this or that island, I can. If I want to park myself in Istanbul or Crete or Dubrovnik for a few weeks, there's nothing holding me back. I'm going to see and do things most people will never ever get to see and do. And when I get lonely and tired, which I will, I'll still take it in and live it. Just live through the pain. It wouldn't be the same experience without it.

Things

1) My mom and brother are coming to visit me in only three weeks! And, we're going to see Radiohead in concert together in Glasgow: I don't think it's possible for me to be more excited about this.

2) Remind me never to give out my number while I'm working. Ever.

3) Jenna is in good ol' Ontario for the next couple of weeks for a wedding, so if you're around make sure you harass her. And I have a new roomie while she is gone, named Mickaela. This girl is way cooler than me: Very English Mod type of style, a dancer and she likes to party. I don't think I could have asked for a better person to take Jenna's place! (Although, of course no one can really take her place.)

4) Amber and Melissa have booked their flights to come see me!! It's really happening! Croatia wont know whats coming...

5) I like my new job, but unfortunately it has caused me to loose all hope in the human race. I'm about to rant, so brace yourself... When I'm on the other side of that bar, suddenly people treat me like the floor they walk upon. You'd think as the provider of the alcohol they so desperately want to consume they'd be a tad more grateful, friendly and considerate, but no. Somehow they are a higher calibre of person than me, and treat me as such. Just a note to any of you who've never been a server, be gracious and tip well. Its a hard job and we're not slaves to your every want and need. Don't be a prick... OK, I'm finished now, phew!!

6) That is all. Love you.

SIIIIICK, but still a Work Horse

I've been a good girl and haven't spent any money for the past month except on rent, food and coffee (and not even that much on coffee because I get it free from work, yay!) So hopefully my savings will flourish and I'll be able to travel for longer before I have to start working again. I'm only taking time off at the end of this month when my parents come to visit, then I'm working straight until Amber and Melissa arrive in August and we go to Croatia. So I will be there and also in Turkey and Greece for August/September and maybe October (depends on the Sterling situation) and I will be doing most of this leg of the trip alone (ahhhhhhhh!!) I'm quite nervous, but also very very excited to be going at it by myself. However, if anyone so desires to join me on my adventures, just ask! I would love some company, even if it's just for a week or two. I'm already meeting up with a few people along the way, but I'd be ecstatic to see your beautiful, shining Canadian faces!

Wetherspoons Woman

I am a work horse.

So yes I'm alive, just working alllllll the time so I don't have time to talk to you people I am very very busy. This week I'm working 60 hours. I haven't worked this much since I was a slave to JUMP. Remember JUMP? Ohhh, I'm old.

They even tried to get me in there today, on my day off, they called twice offering two different shifts I could do, as if giving me options would make working seem more appealing. "Ooo, you'd give me a 11am-7pm OR a 6pm-2am? Thank you, I'm so excited about choosing when to work on my weekend" Also, a glass exploded in my hand yesterday and I bled profusely while my friend looked for bandages for so long, and the poor girl almost fainted at the sight of so much blood. I'm usually OK with that sort of stuff, but I felt light-headed afterwards, I think I just lost more blood than I thought. And I continued to work with a giant bandage on my thumb that is actually an eye patch because they never did find any gauze. The good thing was that customers took pity on me and I made about $10 in tips in 45 minutes, when I usually make no tips.

Jenna is in Barcelona. I hate Jenna. Although, I am going to Croatia, Turkey and Greece for August and September without her, so she can feel free to hate me then.

Hello Sunshine

I am employed!!

The funny thing is, I was never technically unemployed because I never technically quit. I just haven't shown up for the past few days, and no one is ever in the office so my calls have gone unanswered. And no one has bothered to call me back. That place was awesome.

But I am now working at a way better place for more pay, more and better hours and it's right down the street from my apartment. I am stupidly happy today. And it's another sunny one, so everyone watch out I'm perky.

Here are some pictures from my trip to Bristol, Woodbury and Cornwall...

Updates:

1) I'm quitting the nightclub job. Actually, I've pretty much already quit because I didn't show up for work the other day. They are the most disorganized people I've ever worked for, and they treat me and their customers like chopped liver. I already have two job interviews lined up this week, so I'm sure I'll recover from this loss... I wore my success dress yesterday when I was handing out resumes. I attribute my luck to that. Good things always happen to me in the success dress.

2) I just returned from a lovely mini-holiday down in the South of England. I stayed with my second cousins, and my first cousins from Canada also happened to be visiting. It was so nice to be around family for awhile and to see familiar faces. Why doesn't anyone else come to visit me? You jerks.

3) The weather has been improving and it seems like it's happened very suddenly. The sun is shining, there are no clouds today and the days keep getting longer and longer. The only downside is that Scottish men like to walk around on the streets with their shirts tucked into their back pockets, as if taking off their shirt is no biggy. They are skinny and very white, and it's not a pretty sight... It's not that warm, guys.