NIAGARA FALLS, TORONTO ... PARTYING =]

In the last few weeks I’ve spent many hours underground buried under areal photographs of glaciers across the world ... in other words ... ive been in heaven Haha!! My glaciology proff is English! He’s pretty cool and I, Anne-Katrina and Vivian are really enjoying the course. Ive been a busy bee joining every club but the knitting club this week!! Joined the Outdoors club, the climbing club, the karate club and EnviroWestern (which ive applied to be a project leader for much to the delight of the exec) had two training sessions for karate so far, Thomas and Jacob have joined two, we haven’t done much yet, just doing basic which is fine by me, its a good recap. Went out in a limazine to a club that Marco does some promoting for on Thursday night, turned out to be a pretty good night. We got in fairly early at about 12:30 as we had a floor party from about 8:30ish then went out early. Met so many people in the last few weeks it’s like living in a big family here!

The work load is starting to kick in though, but i kind of looking forward to getting to learning done. Me and lizzie have been church hopping for the last few weeks. We made some new friends last week when we were all stranded at the bus stop and got a lift there and back and having an explores of random people’s houses on the way back who keep shopping carts in the back garden!! Coincidently the same thing happened this week only going to a different church!!

Ventured out to Niagara Falls last weekend! I took (and names) Niagara 2nd!! Me, Line, Francesca, Jacob, Thomas, Nicolai, Phi and the others had a good look around and marvelled at the falls for a good few hours before taking the ‘Maid on the Mist’ our close up!!

Went to Toronto with a few friends yesterday. Had a brown around china town then walked to upper Toronto through the city outskirts to the shoe museum ... where Thomas’s foot got run over. Me and Lizzie decided to go to the Mall (which had 5 floors!!!) and found our way to the mountaineering shop, which turned out only to stock rollerblades ... which lizzie had to talk me out of buying. We then proceeded to go buy me a moose!! (Called Geoff).

WESTERN O WEEK!! GO MUSTANGS!!!!! =]

Okay, I’m going to add to this as I go along this week, as I want an accurate as possible account to look back on ... so I’m doing it while its fresh in my mind. Arrived last night after 20 hours of travelling. Got up at 5am, sorted out a few last things, said bye to my room and left home at 6am. Totally lost it just before I went though security and cried like never before. Encouraging words from Mum, Dad and Vicky helped and off I went. Managed to compose myself after an hour on the plane, and watched ‘You’ve got mail’ on the in-flight movies. Arrived at Newark, passed customs, claimed baggage and sent it onto my connecting flight, got the train to terminal C, found my gate ... and waited. Slept for most of the flight to Toronto then stepped out into Canadian ground. Got my transfer from the airport to London, and got dropped off outside Delawere, got my key and met TMZ and Intro who are the Soph’s on my floor, got my stuff up to my room and arranged to go to the Mall with TMZ and Intro the next day to buy some things.
Went for an explore around campus the next day and did a bit of unpacking; campus is absolutely massive!!! Theres a river running though the middle of it and tonnes of green space. Went to Western’s book store and bought some books, a mug and a Mustangs hat (Go Mustangs!!) Bought bedding, hangers, towels and a hairdryer at the mall and helped TMZ and Intro get some supplies for O-week (aka firewood!! And glowsticks!!) got the bus loaded with stuff ... and pizza and headed back. Spent the rest of the day browsing around in my room, then went for another explore later on and got a subway =]

Sunday was official move-in-day, and i woke up to madness!! Its not like move-in-day at Lancaster for sure! There was music blaring, people waving flags and doing chants outsideDelewere, and everyone was helping you!! Anyhow, went to the mall again for more supplies, went to the drug mark where Jennifer (the manager) helped me get all the things i needed and even gave me a free make-over so i could see what i liked! Got a coffee and muffin from a cofe bar and went to Zellers again. Spent the next two hours or so getting so much stuff, but it was fun. Unpacked back at Delewere later. Did the rounds and went to say hello to everone on my floor (3East), had a meeting at 5 to get to know eachother then went down to dinner in the cafe. We all learnt Delewere chants in the main lounge that evening then headed out into the Deli grounds for volley ball and a bonfire. I hung around with Emily and Emily from down the hall and their friend in 3West, Kirstin. Met loads of people, everyone is so friendly here ... especially when they realise in English!!! Hung out with the Emilys in their room for a while, were going to go into Toronto one weekend (there both from Toronto).

Basically the rest of the week was spent throwing paint at the opening ceremony, at concerts out on University Hill, having ‘Rez Rally’s’ and some friendly banter with our residence cheers against other residences. Spent alot of time with the other international students, we went for a bus tour of downtown London one night then went out for a Mexican which was amazing! Did the ‘Shinearama’ campaign, where we go around London collecting money for cystic fibrosis. There was a carnival one night, with each department having a stall (Science was ‘Walk on water’ ... which was really corn flower) there was also ‘Wax a Soph!!!’ and the engineers were chopping things in half with a guillotine and then steamrolling over shopping trolleys etc ... was fun! Went to the game on Saturday, the Western Mustangs kicked Laurie’s ass at the Home Opening game 30-7!!! And our cheerleaders and hoarse that runs around the track when we score are so much better then anything Laurie could give! Plus there was free pizza everywhere! Checked out the gym too which is huge with an Olympic swimming pool!! There’s a hockey arena too, not to mention all the shops underground the UCC and the cinema!! ... It’s pretty good here!!

Had a few lectures so far ... not done much yet, but I’m sure that will change =]

Summer Part Three!!!

Okay ... so we flu back from Copenhagen and got home at midnight on Sunday 9th Aug. Emma came over the next day and we had all day to work on Bex’s scrap book and watch Mama Mia! We took it to Bex that evening and stayed for a few hours, picking up Rach, Claire and Jon on the way.

Spent the next few days sorting out things for Canada. Andy was leaving for Denmark that Sunday, so we had a party for him on the Saturday ... his mum thought it was for Andy, and Andy thought it was for his mum’s birthday!!! All were surprised, we ate allot of cake and drank allot of beer ... was a good night. Went to church the next morning, then met Emma, Jon and Andy (Emma’s brother) at Dunes to play badminton ... i think I’m getting worse and apparently think Hitler is watching as i seem to salute before i hit it according to Vicky!! Went over to the Knight’s residencs with the Hughe’s for a BBQ that night ... many interesting things happened ... mainly involving snails in Kathryns shoes. Had a great night with Amy, Kathryn, Mike, Josh, Vicky, Angela, Ian, Peter and Felicity, Mum and Dad. Mike got to enthusiastic with the chimnea as usually and the flames grew to one meter above the top over the night.

Went up Herod Pike with mum on Wednesday, was a bit cluffy to begin with, but stayed dry. Wasn’t a nice climb to the top, fighting through bracken on 60° slopes is never fun at the time. Absolutly chucked it down on the walk off.

Not long till I go to Canada now!!! Had my leaving do on Thursday. Went to Tesco the night before with dad to stock up on vodka and beer, made two fruit cocktails in flowerpots! Spent the night with most of my best friends. Me, Rach, Claire, Samuel and Mikul went out after ... interesting putting make-up on when your tipsy!! It was A level results night in town and Ive never seen Apres so packed!! We resorted to dancing on the tables after downing £1 drinks as the floor was totally jammed!! Ran into Liz Fern (back from the days of Liz and Emma in maths!) and Tom Percy and Alex Moran were DJing. Left at about 3ish, back to mine with Rach and Claire, ate alot of toast and chatted about things that actually matter for about an hour then crashed on my floor.

Met up with Neil for a few climbs at Stannage ... little did we know the midges had heard we were going and decided to come along too ... we only manages one climb before running away to the pub (I’m not complaining though!)

An early start on Saturday as me and Dad were off up Helvellyn at long last! Set off at about 7ish, got into Glenridding early, had breakfast and set off for Striding edge via Grisdale Brow to do the cuircuit, summiting Helvellyn and Lower Man, decending over Swirral Edge and bagging Catstye Cam last. It was a glouriuos day a midst a rainy week and it seems most of the UK had had the same idea we had to get out in the hills. We made the ridges as interesting as possible and had a good scramble for a good hour.

Spent the next few days playing badminton with Emma, Jon and Eddy, helping at the local YMCA climbing wall for my Gold D of E service, and packing bits for Canada, went up to the caravan at Hoddom Castle the Thursday night for a few days of rest and adventuring before i flee the continent. Read most of my Ice Age book on Friday, and headed for the hills of Whiteside, Hopegill Head and Grisdale Pike on the Saturday with Mum and Dad. I must confess ... ridge walks are my favourite, they give great views down valleys all around and once your up... your up!! They can be scramble too ... always good =]. Had a great laugh that day with mum and dad, although it was so windy assending Whiteside we could barely stand up ... some interesting rock formations along the way too! Stopped off in Cockermouth on the way back to see Jack and Gemma for a chat about all things steep and craggy, and cup of tea. watched Butch Cassedy and the Sundance Kid that night ... classic western film. Most of Sunday was spent with me reading up on more Ice age related things and going for a walk around Wood-Cock-Air ... me and Dad loosing Mum and Vicky ... giving up looking ... and heading back for a cup of tea =] only to find Vicky in mid air climbing through the window to let her and mum in.

Home on the Monday night, packed up final things for Canada and watched a film. Ive exhausted the last few days by seeing all my friends for the last time till May (except Bex ... shes coming to Canada to see me in Feb!!!!!). Ive got a big smile on my face right now as Angela and Kathryn have just brought round a huge piece of 'Angelas Famous Chocolate Cake'!!! and Claire has just popped in to give me my scrap book everyone made for me =] ... Ive got the best friends in the world! Its going to be a great year and Im looking forward to all the new experiences ill have and friends ill make ... but I know where I belong (for now), and where my friends are, although I know there with me in my heart, where ever I go, no matter how much Ocean is between us. Thank goodness for facebook and skype!!! My next blog will be from Canada ... =] xxxxxx

summer Part Two - Cruising up the Norwegian Fjords!

I don’t go on many ‘relaxing’ holidays ... so cruising up the Norwegian Fjord sounded like a good plan to me! We flew to Copenhagen and spent a few days avoiding being hit by the Danes riding there bikes everywhere and eating lots of pastries.

Boarded Costa Atlantica, our ship and ... WOW ... the last time we went on a cruise I was 14 and didn’t fully appreciate how ornate and ... beautiful and HUGE the ship actually was!! I’m not going to say much on this as I’m going to Canada tomorrow and should have written this as soon as I got back really.

But we had a great week, seeing some of the most stunning scenery on the globe. Gerange was especially amazing; the ship was so huge that the horn was blasted before turning every bend to get up the fjord. The weather was glorious and had we had more time I would have liked to go up into the mountains for an explore =]

The food was exquisit ... over the course of the week I had just about every exotic fish you can eat! The evening dining room was so.... there’s something nice about walking the ship to go to dinner and stopping off at piano bars and violin lounges along the way (cafe Florien is a copy of the cafe in St Marks Square in Venice ... they have silver trays!!) The waiters were extraordinary and the shows after in the theatre were just what you needed to settle a 7 course meal! We always went for a stroll around deck three after, to take-in the scenery, weather it be stretching ocean or blood red sunsets against the fjords.

Met loads of people on the ship ... most of them were Spanish ... I actually said to one guy ‘me encanta la sopa’ ... which means ‘I love soup’ ... apparently, saying ‘Hola’ was too hard for me. Me and Vicky spent most of our free time with Brennan and Luka, two guys who could actually understand us!

Bergen was a fascinating city; we got the ... right up to the top of the hill, and walked down. Also having a look around a Norwegian marked was fun ... lots of dead animals ... and live sea creatures.

All in all ... an incredible trip ... food remarkable!! I’m still expecting trays of cakes all around me 24/7!!!