Friday 19 December 2008

Last day...

Today is my last day at work for this year, it's my last days in Ireland and the last day to get anything done that need to be done.

Thankfully I have nothing left to do. I'm all packed, weighted the bags, repacked and security ties them shut. Now all they have to do is to arrive when they're supposed to in Montreal! Please please god let them arrive!!

Today is a half day at work, we're all heading off early this afternoon for our Christmas lunch/party. It's a big recession if you haven't heard and therefore there's no more going out an big parties that last all night, it's just an afternoon off and lunch at the Purdy Kitchen in Dun Laoghaire.

This is fine with me as we're having 'Christmas' at Derek's parents tonight and have to be at the airport early tomorrow morning so I'm fine with a not too late night tonight and certainly not having a hangover for tomorrow's travels!!!

I will post again before the holidays, once I arrive in Canada and all that, till then! Enjoy!

I'm looking forward tomorrow to: arriving safe and sound with my ass not too numb and my bags with me, seeing snow and family for the first time in almost a year and having dinner at Katherine and Alwyn's new apartment... it really has been far too long!!

TTFN!

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Monday 15 December 2008

Have I started the countdown yet???

I have to admit I'm so very excited to be going home to Montreal for the holidays in only 5 days!!!

I also have to admit that every part of my being is dreading the trip home on Saturday. Granted I'm flying via Paris again so thankfully there's no Heathrow worry this time and it all went really smoothly last year but I'm waiting for a disaster to strike.

I'm not a bad flier, I'm not scarred or feel the need to drug myself with prescription medication to get myself to the final destination I just really despise the whole ordeal. Now once I get there... with all my bags, I'm the happy camper but for the 10 or so hours it take for me to get to that stage (one time thanks to BA loosing my luggage and all my Christmas gifts it took 5 days to get to that stage but anyhow...) I believe it's all worth it.

I'm impressed with the whole 'adventure' that I leave here at noon and travel for an eternity and arrive in Montreal at 6pm. If only the journey only took 6 hours I might not feel the need to complain about sheer boredom and a sore ass but alas I paid a lot of money for that opportunity!

I'm a worrier and as a worrier I don't like the whole travel bit. It starts around now, I worry about what to pack. Then I start to worry about getting to the airport (which didn't used to be suck a big issue until I missed a flight this summer... disaster) and then I worry about getting my bags checked in and the scales.... will I be over - the shame!!! Finally I relax a bit and I'm ok... I'm bored with a numb butt but I'm otherwise relaxed until we land and then I start to worry about whether my bags have arrived, I have no problems with customs (here's hoping that I haven't jinxed that and end up with a cavity search on Saturday) but that long time standing at the carousel waiting for my bags containing all of the joy and effort in gifts that I have worked so hard at for the last few months is so long and feels like longer than the flight itself.

This year I'm going to try it differently. I'm going to relax, I'm going to under pack my bags. I'm not going to struggle with a carry-on the very maximum size allowed. I'm going to be a better traveler and when I do arrive and my bags are left in Paris, I'm going to be OK with it because it will only be the 20th and they have 4 days to turn up in Montreal in time for opening the gifts on Christmas morning.

Of course, I say that now......

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Good news...

There's been a snow fall in Montreal and it's been a good one.

My multiple wishes on every little thing possible have been answered.

Now all it has to do it stick around and snow some more!!!

A few cm is not enough... I want this:




...once again my mother's going to kill me!

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Relax....

I'd like to say I haven't been posting here lately because it's been quite and nothing to report but the truth is it's been a bit crazy busy followed by a slump where you do nothing and then busyness returns!

I am excited about the holidays, less than two weeks to go and I'm home! But I feel like I have so much to do before then so that makes me feel rushed!

This week I have the AGM for the complex where I live on Wednesday, I expect that to be a late night with the heat up on full and will need to bring lots of Gatorade and snacks to last the night! On Thursday my friend Lar is supposed to be coming over so must prepare for that by having a clean apartment when mine is a total disaster! - why is it that getting a cat caused complete and utter chaos in my neat and clean lifestyle?! So now cleaning takes a little longer as the place always looks a little messier. Then it's the weekend where I plan (ooo love a plan) to get ready for the trip!

I have been working up to this by getting all the laundry finished and then not wearing my best clothes... this leads to me inevitably going to work for the next week and a half looking like a mismatched hobo sometimes but I'll look great in Montreal!!

Regardless, the apartment will need a good clean before I leave because that way I can expect to return to it looking just as nice! Take that Derek!!! But I tried that last time we went away and returned to muddy footprints from the cat all over everything... and I mean EVERYTHING! But sure I'll give it a go!

Any way you look at it the holidays are coming and soon and mostly that makes me feel all warm inside, now all I have to do is remember to bring in my favorite Christmas album into work and it will be perfect!

Monday 1 December 2008

A pinch and a punch…

I can’t believe its December, I love Christmas and the beginning of the month just makes that day even closer.

I’m looking forward to heading home to Canada for the holidays; I hope there’s snow… I’m OK if there’s not as much as last year but I do hope for a white Christmas, especially as Derek will be spending his first one away from home with me.

As I was making dinner last night he leaned over and whispered, ‘we’re spending Christmas together for the very first time.’ I think he’s just as excited as me.

Let the countdown begin!!!

Friday 28 November 2008

Ticking as many boxes as possible

As the year is coming to an end really soon, I am rushing to take care of all the little things that I have been putting off over the last few months…. Ok in some cases years!

First, my learners permit. Can I just say how much it sucks to be doing this whole driving thing all over again? I mean I got my drivers license back home when I was 17… it was actually in the month of November as well! Anyhow, when I moved over here I has to start from scratch and get my learners and then apply for my full license. Now I can’t go showing off and shouting with glee that I have my full permit yet, that’s the next step… in 25 million years at this rate! But I did pass my theory test back in June 2007 and have been carrying around the piece of paper that says I passed since then. Finally this week I filled out the necessary papers, had my (terrible) photo taken and had an eye exam and Derek went and handed everything in for me. Watch this space, I’ll take a photo of them massive piece of paper when it arrives!

Second, an eye test. Ok, this is mostly because I had to get a visiting test by an Optometrist in order to get my license but I still went and had the test and go new glasses. So far I’m not too keen on them. One of them I tolerate, the second I think looks really geeky. Now I would gladly photograph my (not so) lovely face wearing my new glasses but I have what can only be described as a massive pimple on my face, right splat in the middle of my left cheek so you’ll me waiting a little while before you get to see that!

Third, the dentist trip. Due to a recent fascination and unhealthy obsession with popcorn I have lost a filling. It was inevitable as it feel like I was eating it daily… probably more like once a week. Popcorn is the only food that we let the cat partake in. The three of us (Derek, the cat and I) all enjoy a bit of popcorn now and then and the cat does behave himself and sees it as a total treat. Anyhow, the filling has been lost and all I now want to do is shove my tongue as hard as possible up into the now exposed and easily accessible inside of the tooth. I need a good distraction. Thankfully I have an appointment for Thursday morning first thing to get a cleaning and replace the filling.

Fourth, water bottle discipline. I located and purchased a water bottle this week and the cat has just about lost interest in jumping up on the counter, probably because I have a pretty good aim and he’s not a fan of getting hit with a rapid stream of water. The first time it happened he flew off the counter with a look like ‘What the hell!’ and hid under the table for a little while. Last night we were down to one jump up and the rest of the time it was peace and quiet.

My poor mother, this is the kind of things she like to bring up on her weekly phone chats, when are you doing this and what are you waiting for on that!

She’s going to hate me for saying that!

Thursday 27 November 2008

Is this the same guy.??

Derek now has winter boots for the trip to Canada this Christmas. He fought it all the way up till e had them on his feet and was walking around the shop. By the time came for him to take them off he wanted to wear them forever.

The same with contact lenses, he had them fitted for the first time today, he has always been adamant that he wouldn’t like them, that they were gross and would hut his eyes. And yet, about 10 minutes after getting them put in he’s again in love and whispers to me, I want them in forever.

Lord help me!!!

Tuesday 25 November 2008

If it were legal...

When I use the toilet at work, it's SO cold that I wish I could pull down my pants in the hallway just to cut down on the time I have to spend in that freezing cold place!!!

Thursday 20 November 2008

The Christmas Season is well underway…

So I’ve finished all my Christmas shopping, actually I’ve been finished mine since around the first weekend in November… but I covered that in my last blog, so on to new things…

Derek and I were out in Dublin on Thursday finishing up a few bits and bobs and that sort and over dinner afterwards Derek asked if I preferred a surprise or something to look forward too.

Immediately my mind went into jumping around to every possible scenario, something that can make surprises a lot less fun. I figured maybe he was fishing for Christmas gift ideas and the possibility of a trip somewhere (although we have all of our Vacation days for next year pretty much all planned away now!!) and figured that I liked a surprise much more than something to look forward to. So that was my response and it was left at that.

When he came home from work on Friday he sat down and announced his surprise… Derek booked tickets to Montreal for Christmas! Now, you don’t know all about the wheeling and dealings of our daily lives together however one of the things we’ve been unable to work out is how to spend the big days of the holiday season together.

It was one of the stipulations that I put on the deal of me moving over here to Ireland that I would get to spend Christmas back home in Montreal where there was snow and family and the traditions that I follow. Also you should know that I love Christmas, and love everything about it in Montreal. However with Derek’s job in retail he is forbidden to take vacation days over the months of December and January and therefore cannot ever make the trip… until now.

The little sneak!!! You see Derek; back in July worked out that Christmas fell on the perfect days this year to allow him to make the trip from Dublin, via Paris (So far so good with Air France at Christmas and no lost bags!!!) to Montreal on Christmas eve and then return with me on the 28th to be back at work in time for the 30th with just the holiday days and his 2 days off per week… the little genius!

So for me this is great news, although I now have this fear that perhaps I have talked up Christmas a little too much and that Derek will have all of these high expectations of the season… I suppose that as long as there’s a good dumping of snow he’ll be happy he came!

My family on the other hand is thrilled, in particular my mother. This year has not been the best and with the death of my Grammie in May I think part of us all were dreading Christmas Day, she was a big part of the holiday, and for the last few years it has just been the four of us plus her to celebrate, as there was going to be an obvious missing member this year I think my mother in particular was having a hard time getting into the holiday season, with Derek’s news on the weekend my mother kicked the season into high gear, she had something to look forward to, something different on the day and went Christmas shopping on Sunday and bought her first three gifts… all for Derek!

Friday 14 November 2008

Christmas - the shopping part

OK, so I'm one of those crazy people that works hard to have my Christmas shopping finished. I don't do it because of some sort of challenge or to show off... both of which I have been accused... I do it because I love Christmas and once my gifts are bought and wrapped they go under the tree (once it arrives!) I can sit back relax and really start to enjoy the holiday.



Last night we were down on Grafton street and happened to be there for the lighting of the chistmas decorations on the street, it was lovely... the first big christmas warming of my heart for the year.



Derek and I finished our gift buying, just one or two more little things to get but the season is weel underway in our house, now I just can't wait until December 1st so I can get all those deocrations out!!!

Thursday 13 November 2008

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Am I good at nothing?

Ok, so apparently I’m not a very good blogger. I have all these good intentions and I never manage to stay on track.

I was reminded of this blog and my great idea of keeping it updated when I received a ‘well said’ on one of my write ups.

I hang my head in shame….

All my promises and time spent setting this up and I can even be bothered to update?

Well maybe better late than never? I remember being like this every January 1st. I’d promise myself, I’ll start a diary, a journal, somewhere to write my deep dark thoughts. Keep track of what I’ve done and then somewhere either a few days, a few months… never even 1 year I fall off track.

Well here I go with my good intentions again……






We’ll see how long it lasts!

Thursday 7 August 2008

Introducing Sir Arthur Guinness...

And the latest edition to our family is black and white and completely terrified of his new home.

Derek went and picked up the kitten this afternoon and he promptly hid under the dresser in the bedroom. We found him at an Animal Rescue shelter in Wicklow called ASH.

We went there on Sunday looking for a cat, I wasnted to avoid a kitten to save our furniture as much as possible and because I wasnted to give a cat a chance at getting adpoted, everyone wants a kitten!! But not I. After Hobbes death I'm ready to move on and just want a great cat that doesn't look like him at all.... from Ginger Tabby to Black and white?!

When we arrived at ASH and turned the corner into the cattery out came this little paw looking for attention, for Derek it was love at first sight. He was spayed on Tuesday and all ours today.


Please meet Sir Arthur:




Saturday 10 May 2008

Grammie...

Dear Grammie,

The last time I saw you was over Christmas. You were not yourself; you were unhappy, tired and in pain. I have decided not to remember you this way, but rather at your best, which is, really, how you truly were.

There are some things that immediately come to mind: your long, painted fingernails and the way you would drink your entire glass of wine at the end of the meal.

Our special lunches together at Howard Johnson’s downtown; toasted fried clams for me and you’d spilt a club sandwich with Katherine, followed by dessert at Swenson’s. Later, when we were older, it was always crêpes at The Magic Pan.

I’ll always remember when you made the deal with me at The Nutcracker one Christmas, you’d quit smoking if I stopped sucking my thumb.

You won’t be there for a lot that I know you were looking forward to like my wedding and your wish for great-grandchildren. But you were there for so much more, so many holidays, birthdays, graduations, that, for every milestone to come, your presence will be felt and they won’t be the same without you.

I will think about you often and remember you forever.

Love,
Alison