Monday, 27 February 2012
I'm sitting in a cafe in Amsterdam after spending a wonderful weekend with family in Stadskanaal. I had arrived in Holland on Friday, and was detained at customs due to my lack or organization for this trip, but I got through and arrived at my dad's cousin's place safe and sound. On Friday night my great aunt Kini and great uncle Geert came over, and although there is a language barrier, it was nice, and they tried hard. On Saturday, Annelieke (my cousin) and I went into Gronigen to do some shopping. I finally bought a belt! Saturday evening we went to the disco. And by Saturday evening, I really mean Sunday morning. We didn't get to the disco until about midnight, and we didn't get home until about 4:30 am. Getting up Sunday was killer. On Sunday Gerjan (my cousin) and I went to this place that I can't remember the name of, it was an old military base. We went over to Kini and Geert's for dinner afterward, and then had an early night. I got up this morning, and packed up again. I took the two hour train ride and have now arrived in Amsterdam. In hindsight, I've decided it probably wasn't the best idea to come to the Netherlands without the slightest background in the Dutch language. I'm about to go search for a hostel now, I have a general idea of where it is, but not one hundred percent. Should be fun :)
Friday, 24 February 2012
That awkward moment when you realized you haven't posted on your blog in over a week...and freak out. And then that hilarious moment when you're in Holland and make a type and spell week wrong (ie weed)
So thinking way back to Scotland:
On Friday, Granny, Margaret, Andrew and I went into town and walked along the main street. We went into an art gallery as well, and saw lots of unique pieces. We met up with Helen at the Dome for lunch, and after lunch Andrew left us to go to an appointment, and the 4 girls went to the cinema to see the Descendants. George Clooney disappointed me a bit in this one, to be honest. After the cinema we just went home and had a quiet evening.
On Saturday, Margaret, Granny and I went into Curves, and tried to have a little workout. However, since I've never done the Curves circuit, I wasn't allowed to participate. I was very disappointed. For lunch, Granny and I went to visit her brother-in-law and his wife, Hamish and Jean. We spent just about all afternoon there, and when we came home it was time for me to start prepping for a big night out on the town. Helen came round and we had Chinese for tea, and then, all dolled up, we left and went to her friend's house to have a few drinks before we went out. When we went out we went to 3 different pubs. In one of them we met a few German boys who were very nice. The last one we went to was called the Dropkick Murphy's, which made me wonder whether it was named after the band or the band was named after it, or if it was just a coincidence. However, they had a great band playing, and although a very late night, it was a lot of fun.
On Sunday, a little hung over, I went for a 2 hour walk with Granny, Margaret and Andrew out to a little village called Cramond. Skyped with the 'rents when we came home, which was good. For tea, the four of us, along with Helen, went over to Nicola's. When I was 5, I was the flower girl for Nicola's wedding :) It was really good to see Nicola and Jim (her husband) again, seeing as the last time I saw them was about 5 years ago.
On Monday, Granny and I went to the shopping centre nearest Margaret and Andrew's house, and walked around there, looked at all the shops, and each bought a book, but that's it. Monday was a very quiet day.
On Tuesday, Margaret went back to work, and Andrew went to play golf, so Granny and I had the house to ourselves in order to pack up to catch our flight back to London that afternoon. It was a change of plans, I had originally anticipated flying straight from Edinburgh to Amsterdam, but soon found out it was a much better and cheaper option to fly out of London.
On Wednesday, it was a rainy day, and so we had a very lazy day, reading and watching the tele. However, Alison, Hilary Collins and Carole Casey came over for dinner, we had Chinese. I don't usually eat Chinese at home and already since I've been away I've eaten it 3 times!
On Thursday, Denis drove us down to Portsmouth. It was the most beautiful day by the sea, it ended up going up to 17 degrees! It was insane for a February day. We went up the Spinnaker tower, and walked through all the shops, and had lunch by the sea. It was an awesome day, but an early night to bed.
Today is Friday, and we had a very early start, getting out of bed at 5am. Yuck. I had to catch an 8:10am flight to Amsterdam, while Granny had a 9:30am flight to Toronto. It was a sad farewell, at least with Granny with me I had a little bit of a comfort zone. Now I'm out on my own, while I'm staying with family, but family I've never met before, so it's interesting, but a little scary as well. Oh boy.
So thinking way back to Scotland:
On Friday, Granny, Margaret, Andrew and I went into town and walked along the main street. We went into an art gallery as well, and saw lots of unique pieces. We met up with Helen at the Dome for lunch, and after lunch Andrew left us to go to an appointment, and the 4 girls went to the cinema to see the Descendants. George Clooney disappointed me a bit in this one, to be honest. After the cinema we just went home and had a quiet evening.
On Saturday, Margaret, Granny and I went into Curves, and tried to have a little workout. However, since I've never done the Curves circuit, I wasn't allowed to participate. I was very disappointed. For lunch, Granny and I went to visit her brother-in-law and his wife, Hamish and Jean. We spent just about all afternoon there, and when we came home it was time for me to start prepping for a big night out on the town. Helen came round and we had Chinese for tea, and then, all dolled up, we left and went to her friend's house to have a few drinks before we went out. When we went out we went to 3 different pubs. In one of them we met a few German boys who were very nice. The last one we went to was called the Dropkick Murphy's, which made me wonder whether it was named after the band or the band was named after it, or if it was just a coincidence. However, they had a great band playing, and although a very late night, it was a lot of fun.
On Sunday, a little hung over, I went for a 2 hour walk with Granny, Margaret and Andrew out to a little village called Cramond. Skyped with the 'rents when we came home, which was good. For tea, the four of us, along with Helen, went over to Nicola's. When I was 5, I was the flower girl for Nicola's wedding :) It was really good to see Nicola and Jim (her husband) again, seeing as the last time I saw them was about 5 years ago.
On Monday, Granny and I went to the shopping centre nearest Margaret and Andrew's house, and walked around there, looked at all the shops, and each bought a book, but that's it. Monday was a very quiet day.
On Tuesday, Margaret went back to work, and Andrew went to play golf, so Granny and I had the house to ourselves in order to pack up to catch our flight back to London that afternoon. It was a change of plans, I had originally anticipated flying straight from Edinburgh to Amsterdam, but soon found out it was a much better and cheaper option to fly out of London.
On Wednesday, it was a rainy day, and so we had a very lazy day, reading and watching the tele. However, Alison, Hilary Collins and Carole Casey came over for dinner, we had Chinese. I don't usually eat Chinese at home and already since I've been away I've eaten it 3 times!
On Thursday, Denis drove us down to Portsmouth. It was the most beautiful day by the sea, it ended up going up to 17 degrees! It was insane for a February day. We went up the Spinnaker tower, and walked through all the shops, and had lunch by the sea. It was an awesome day, but an early night to bed.
Today is Friday, and we had a very early start, getting out of bed at 5am. Yuck. I had to catch an 8:10am flight to Amsterdam, while Granny had a 9:30am flight to Toronto. It was a sad farewell, at least with Granny with me I had a little bit of a comfort zone. Now I'm out on my own, while I'm staying with family, but family I've never met before, so it's interesting, but a little scary as well. Oh boy.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Happy Birthday to Granny!
Yesterday Granny, Auntie Margaret, Helen (my cousin) and I went into North Berwick. It was a nice day, but very chilly with that breeze off the sea. We spent the day walking along the harbour, and up and down the main street. It's a cute little town, and was the first thing Granny said she wanted to see once she got here. After dinner, Granny and Margaret went off to church while Uncle Andrew, Helen and I sat down for a few games of skip-bo. It was a pretty good day.
Today it is Granny's birthday, but due to her incredibly selfless nature, she insisted on paying for lunch today! Crazy woman :P Margaret, Andrew, Granny and I made the hour and a bit long drive to St. Andrew's (apparently a world famous golf course). Also a cute little town, but lots of history to it with St. Andrew's Castle and Cathedral. It was extremely warm for February, even by the sea!
Yesterday Granny, Auntie Margaret, Helen (my cousin) and I went into North Berwick. It was a nice day, but very chilly with that breeze off the sea. We spent the day walking along the harbour, and up and down the main street. It's a cute little town, and was the first thing Granny said she wanted to see once she got here. After dinner, Granny and Margaret went off to church while Uncle Andrew, Helen and I sat down for a few games of skip-bo. It was a pretty good day.
Today it is Granny's birthday, but due to her incredibly selfless nature, she insisted on paying for lunch today! Crazy woman :P Margaret, Andrew, Granny and I made the hour and a bit long drive to St. Andrew's (apparently a world famous golf course). Also a cute little town, but lots of history to it with St. Andrew's Castle and Cathedral. It was extremely warm for February, even by the sea!
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Goodbye London, Hello Edinburgh!
The last couple days in London were great, another couple trips into Kingston, and a couple nights out. Granny told me she was a little ashamed of my brown satchel, as it had a nice big rip on the seam and the strap was falling apart, so got a new bag to complete my dress and shoe outfit from the previous trip in. Went to a Chinese restaurant, and the waitress was quite surprised by my reply "no" when she asked if I was Asian. Mimi and Georgia had quite a laugh at that. But alas, it is Valentines day, and time to move on to a new country. Packing back up was a ridiculous pain, but I figure by the time I reach Africa I'll have learned the most efficient way to pack!
The last couple days in London were great, another couple trips into Kingston, and a couple nights out. Granny told me she was a little ashamed of my brown satchel, as it had a nice big rip on the seam and the strap was falling apart, so got a new bag to complete my dress and shoe outfit from the previous trip in. Went to a Chinese restaurant, and the waitress was quite surprised by my reply "no" when she asked if I was Asian. Mimi and Georgia had quite a laugh at that. But alas, it is Valentines day, and time to move on to a new country. Packing back up was a ridiculous pain, but I figure by the time I reach Africa I'll have learned the most efficient way to pack!
Friday, 10 February 2012
Day 1: We arrived in London Gatwick at about 9 am, aka about 4 am at home, we were exhausted. We basically just took it easy the first day, spent a little time catching up with Uncle Denis, then went for a well-needed nap. In the afternoon, we went with my mum's cousin Peter to pick up his 2 little girls from school, so that would make them my ...second cousins? We spent the evening catching up with Peter and his daughters Georgia and Mimi, and mum's other cousin Alison came over as well. The first day we "took it easy," meaning 2 different pints and a vodka cranberry for me ;)
Day 2: Granny and I slept in until about 11am, I can barely do that at home! We took the bus into Kingston, which is a little neighbourhood of London, comparable to Brooklyn or Manhattan of New York. We shopped all day, I got a beautiful new outfit, including a dress and new flats (no room for heels in my luggage :( :( ) But the shopping tired me out, and it was an early night for me.
Day 3: Took a train into the heart of London today, and saw lots of really cool things. We went to the changing of the guards at a horse place, it was pretty cool to see. After that we went to the Tower of London, known mainly for it's dark and gory past. King Henry VIII lived there, so naturally there was more than a few beheadings. However, it was such an interesting trip, and we only really got through one of the 13 towers! I wanted to go to Abbey Road, and recreate that famous picture today, but there was just no time!
The wifi at Uncle Denis's has been down all week, which is why I haven't been able to blog sooner, and why I probably won't be able to blog until Tuesday or so when I head up to Edinburgh.
Day 2: Granny and I slept in until about 11am, I can barely do that at home! We took the bus into Kingston, which is a little neighbourhood of London, comparable to Brooklyn or Manhattan of New York. We shopped all day, I got a beautiful new outfit, including a dress and new flats (no room for heels in my luggage :( :( ) But the shopping tired me out, and it was an early night for me.
Day 3: Took a train into the heart of London today, and saw lots of really cool things. We went to the changing of the guards at a horse place, it was pretty cool to see. After that we went to the Tower of London, known mainly for it's dark and gory past. King Henry VIII lived there, so naturally there was more than a few beheadings. However, it was such an interesting trip, and we only really got through one of the 13 towers! I wanted to go to Abbey Road, and recreate that famous picture today, but there was just no time!
The wifi at Uncle Denis's has been down all week, which is why I haven't been able to blog sooner, and why I probably won't be able to blog until Tuesday or so when I head up to Edinburgh.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
It's finally here! I'm sitting in the Pearson Airport in Toronto with my grandma, and we're just waiting for our flight. Mum and Dad insisted we get here suuuuuuper early, so we've been here for about 2 hours already! Very nervous, but also very excited. Didn't help that Mum was a wreck :p I just want to get going, can't wait to get me some airline food!
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