Twas the night before Christmas..
or was it!
is it?
I'm very confused
Apparently Christmas day is already underway down under where it's Christmas morn brunch time, it's also after midnight back home so technically IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
I haven't even got out of my work clothes from today!
If it's Christmas day in some parts of the world right now does that mean I can open some presents?
If I was in Ireland it would be cheers time in Mulligans! but how is it that I'm still doing my Christmas shopping and trying to recover from Dec 23rd's hangover!
Time differences are dirt!!
A few years back Lorcan and I came up with a fool proof shopping technique...for each present bought you go for a drink to celebrate. Makes for some interesting purchases later in the day!
Now considering my apt is as well stocked as an off-licence there was no need for the pub but Breff and I certainly did our best.
Each bag-laden return trip to the abode was rewarded with a vodka, tonic and OJ. Great idea, took the sting out of the bitey wind chill, we had an ole chat, handful of salt and vinegar peanuts and then headed back out...off licence, Christmas shopping, dollarama, etc etc we made 3 mule-pack trips to and fro. By our final venture we were getting a bit relaxed so we roused and steeled ourselves for the last bastion of Christmas eve last minute shopping hell. Gathered up the bags and departed for the supermarket.
Sure the shops stay open late here in Canada-Land. "Fail!"
We arrived at the Metro with a massive list of essentials and goodies we hoped would last the hols @ approximately 6.11 pm to discover all shops including supermarkets as a rule close at 6pm on Christmas Eve. Woops...there goes the Christmas food shop!
We tore around downtown Toronto until we found a small convenience/supermarket...just about to close. We did an amazing supermarket sweep throwing anything we could see in our mini trolleys. Unfortunately nothing had a price tag on it so we stood aghast at the till with a rapidly building queue of harassed and pissed off fellow last min shoppers. Our squeals of pain as I saw the prices ringing up on the till....$7 for a little bunch of asparagus...$45 for a few bits of miserable looking cheese. $5 for 4 raspberries..aaahh!
But at least Christmas was saved. I mean not only no bloody snow but no food either, well I would have not made it any longer in this world having dropped dead from the despair of a failed Christmas!
So we trudged back up Yonge St with our wares and then sat recovering from the stress of it all before making a mission of mercy across town to visit Anna who was doing the Graveyard shift for the care agency...a whopping 48 hours started at 9am Christmas eve morn and finishing Stephen's day morn....so what can you do. It's minus 5, pitch dark, the snow has frozen to ice on the ground,there are 3 modes of public transport involved in getting there and you are bloody wrecked.
Well simple...it's Christmas so you paste a smile on your face and do a kind deed for a lonesome friend on the far side of town. Now I can't say we were the best Christmas Eve guests...monosyllabic and falling asleep but we made it there and we drank tea and we opened a pressie or two!
A few glasses of red in Mulligans after a candle-lit mass this Christmas eve certainly was not but isn't that what the spirit of Christmas is for...doing kind things and experiencing various levels of stress for a sustained period!
Ah no, I exaggerate of course....
We had a fun time but the exploits of our 2 Christmas days will have to wait... I'm typed out!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Falls in the Fall
SPOILER ALERT......
If you think you are Hyper-intelligent, enjoy pub quizzes and secretly get a geeky kick out of challenging yourself to remember things then I will say now just think Seven Wonders of the World and start racking your brain.
But if you couldn't care less about competing with your own muddied mind then read on and I'll just tell you!
Niagara Falls- one of the seven wonders of the world?.... Em, not sure.
Does any one really have the ability to ream them off the top of their head. We were discussing this over a glass of beer in the Red Room, Kensington Market the other day. What are the official Seven Wonders?
Following EXTENSIVE research (thanks Mr google and his good friend Wikipedia) turns out there is actually a whole series of wondrous sevens.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
-This was the first known list and is based around the Mediterranean circle. Apparently the number 7 was chosen because the Greeks believed it represented perfection and plenty.
This list of marvels was made back in the Middle Ages and understandably is a tad out of date. Hence there is only one Wonder out of the list still intact today....
The Seven Wonders of the Medieval World
You might have a better idea of guessing some of these, bit closer in the time line! And of course here is the disclaimer.....undoubtedly everyone has a different opinion of what they could be but sure history is subjective, and I am not trying to say that this is the real thing...just a version!
I'm not to proud to admit that despite a well seasoned passport and a moderate mental capacity I have not heard of about half of these places. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything but if I haven't heard about them then they must be shite. Ha ha!
Here's another one.....
Well funnily enough I am actually in Toronto and haven't even bothered to go up the bloody thing! We even had our first guest and never made it. It's a alright, but you know- $25 in the hand is worth $50 in the sky! That by the way was a vague and unsuccessful twist on the saying 'A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush!'
And another list....
What about Ankor Wat, White Haven Beach, Borbador, Mount Etna, Pompeii, Uluru, Acropolis, Eiffel Tower, Taman Negara, Statue of liberty don't they count for anything!!!!
I'm not sure about you but I'm already finding my interest in this waning slightly. I mean if there is no definitive list then the entire concept of a 'list' is pretty null and void. If there are numerous interpretations and versions of the list then it really becomes a malleable and purely subjective entity. Based not on a specific list of requirements or formula but whoever made a list on that particular day based on the places they personally liked the best. Who knows, for god's sake what they had for lunch might have even influenced their decision.
Hence, the good news about all of this is.....the Seven Wonders of the world are entirely up to your discretion.
You love Killiney Hill? Couldn't guess in a fit where the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus is?
Would you rather be walking along Salthill on a sunny Saturday than bounty hunting in an Indiana Jones Set? Then by all means, make your own list.
Whatever and wherever it is, if you like it and you can spell it (or not) then it's in!
What I thought was meant to be 'one' of the infamous seven is maybe not. Who knows but the point is it was amazing.
I loved it and truly felt I saw something remarkable.
In the immortal words of Ossie and Tayto we went on a..a...aaaa.....a ju, a juh, a jor....A TRIP!!
With the latest addition of Fi, the Cabbage Town Sextet (Recently Introduced) hit the road in a soccer mom's people carrier. Another whopper satellite radio so we had a multitude of stations and decades.
Th drive from Toronto takes about 2 hours and it's a nice drive with some views of the wine country. We stopped on the way in Niagara-on-the-lake, a very 'nice' but strangely perfect town. It looks like a movie set for desperate housewives/ the beginning of a slasher movie. Too good to be true. No litter no 7/11 convenience stores, no shouting, no unpleasant smells, no global recession, no climate change, no world hunger, no AIDS epidemic in Africa,and so on you get the gist. It was very pretty and full of antique shops and bakeries but lacked soul. A sullvanian families flat pack town perfect for a visit but I'm not sure how anyone could live there full time.
Once a year in Toronto around May there is an Open Doors event where you can access 100+ buildings that are usually off limits to the public, culturally important or historical, it's a chance to peek in somewhere usually out of bounds
http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/
We happened to come across a similar event in little ole Niagara...The Freemasons society were having an open house. We walked by a relatively small 2 storey house and saw the sign. Since we had already sampled the bakery we were fresh out of activities in this hub of activity so we decided to take a look.
In my shameful cloud of ignorance I didn't quite understand the significance of 6 young girls trooping up a creaky wooden stairs to a large reception room dripping in portraits of men dressed like Victorian kings, decorative thrones and carpets, curtains etc covered in the Freemason's symbol.
Apparently we had entered some body's 'lair'! The place was almost empty so when we arrived the men waiting to give tours we over in a shot.. Too late to leave now. So after a few minutes of listening to a spiel about founding fathers, there came the dreaded pause.
'Have you any Questions?'
We stared wide-eyed at each other. the man in the cloak was saying nothing so we had to come up with something.
I feel some words bubbling up out of my throat, great I wonder what I am about to say...hope it's something very intelligent.. Wait no....
I believe my question was....
' So....like...whats the story?'
'Excuse me?' he said
'You know, like, whats the story here?' Apparently not well received- he spieled some more about the historical nature of this organisation, while the girls whispered things to me like. I think they do ritual sacrifices and murder people. Oh right, prob best if we leave soon.
I interrupted him to enquire about a lovely looking ornate chair in a platform in the corner,
'what a lovely chair, excuse me I'm just going to take a closer look'...ha ha enjoy the propaganda talk girls!
There was certainly a strange if not slightly sinister atmosphere, and they were trying way too hard to make us come on board. Anyways we didn't stay long, but it was interesting all the same!
www.booking.com best website ever. We found the ideal little romantic getaway.! $60 a night for a honeymoon suite complete with a red plastic heart shaped Jacuzzi bath. Anna and I were treated to a complimentary bible and open packet of Durex in our side cabinet. the Ritz this was not. But in terms of your a-typical North American Motel, it was perfect!
The motel wasn't far from the falls so we took a drive that evening to have a look. We were unlucky in that there are often wonderful light shows at night over the falls but not the weekend we were there. There were illuminated with tinted colours and looked impressive none the less. Driving along the edge of the river banks we caught our first sight and it was really was thrilling. Poor Bobs was driving and desperately trying not to crash the car while take a look. The parking situation around the falls is a bit of a night mare there are no look out spots so if you want to stop the car for even a moment it is designed that you are forced to go to the pay parking...grrr!
But we pulled over for a min hopped out, ooohed and aahed and hopped back in! We just wanted to see it!
Back to the Motel for a drink and a communal foot spa in the jacuzzi! Then we headed into town to explore all the tackiness that Niagara has to offer! Bright lights, Casinos, & I'm with stupid t-shirts!
Sunday morning we recovered with a slap up North American breakfast in a pancake house down the road. French toast, pancakes, bacon, maple syrup...yum yum. Our older waitress even gave me a hug...still not sure why but it felt nice! Maybe she was looking for a big tip???
We were blessed with a fab day of clear blue skies and sun. Perfect weather for viewing the falls, with the sun beaming thought the spray cloud that kicks out from the centre of the falls we saw rainbow after rainbow, with the parting view of the falls producing a complete and full double rainbow. I have never seen anything like it, absolutely stunning.
It feels a bit like you are entering the end of the world as you approach the centre of the falls. The sound of the water crashing down and the huge cloud of spray above you. In the very centre all you can see is the white of the water falling down almost on top of you and the roaring of the falls. The maid of the mist was a definite highlight!
You can walk in behind the falls which was great fun, you can feel the tunnels trembling from the velocity of the falls above and standing at one of the look out points where all you see is a wall of water falling in front of you it is mesmerising. The urge to jump out into it with a bogey-board is also worryingly strong!
Now it would have been us if we hadn't taken a few trips to some wineries....
Ice wine turned out to be really nice, like liquid honey gold! But very sweet so in small doses. We oohed and aahed and nodded and left without buying anything!
If you think you are Hyper-intelligent, enjoy pub quizzes and secretly get a geeky kick out of challenging yourself to remember things then I will say now just think Seven Wonders of the World and start racking your brain.
But if you couldn't care less about competing with your own muddied mind then read on and I'll just tell you!
Niagara Falls- one of the seven wonders of the world?.... Em, not sure.
Does any one really have the ability to ream them off the top of their head. We were discussing this over a glass of beer in the Red Room, Kensington Market the other day. What are the official Seven Wonders?
Following EXTENSIVE research (thanks Mr google and his good friend Wikipedia) turns out there is actually a whole series of wondrous sevens.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
-This was the first known list and is based around the Mediterranean circle. Apparently the number 7 was chosen because the Greeks believed it represented perfection and plenty.
This list of marvels was made back in the Middle Ages and understandably is a tad out of date. Hence there is only one Wonder out of the list still intact today....
- Great Pyramid of Giza
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
- Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus
- Colossus of Rhodes
- Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Seven Wonders of the Medieval World
You might have a better idea of guessing some of these, bit closer in the time line! And of course here is the disclaimer.....undoubtedly everyone has a different opinion of what they could be but sure history is subjective, and I am not trying to say that this is the real thing...just a version!
- Stonehenge
- Colosseum
- Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
- Great Wall of China
- Porcelain Tower of Nanjing
- Hagia Sophia
- Leaning Tower of Pisa
I'm not to proud to admit that despite a well seasoned passport and a moderate mental capacity I have not heard of about half of these places. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything but if I haven't heard about them then they must be shite. Ha ha!
Here's another one.....
American Society of Civil Engineers
| Wonder | Date started | Date finished | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Tunnel | December 1, 1987 | May 6, 1994 | Strait of Dover, between the United Kingdom and France |
| CN Tower | February 6, 1973 | June 26, 1976, tallest freestanding structure in the world 1976–2007. | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Empire State Building | January 22, 1930 | May 1, 1931, Tallest structure in the world 1931–1967. First building with 100+ stories. | New York, NY, U.S. |
| Golden Gate Bridge | January 5, 1933 | May 27, 1937 | Golden Gate Strait, north of San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Itaipu Dam | January 1970 | May 5, 1984 | Paraná River, between Brazil and Paraguay |
| Delta Works/ Zuiderzee Works | 1920 | May 10, 1997 | Netherlands |
| Panama Canal | January 1, 1880 | January 7, 1914 | Isthmus of Panama |
Well funnily enough I am actually in Toronto and haven't even bothered to go up the bloody thing! We even had our first guest and never made it. It's a alright, but you know- $25 in the hand is worth $50 in the sky! That by the way was a vague and unsuccessful twist on the saying 'A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush!'
And another list....
Seven Natural Wonders of the World
- Grand Canyon
- Great Barrier Reef
- Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
- Mount Everest
- Aurora
- Parícutin volcano
- Victoria Falls
What about Ankor Wat, White Haven Beach, Borbador, Mount Etna, Pompeii, Uluru, Acropolis, Eiffel Tower, Taman Negara, Statue of liberty don't they count for anything!!!!
I'm not sure about you but I'm already finding my interest in this waning slightly. I mean if there is no definitive list then the entire concept of a 'list' is pretty null and void. If there are numerous interpretations and versions of the list then it really becomes a malleable and purely subjective entity. Based not on a specific list of requirements or formula but whoever made a list on that particular day based on the places they personally liked the best. Who knows, for god's sake what they had for lunch might have even influenced their decision.
Hence, the good news about all of this is.....the Seven Wonders of the world are entirely up to your discretion.
You love Killiney Hill? Couldn't guess in a fit where the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus is?
Would you rather be walking along Salthill on a sunny Saturday than bounty hunting in an Indiana Jones Set? Then by all means, make your own list.
Whatever and wherever it is, if you like it and you can spell it (or not) then it's in!
What I thought was meant to be 'one' of the infamous seven is maybe not. Who knows but the point is it was amazing.
I loved it and truly felt I saw something remarkable.
In the immortal words of Ossie and Tayto we went on a..a...aaaa.....a ju, a juh, a jor....A TRIP!!
With the latest addition of Fi, the Cabbage Town Sextet (Recently Introduced) hit the road in a soccer mom's people carrier. Another whopper satellite radio so we had a multitude of stations and decades.
Once a year in Toronto around May there is an Open Doors event where you can access 100+ buildings that are usually off limits to the public, culturally important or historical, it's a chance to peek in somewhere usually out of bounds
http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/
We happened to come across a similar event in little ole Niagara...The Freemasons society were having an open house. We walked by a relatively small 2 storey house and saw the sign. Since we had already sampled the bakery we were fresh out of activities in this hub of activity so we decided to take a look.
In my shameful cloud of ignorance I didn't quite understand the significance of 6 young girls trooping up a creaky wooden stairs to a large reception room dripping in portraits of men dressed like Victorian kings, decorative thrones and carpets, curtains etc covered in the Freemason's symbol.
'Have you any Questions?'
We stared wide-eyed at each other. the man in the cloak was saying nothing so we had to come up with something.
I feel some words bubbling up out of my throat, great I wonder what I am about to say...hope it's something very intelligent.. Wait no....
I believe my question was....
' So....like...whats the story?'
'Excuse me?' he said
'You know, like, whats the story here?' Apparently not well received- he spieled some more about the historical nature of this organisation, while the girls whispered things to me like. I think they do ritual sacrifices and murder people. Oh right, prob best if we leave soon.
I interrupted him to enquire about a lovely looking ornate chair in a platform in the corner,
'what a lovely chair, excuse me I'm just going to take a closer look'...ha ha enjoy the propaganda talk girls!
There was certainly a strange if not slightly sinister atmosphere, and they were trying way too hard to make us come on board. Anyways we didn't stay long, but it was interesting all the same!
www.booking.com best website ever. We found the ideal little romantic getaway.! $60 a night for a honeymoon suite complete with a red plastic heart shaped Jacuzzi bath. Anna and I were treated to a complimentary bible and open packet of Durex in our side cabinet. the Ritz this was not. But in terms of your a-typical North American Motel, it was perfect!
The motel wasn't far from the falls so we took a drive that evening to have a look. We were unlucky in that there are often wonderful light shows at night over the falls but not the weekend we were there. There were illuminated with tinted colours and looked impressive none the less. Driving along the edge of the river banks we caught our first sight and it was really was thrilling. Poor Bobs was driving and desperately trying not to crash the car while take a look. The parking situation around the falls is a bit of a night mare there are no look out spots so if you want to stop the car for even a moment it is designed that you are forced to go to the pay parking...grrr!
But we pulled over for a min hopped out, ooohed and aahed and hopped back in! We just wanted to see it!
Back to the Motel for a drink and a communal foot spa in the jacuzzi! Then we headed into town to explore all the tackiness that Niagara has to offer! Bright lights, Casinos, & I'm with stupid t-shirts!
Sunday morning we recovered with a slap up North American breakfast in a pancake house down the road. French toast, pancakes, bacon, maple syrup...yum yum. Our older waitress even gave me a hug...still not sure why but it felt nice! Maybe she was looking for a big tip???
We were blessed with a fab day of clear blue skies and sun. Perfect weather for viewing the falls, with the sun beaming thought the spray cloud that kicks out from the centre of the falls we saw rainbow after rainbow, with the parting view of the falls producing a complete and full double rainbow. I have never seen anything like it, absolutely stunning.
following tradition we hopped onboard the maid of the mist, luckily we were there in Mid-October and got the last weekend of the boat tours before they stop for the winter season. You are given a charming blue bag to wrap around yourself but it's pretty useless as the spray flies up and down and soaks you regardless but it's all part of the fun!
It feels a bit like you are entering the end of the world as you approach the centre of the falls. The sound of the water crashing down and the huge cloud of spray above you. In the very centre all you can see is the white of the water falling down almost on top of you and the roaring of the falls. The maid of the mist was a definite highlight!
Now it would have been us if we hadn't taken a few trips to some wineries....
Ice wine turned out to be really nice, like liquid honey gold! But very sweet so in small doses. We oohed and aahed and nodded and left without buying anything!
Friday, December 3, 2010
to do or not to do
well you tell me....
a wee glass of wine
followed by an early start
Ah sure go on.......
we'll go for a swifty
a wee glass of wine
followed by an early start
Ah sure go on.......
we'll go for a swifty
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The non domestic goddess
It's common knowledge that I hate to clean.
Not even hate, it's just not really part of my life or vocabulary.
I tidy, and I talk, and I pour drinks, and I light candles, and I entertain guests, and I put on tunes, and I set the table, and I course I cook lots and ( I hope) quite well.
I am a host.
I feel that all of that work in an evening leaves my share of duties fulfilled. Great no problem, the majority of people in my life are happy enough for the most part to clean if I cook or direct me while I ocasionallyclean, a not very pleasant task that usually ends up with a little assistance being given.
It's a two way street and if I've sweated over a roast loin of pork for 3 hours or whiled away an afternoon slow cooking lasagne then I am entitled to take a back seat with a glass of vino for the clean up. Someone has to entertain the guests!
So that's fine, I've lived my life that way for many a moon. Spending probably thousands of dinners with a certain hunger monster meant that I usually cooked, immediately and out of fear for my life upon entering the house at the end of the day. It was cook or be eaten. So I rarely was on clean up, since thems the rules. If someone cooks, you clean.
However following the sudden flight of the Earls back to Eire, (I'm assuming the plane was empty since the last I heard there isn't such a push to get into Ireland from Canada, more the inverse,) I find myself running a one woman show. With no wingman or woman to play tag team with the dishes.
You can imagine my surprise when I came in this evening and yesterdays pots were still sitting there, and sunday's too. How strange I thought...... I mean I cooked after all. Surely somebody is supposed to have cleaned this up?
Nope, nothing moved an inch. The cooked rice still in the lunchbox on the counter where I forgot to put it back in the fridge. The coffee grains still stuck in the drain. And there's something I'm discovering about dishes...the longer you leave them, the worse they are.
The easy to clean rice pot is now rock solid, the noodles are stuck like glue to the smaller pot and it's all just gross.
I cheated.... I couldn't face it.
I did my best with a few of the big ones, scrubbing sporadically under a running hot water tap, until eventually fecking everything into the dishwasher, selecting heavy duty wash and heading to bed with a nice glass of apple juice and my purple laptop.
Aaaah much better.
This running your own household thing is proving to be ALOT of work.
And thats only the kitchen side of the room...you should see the living room side......
It was only halfway through a furious production line of homemade christmas card making that I realised that I don't actually have a hoover (yes, I still say hoover...I'll never sucumb to 'Vacum') so the mounds of paper clippings, snowflakes, sellotape squares and silver glitter that currently adorn my couch, breakfast bar and entire floor surface are here to stay.
My bed is even full of glitter since apparently it adheres remarkably well to bare feet so when I get into bed, I'm bringing a few deposits of glitter and card cast-off crap with me.
Homemade cards did I say?...why yes. I'm sure I can expect an equal amount in my mailbox shortly. Ahem.
Not even hate, it's just not really part of my life or vocabulary.
I tidy, and I talk, and I pour drinks, and I light candles, and I entertain guests, and I put on tunes, and I set the table, and I course I cook lots and ( I hope) quite well.
I am a host.
I feel that all of that work in an evening leaves my share of duties fulfilled. Great no problem, the majority of people in my life are happy enough for the most part to clean if I cook or direct me while I ocasionallyclean, a not very pleasant task that usually ends up with a little assistance being given.
It's a two way street and if I've sweated over a roast loin of pork for 3 hours or whiled away an afternoon slow cooking lasagne then I am entitled to take a back seat with a glass of vino for the clean up. Someone has to entertain the guests!
So that's fine, I've lived my life that way for many a moon. Spending probably thousands of dinners with a certain hunger monster meant that I usually cooked, immediately and out of fear for my life upon entering the house at the end of the day. It was cook or be eaten. So I rarely was on clean up, since thems the rules. If someone cooks, you clean.
However following the sudden flight of the Earls back to Eire, (I'm assuming the plane was empty since the last I heard there isn't such a push to get into Ireland from Canada, more the inverse,) I find myself running a one woman show. With no wingman or woman to play tag team with the dishes.
You can imagine my surprise when I came in this evening and yesterdays pots were still sitting there, and sunday's too. How strange I thought...... I mean I cooked after all. Surely somebody is supposed to have cleaned this up?
The easy to clean rice pot is now rock solid, the noodles are stuck like glue to the smaller pot and it's all just gross.
I cheated.... I couldn't face it.
I did my best with a few of the big ones, scrubbing sporadically under a running hot water tap, until eventually fecking everything into the dishwasher, selecting heavy duty wash and heading to bed with a nice glass of apple juice and my purple laptop.
Aaaah much better.
This running your own household thing is proving to be ALOT of work.
And thats only the kitchen side of the room...you should see the living room side......
It was only halfway through a furious production line of homemade christmas card making that I realised that I don't actually have a hoover (yes, I still say hoover...I'll never sucumb to 'Vacum') so the mounds of paper clippings, snowflakes, sellotape squares and silver glitter that currently adorn my couch, breakfast bar and entire floor surface are here to stay.
Homemade cards did I say?...why yes. I'm sure I can expect an equal amount in my mailbox shortly. Ahem.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I miss babies and elderly ladies
This blog is dedicated to 2 lovely ladies, who are at either end of the timeline of life and respresent the 2 demographs I am missing the most- babies and elderly ladies.
So here's to Niamh and Anna (Teresa).
The problem with emigration is that although you can make friends and contacts with your peers and colleagues, you get very little exposure/access to the other age groups that make up the remainder of the human race. I happen to genuinely enjoy chatting with older people over a cup of tea and who doesn't love a cuddle from a chubby, smiling toddler.
Unsurprisingly Torontonian parents rarely appreciate it when I approach them in the supermarket and ask to smell/hug their child. Similarly my boss presumed I was joking when I asked to be introduced to his parents who are both in their nineties. I wasn't!
It is genuinely difficult to meet people outside of the work and pub scene. You seem like a weirdo. If you were to start hanging around playgrounds and parks to try and recruit some underage/oldage friends you would find yourself attracting some pretty serious scrutiny.
But I miss having family friends that don't find it suspicious if you want to spend time with them. Listening to their stories or inversely reading bedtime stories. It struck me as I walked down Yonge Street the other day on my way home from work that I haven't even seen a child in weeks never mind spoken to one. A brand new high rise condo in the heart of Downtown Toronto isn't exactly a popular family settling zone. It's all suits and students, I have seen a total of 2 children in this block since moving in almost 3 months ago.
'Pet Parents' (as they are known here) have less scruples about letting their furry clawed children grow up in the city. But then there are probably more amenities for a poodle than a toddler in this building, there is a state of the art pet spa, complete with hair dryer, jacuzzi and dog shampoo but not a waterslide in sight down at the swimming pool.
I'm sure there are gaggles of desperate parents who would kill for a friendly soul like myself to come and mind their kids while they went out for sushi and a movie and not to mention the huge numbers of older people who at this very moment would be over the moon to share a pot of tea and a few memories with a willing ear. I would be more than happy to oblidge but value my freedom and don't want to be placed under observation by neighbour hood watch for cruising the local community for friends!
The irony is if I want to talk to children and the elderly without a restriction being placed on my passport I would be better off getting paid to do so! An hourly rate to babysit or do some home help suddenly verifies that I am not a creep but just a young person trying to make some extra cash money.
I think we all need to come out of our boxes and start sharing our lives a bit more, but maybe I was just spoiled growing up on a street where you share eggs, bread, wine, teapots, paint, wineglasses, tables and chairs, milk, plasters, hair straighteners, toasted sandwiches, and most importantly laughs!
So here's to Niamh and Anna (Teresa).
The problem with emigration is that although you can make friends and contacts with your peers and colleagues, you get very little exposure/access to the other age groups that make up the remainder of the human race. I happen to genuinely enjoy chatting with older people over a cup of tea and who doesn't love a cuddle from a chubby, smiling toddler.
Unsurprisingly Torontonian parents rarely appreciate it when I approach them in the supermarket and ask to smell/hug their child. Similarly my boss presumed I was joking when I asked to be introduced to his parents who are both in their nineties. I wasn't!
It is genuinely difficult to meet people outside of the work and pub scene. You seem like a weirdo. If you were to start hanging around playgrounds and parks to try and recruit some underage/oldage friends you would find yourself attracting some pretty serious scrutiny.
But I miss having family friends that don't find it suspicious if you want to spend time with them. Listening to their stories or inversely reading bedtime stories. It struck me as I walked down Yonge Street the other day on my way home from work that I haven't even seen a child in weeks never mind spoken to one. A brand new high rise condo in the heart of Downtown Toronto isn't exactly a popular family settling zone. It's all suits and students, I have seen a total of 2 children in this block since moving in almost 3 months ago.
'Pet Parents' (as they are known here) have less scruples about letting their furry clawed children grow up in the city. But then there are probably more amenities for a poodle than a toddler in this building, there is a state of the art pet spa, complete with hair dryer, jacuzzi and dog shampoo but not a waterslide in sight down at the swimming pool.
I'm sure there are gaggles of desperate parents who would kill for a friendly soul like myself to come and mind their kids while they went out for sushi and a movie and not to mention the huge numbers of older people who at this very moment would be over the moon to share a pot of tea and a few memories with a willing ear. I would be more than happy to oblidge but value my freedom and don't want to be placed under observation by neighbour hood watch for cruising the local community for friends!
The irony is if I want to talk to children and the elderly without a restriction being placed on my passport I would be better off getting paid to do so! An hourly rate to babysit or do some home help suddenly verifies that I am not a creep but just a young person trying to make some extra cash money.
I think we all need to come out of our boxes and start sharing our lives a bit more, but maybe I was just spoiled growing up on a street where you share eggs, bread, wine, teapots, paint, wineglasses, tables and chairs, milk, plasters, hair straighteners, toasted sandwiches, and most importantly laughs!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
You lift me up
I think I've mentioned before that we live quite high up. All the way to the 28th floor.
For me, it's the first time I've ever lived somewhere with a lift.
Lift Dwelling certainly has it's drawbacks.
1. If you are running late you are bound to get in the lift that stops at every single floor from 27 down to Ground.
2. Nobody understands the word 'lift' here.
3.There are mirrors every where so when you climb in after a long day and a chilly walk home you are greeted with the unpleasant sighting of your own haggard face, doesn't do much to lift one's spirits!
4. Once you open the lines of conversation with your fellow passengers e.g. 'cold outside isn't it?' you are then obligated to continue drawing out a dull, relatively awkward conversation with your neighbour/complete stranger.
5. You become unfit due to lack of having to climb stairs.
The benefits however include;
1. Never having to climb stairs!
2. A chance to chat to your neighbours.
3. Opportunity for the observation of people at close proximity without seeming like a weirdo.
For some reason it is perfectly acceptable to stare at someone, what they are wearing, carrying in their shopping bags, whatever you like, inside the lift. I suppose you've nothing else to look at.
I certainly got a few queer looks the other morning as I finished my toast on the way down!
There was one drawback on using lifts that we hadn't given much consideration prior to last night's events.....
The possibility of getting stuck!
Well we were taking it easy enough last night. Booked the theatre room and relocated our wine and popcorn down to watch a few movies in the comfort of our own private cinema. Unfortunately, the toilets on that floor were locked so (breaking the rules) we left the movie room unattended and hopped in the lift a mere 26 storeys up to use the loo.
My friend Jerome who knows every thing about lifts, since he installs them, often likes to jump up and down inside lifts as they are moving. It freaks people out but he always advised that it could never actually do anything because they are designed to with stand a lot.
So safe in the knowledge that jumping in a lift is not hazardous I began a little bounce of my own for the descent back down. Amid Bobbi and Breff's keen calls to desist, I was just about to explain it wouldn't do anything when the lift ground to a halt and a horrifically loud emergency alarm went off.
Emmmmmm..............
So we pressed the call for help button ( a secret long life ambition fulfilled) and explained our emergency to the man on the other end of the line. Turns out it was our own concierge. So he came up and shouted through the doors to confirm we were in fact now stuck between 2 floors.
His first question...
'were you guys jumping?'
No! No! Of course not.....
'Are you sure?'
Ye we're sure......
Then Bobbi pipes up with..''Caoimhe was tickling Breffni!'
Anyway I'm sure he didn't buy it but he had a worryingly defeated tone when he said
'You guys might be waiting a while'
It was Saturday night after all.
So we took a seat, luckily Breffni had the paper so we pulled that out and amid hysterical laughter we read a few articles. We were desperately trying to; A. figure out if there was a camera and B. if there was anyway for the lift guys to discover why the lift had stopped. i.e my jumping!!
The best bit about the whole event was that we had all just used the bathroom so the age-old debate on what would you do if you were stuck in a lift and needed to pee was not a pressing issue for us.
The most disappointing bit was the lack of burly firemen, we just had a solitary technician (boo!) who we never even met since once it got moving we went straight down and never got to thank our rescuer! Who did at one point enquire if we interested in climbing out the top, we declined!
We were actually only waiting a little under half an hour, but the piercing emergency alarm added the equivalent of 3 days in my mind. When we were finally rescued the concierge told us we were really lucky, since people have been stuck for up to 3 hours!! He also cheerfully informed us that the lifts can drop, but we would have been nicely compensated if we had been injured. I'll take my chances with a salary and a 9-5 thanks as my means of living!
Well, what can I say...lesson learnt.
And Mr J O'B can expect a phone call very shortly to discuss his lift installation qualifications in greater detail.
For me, it's the first time I've ever lived somewhere with a lift.
1. If you are running late you are bound to get in the lift that stops at every single floor from 27 down to Ground.
2. Nobody understands the word 'lift' here.
3.There are mirrors every where so when you climb in after a long day and a chilly walk home you are greeted with the unpleasant sighting of your own haggard face, doesn't do much to lift one's spirits!
4. Once you open the lines of conversation with your fellow passengers e.g. 'cold outside isn't it?' you are then obligated to continue drawing out a dull, relatively awkward conversation with your neighbour/complete stranger.
The benefits however include;
1. Never having to climb stairs!
2. A chance to chat to your neighbours.
3. Opportunity for the observation of people at close proximity without seeming like a weirdo.
For some reason it is perfectly acceptable to stare at someone, what they are wearing, carrying in their shopping bags, whatever you like, inside the lift. I suppose you've nothing else to look at.
I certainly got a few queer looks the other morning as I finished my toast on the way down!
There was one drawback on using lifts that we hadn't given much consideration prior to last night's events.....
The possibility of getting stuck!
Well we were taking it easy enough last night. Booked the theatre room and relocated our wine and popcorn down to watch a few movies in the comfort of our own private cinema. Unfortunately, the toilets on that floor were locked so (breaking the rules) we left the movie room unattended and hopped in the lift a mere 26 storeys up to use the loo.
So safe in the knowledge that jumping in a lift is not hazardous I began a little bounce of my own for the descent back down. Amid Bobbi and Breff's keen calls to desist, I was just about to explain it wouldn't do anything when the lift ground to a halt and a horrifically loud emergency alarm went off.
Emmmmmm..............
So we pressed the call for help button ( a secret long life ambition fulfilled) and explained our emergency to the man on the other end of the line. Turns out it was our own concierge. So he came up and shouted through the doors to confirm we were in fact now stuck between 2 floors.
'were you guys jumping?'
No! No! Of course not.....
'Are you sure?'
Ye we're sure......
Then Bobbi pipes up with..''Caoimhe was tickling Breffni!'
Anyway I'm sure he didn't buy it but he had a worryingly defeated tone when he said
'You guys might be waiting a while'
It was Saturday night after all.
So we took a seat, luckily Breffni had the paper so we pulled that out and amid hysterical laughter we read a few articles. We were desperately trying to; A. figure out if there was a camera and B. if there was anyway for the lift guys to discover why the lift had stopped. i.e my jumping!!
The best bit about the whole event was that we had all just used the bathroom so the age-old debate on what would you do if you were stuck in a lift and needed to pee was not a pressing issue for us.
We were actually only waiting a little under half an hour, but the piercing emergency alarm added the equivalent of 3 days in my mind. When we were finally rescued the concierge told us we were really lucky, since people have been stuck for up to 3 hours!! He also cheerfully informed us that the lifts can drop, but we would have been nicely compensated if we had been injured. I'll take my chances with a salary and a 9-5 thanks as my means of living!
Well, what can I say...lesson learnt.
And Mr J O'B can expect a phone call very shortly to discuss his lift installation qualifications in greater detail.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
You spin me right round baby
Spinning....
Sounds like a fun hobby. Maybe involving a group of elderly women, a pot of tea and some balls of wool.
Apparently it is quite far removed from anything remotely related to such a pleasant event.
As I recently discovered.
A new work friend kindly invited me along to try out her spin class.
Always up for a new opportunity I said sure why not.
Maybe I should have enquired a bit more about what it entailed but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Despite having a gym downstairs, I actually don't own any workout gear here in Toronto so on the rare occasion I darken the Gym's door I am in somekind of 'Outfit' compiled of my Pjs and Bobbi's cast offs.
So there I was the night before my Spin date in a wild panic running up and down Yonge St trying to find some shorts/leggings.
I ended up in a Asian Tourist Souvenir shop where, without trying them on, I hurriedly purchased what I assumed were normal, basic black sports leggings.
My delightful friends came round for dinner later that evening and as I slaved over a hot stove cooking them a tasty dinner I heard peals of uncontrollable laughter as they mocked my new trousers.
'Hey Caoim...
Ha ha ah...
wher..ah.e did you buy those leggings?!'
Now I'm not sure how one can make a plain pair of black leggings so hilarious looking but they could barely breath. They begged me not to wear them in public or ever again for that matter. So I ended up having to go in my normal under dress leggings.
I needn't have worried nobody could see me anyway. As we approached the SpinStudio I could hear thumping tunes and presumed we were walking by some undergroup hard core club, but no this was it.
On first impressions I thought we had entered a sadists' torture lair. In the near pitch dark basement I could just about make out the forms of what looked like assembly line workers trying to generate electricity on a dynamo bike.
Their supervisor was bellowing at the steaming, sweating pouring oxen who were belting away on their machines like there was no tomorrow.
Gulp is all that went through my mind.
Glasping my water bottle and towel in the hopes it would boost my spin street cred we queued with the masses to get a bike. I had butterflies and a feeling of imminent regret.
So we hopped on, after some minor adjustments and encouragement from my spin buddy our master took to his stage. The flashing coloured light began and the tunes started blaring.
His head piece mic amplified his ordersPUSH IT, DO IT, give it everything you got, FINISH IT!
Well approxiamately 3 mins in I realised there had been a terrible mistake and my new friend had mistaken me for someone who was not only incredibly fit but got a kick out of corporal punishment.
After 3 and half minutes my knees started to buckle as we pushed our way through the 'FIRST EVEREST'. Good Lord, I had to pretend I was 'hydrating' and took a seat back on the saddle to try and help my trembling and spasming legs recoup to push on through the entire Himalayas.
Sweating profusely in the roasting dark underground with a dark silhouette shouting orders at you I got a pretty clear indication of what hell is like!
Despite my initial falter, I actually picked up enough to finish the whole class and was gratefully rewarded with a glass of Chilean Red and some chicken Nachos. So on the upside it balanced itself out!
I'm sure it is no coincidence that hell is shaped like a bicycle wheel!!
Sounds like a fun hobby. Maybe involving a group of elderly women, a pot of tea and some balls of wool.
As I recently discovered.
A new work friend kindly invited me along to try out her spin class.Always up for a new opportunity I said sure why not.
Maybe I should have enquired a bit more about what it entailed but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Despite having a gym downstairs, I actually don't own any workout gear here in Toronto so on the rare occasion I darken the Gym's door I am in somekind of 'Outfit' compiled of my Pjs and Bobbi's cast offs.
So there I was the night before my Spin date in a wild panic running up and down Yonge St trying to find some shorts/leggings.
I ended up in a Asian Tourist Souvenir shop where, without trying them on, I hurriedly purchased what I assumed were normal, basic black sports leggings.
My delightful friends came round for dinner later that evening and as I slaved over a hot stove cooking them a tasty dinner I heard peals of uncontrollable laughter as they mocked my new trousers.
'Hey Caoim...
Ha ha ah...
wher..ah.e did you buy those leggings?!'
Now I'm not sure how one can make a plain pair of black leggings so hilarious looking but they could barely breath. They begged me not to wear them in public or ever again for that matter. So I ended up having to go in my normal under dress leggings.
I needn't have worried nobody could see me anyway. As we approached the SpinStudio I could hear thumping tunes and presumed we were walking by some undergroup hard core club, but no this was it.
On first impressions I thought we had entered a sadists' torture lair. In the near pitch dark basement I could just about make out the forms of what looked like assembly line workers trying to generate electricity on a dynamo bike.
Their supervisor was bellowing at the steaming, sweating pouring oxen who were belting away on their machines like there was no tomorrow.
Gulp is all that went through my mind.
Glasping my water bottle and towel in the hopes it would boost my spin street cred we queued with the masses to get a bike. I had butterflies and a feeling of imminent regret.
So we hopped on, after some minor adjustments and encouragement from my spin buddy our master took to his stage. The flashing coloured light began and the tunes started blaring.His head piece mic amplified his ordersPUSH IT, DO IT, give it everything you got, FINISH IT!
Well approxiamately 3 mins in I realised there had been a terrible mistake and my new friend had mistaken me for someone who was not only incredibly fit but got a kick out of corporal punishment.
After 3 and half minutes my knees started to buckle as we pushed our way through the 'FIRST EVEREST'. Good Lord, I had to pretend I was 'hydrating' and took a seat back on the saddle to try and help my trembling and spasming legs recoup to push on through the entire Himalayas.Sweating profusely in the roasting dark underground with a dark silhouette shouting orders at you I got a pretty clear indication of what hell is like!
Despite my initial falter, I actually picked up enough to finish the whole class and was gratefully rewarded with a glass of Chilean Red and some chicken Nachos. So on the upside it balanced itself out!
I'm sure it is no coincidence that hell is shaped like a bicycle wheel!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Who's in the house..........
Dr F Kelly in the house!
She came on a mission to save our souls from eternal sloth, turns out we are in work while she's in the gym everyday, the one thing we were hoping she would whip us into shape with.
But she is a calming influence no doubt. We are definitely marginally improved since her landing.
Our evening glass of wine is every now and again replaced by a mint tea and our saturated fat intake has lowered considerably.
So here's to the herald of the new us, with special thanks to our curator, mentor and best Toronto guest!
She came on a mission to save our souls from eternal sloth, turns out we are in work while she's in the gym everyday, the one thing we were hoping she would whip us into shape with.
But she is a calming influence no doubt. We are definitely marginally improved since her landing.
Our evening glass of wine is every now and again replaced by a mint tea and our saturated fat intake has lowered considerably.
So here's to the herald of the new us, with special thanks to our curator, mentor and best Toronto guest!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Room-a with a View-a
Our home, fondly also known as the shoe box, is really quite small. There may be a bedroom, a bathroom, a hall, and a open plan sitting room cum dining-room cum kitchen cum second bedroom, but when all of these areas are not sound proofed it is hard to feel the distinction between them.
Moving in day, our lovely landlords left us 2 chilled beers in the fridge to toast on the balcony!
Our first night in the apartment as it got dark we were beyond excited to see the city lights sparking up and a brand new vista appear. We originally thought the pizza slice sized section of lake Ontario that appears in our extreme right hand view was impressive but every day without fail since moving in, I find myself standing at the window staring at something new and surprising.
It might the building across from us going up in flames...
or an apocolyptic rainy day....
We don't get a view of the sunset in the evening but just before the sun disappears it gives one last major explosion of light that illuminates the bulidings in our range of sight.It's almost teasing because you know there is a wonderful sunset happening beyond your vision and all you can see is it's reflection. But the glow off the buildings facing us relects again and gives our apartment a comforting rosy hue.
And then the red fades and it's night time in minutes...
For a big city, the stars are quite visible from the balcony and with a full moon you feel like you are that bit closer to the sky!
Panorama...!
The sun rises directly in front of us but to date I have yet to muster the where-with-all first thing in the morning to get out the camera and capture it,....it's nice though. You'll just have to take my word for it!
On a sunny saturday afternoon the blue sky is like a slap in the face, you can't help wanting to get up and go outside!
This afternoon however, it is so misty you can't see beyond the balcony rail, and as a result no inclination to go outside!! I think a day of tea, toast and the newspaper is in order!
Moving in day, our lovely landlords left us 2 chilled beers in the fridge to toast on the balcony!
It might the building across from us going up in flames...
or an apocolyptic rainy day....
We don't get a view of the sunset in the evening but just before the sun disappears it gives one last major explosion of light that illuminates the bulidings in our range of sight.It's almost teasing because you know there is a wonderful sunset happening beyond your vision and all you can see is it's reflection. But the glow off the buildings facing us relects again and gives our apartment a comforting rosy hue.
And then the red fades and it's night time in minutes...
Just remember...don't look down.....
The vertigo induced urge to jump can be pretty overwhelming
For a big city, the stars are quite visible from the balcony and with a full moon you feel like you are that bit closer to the sky!
Panorama...!
The sun rises directly in front of us but to date I have yet to muster the where-with-all first thing in the morning to get out the camera and capture it,....it's nice though. You'll just have to take my word for it!
On a sunny saturday afternoon the blue sky is like a slap in the face, you can't help wanting to get up and go outside!
This afternoon however, it is so misty you can't see beyond the balcony rail, and as a result no inclination to go outside!! I think a day of tea, toast and the newspaper is in order!
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