So this is the first blog for a while, only the second since I've been back, the first one of June and really the first 'home' blog. Perhaps I've not been blogging because I don't want to pretend I'm home and if I don't, I'm still on holiday?
Unlikely - although in all routines I've liked to pretend I'm still on holiday!
Irrelevant of the minimal motivation, I have had a couple of not so busy weeks to talk about, and there has been a little lack of inspiration. Tonight was poker night, which followed this underwhelming theme as there were only a handful of people. I played a bit differently tonight having read some poker books and magazines while on holiday. It worked out quite well and was fun, and was doing nicely until I hit a bad beat with a Q-8 in against a Q-7 when my opponent hit a 7 on the river.
Tomorrow marks the start of the World Cup and possibly some more regular blogging - that one the jury is out on though! One day at a time.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
So, To Sum Up Quickly
I've not done of these for a while, mainly because I've been better updating at my blog recently - however, as I haven't been providing updates through actually some things happening! To summarise:
(1) Flight Issues
There were some issues getting to Winnipeg from LA. When I arrived at the airport, I went through security fine, got to my gate and only to find that they had overbooked my flight. This meant that there wasn't enough space on it for several people - including myself! I was rebooked onto a flight the following day, and instead I spent the evening with Chrissi and had another attempt on Thursday.
As it turned out, this was a good thing - my flight I didn't get on was delayed to such an extent that I'd never have met my connection in Denver and would instead have been stuck there overnight!
(2) Luggage Issues
So I got there on Thursday, at the second attempt - via a quick stop in Denver and a 6am flight from Los Angeles, which meant being up at 4:15am for this! I was fully tired by the end of it. However, my luggage was not so fortunate. It only made it as far as Denver before being mislaid. In hindsight I'm more phlegmatic about the lost luggage, it happens. But it was annoying being without my bag for a couple of days, eventually getting it on the Friday evening the day before I was due to leave!
(3) Oh, And Positive Things Too
Well, amongst the confusion and complaining of my airline niggles, I should highlight that I had a very enjoyable time in Canada with family. It was nice to catch up with people, some of which I'd seen recently - others of whom I had either not seen for 15 years or who were young enough that they had been born since I had last been there! Having someone who was not born the last time you were there being taller than you is somewhat surprising!
It was an enjoyable few days, anyway, and nice to catch up with family. The goal is to repeat this in less than the fifteen years it took since my last trip.
I'm now back in the UK, having arrived back this morning on an overnight flight from Montreal. The main activity I have done since then is sleep!
(1) Flight Issues
There were some issues getting to Winnipeg from LA. When I arrived at the airport, I went through security fine, got to my gate and only to find that they had overbooked my flight. This meant that there wasn't enough space on it for several people - including myself! I was rebooked onto a flight the following day, and instead I spent the evening with Chrissi and had another attempt on Thursday.
As it turned out, this was a good thing - my flight I didn't get on was delayed to such an extent that I'd never have met my connection in Denver and would instead have been stuck there overnight!
(2) Luggage Issues
So I got there on Thursday, at the second attempt - via a quick stop in Denver and a 6am flight from Los Angeles, which meant being up at 4:15am for this! I was fully tired by the end of it. However, my luggage was not so fortunate. It only made it as far as Denver before being mislaid. In hindsight I'm more phlegmatic about the lost luggage, it happens. But it was annoying being without my bag for a couple of days, eventually getting it on the Friday evening the day before I was due to leave!
(3) Oh, And Positive Things Too
Well, amongst the confusion and complaining of my airline niggles, I should highlight that I had a very enjoyable time in Canada with family. It was nice to catch up with people, some of which I'd seen recently - others of whom I had either not seen for 15 years or who were young enough that they had been born since I had last been there! Having someone who was not born the last time you were there being taller than you is somewhat surprising!
It was an enjoyable few days, anyway, and nice to catch up with family. The goal is to repeat this in less than the fifteen years it took since my last trip.
I'm now back in the UK, having arrived back this morning on an overnight flight from Montreal. The main activity I have done since then is sleep!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
She
Well, a couple of days late on writing about it, but better late than never! Sunday was Chrissi's graduation, the culmination of three and a half years of hard work, which means she finally has graduated and has her Masters in Counselling.
It was a good day and nice to see! Possibly some pictures if I can find some of the good ones - sadly didn't get many good ones with my own phone, and even if I did I can't upload them until I'm home!
It was a good day and nice to see! Possibly some pictures if I can find some of the good ones - sadly didn't get many good ones with my own phone, and even if I did I can't upload them until I'm home!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Waiting
I'm currently sat in Chrissi's room waiting impatiently for her to finish work - she finishes in half an hour and is home in an hour. Today is the last day she's working while I'm out here, as she has Friday off this week, and Monday through Wednesday off next week as well.
Yesterday evening we went to the cinema to watch the utterly fantastic How To Train Your Dragon. There was the choice between a couple of films, and that was the one we both preferred. A good choice - it was excellent, tremendous fun to watch. Very glad we picked that one! We also wandered around and bought things as well, and grabbed a bite to eat too.
It also appears that Shrek 3 is coming out tomorrow - so we may well see that too before I leave! It seems the only time I actually ever go to the cinema is when I'm with Chrissi, usually because I'm not that fussed about the films anyway. I'm glad that when I do go, the films are actually fairly good! Long may that pattern continue.
Yesterday evening we went to the cinema to watch the utterly fantastic How To Train Your Dragon. There was the choice between a couple of films, and that was the one we both preferred. A good choice - it was excellent, tremendous fun to watch. Very glad we picked that one! We also wandered around and bought things as well, and grabbed a bite to eat too.
It also appears that Shrek 3 is coming out tomorrow - so we may well see that too before I leave! It seems the only time I actually ever go to the cinema is when I'm with Chrissi, usually because I'm not that fussed about the films anyway. I'm glad that when I do go, the films are actually fairly good! Long may that pattern continue.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Holiday
It's taken me a couple of days to get the hang of it, but I'm now fully on the holiday mood - not really wanting to do anything, simply happy to relax and do nothing.
This is something I'm always not too bad at doing - I can usually fill a weekend with doing nothing at the best of times! Yesterday I did do pretty much nothing for the entire day - Chrissi was working, and then had her final class in the evening - so I managed to kill time all on my own.
In the evening we watched some older Doctor Who - this one being notable for the fact that it featured BRIAN BLESSED (you actually have to type the name in all caps, or it's not really him) as one of the characters. It's impossible to take him seriously, but he is brilliant nevertheless!
I also seem to have come down with something unpleasant nasally. But we'll skip over that!
This is something I'm always not too bad at doing - I can usually fill a weekend with doing nothing at the best of times! Yesterday I did do pretty much nothing for the entire day - Chrissi was working, and then had her final class in the evening - so I managed to kill time all on my own.
In the evening we watched some older Doctor Who - this one being notable for the fact that it featured BRIAN BLESSED (you actually have to type the name in all caps, or it's not really him) as one of the characters. It's impossible to take him seriously, but he is brilliant nevertheless!
I also seem to have come down with something unpleasant nasally. But we'll skip over that!
Monday, May 17, 2010
All The Time
Firstly, to clarify - I am in the US with Chrissi right now. The stopover in Toronto was about three hours, enough to change planes, no more.
Secondly, after a solid night's sleep (in bed by 9pm - unheard of!) I've mostly caught up with my sleep and am now ready to actually look somewhat more active and able to move!
Yesterday Chrissi and I went to the baseball in the afternoon (along with her parents) - this resulted in a triumphant 4-0 victory from the Angels, meaning they swept the As and come somewhat closer to respectability in the standings.
In the evening, Chrissi and I again - this time along with her mother and aunt - went to a baking class, where essentially they helped you go through a recipe and taught you ways to modify it and tweak it. It was very enjoyable - you may have seen the pictures already on Facebook - however, as I was by this point somewhat tired I don't think I got maximum benefit out of any great tips handed out!
So far today I've done not much besides catching up on my sleep (see above). There should be more activity the rest of the week though, I think!
There may also be a bonus point on offer this week, I've yet to decide.
Secondly, after a solid night's sleep (in bed by 9pm - unheard of!) I've mostly caught up with my sleep and am now ready to actually look somewhat more active and able to move!
Yesterday Chrissi and I went to the baseball in the afternoon (along with her parents) - this resulted in a triumphant 4-0 victory from the Angels, meaning they swept the As and come somewhat closer to respectability in the standings.
In the evening, Chrissi and I again - this time along with her mother and aunt - went to a baking class, where essentially they helped you go through a recipe and taught you ways to modify it and tweak it. It was very enjoyable - you may have seen the pictures already on Facebook - however, as I was by this point somewhat tired I don't think I got maximum benefit out of any great tips handed out!
So far today I've done not much besides catching up on my sleep (see above). There should be more activity the rest of the week though, I think!
There may also be a bonus point on offer this week, I've yet to decide.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Conclusion: Unclear
So yesterday, at the beginning of the journey, I suggested that I would enlighten you today as to whether two separate flights is better or worse than one long flight. I'm not really sure, is the answer. It was nice to have shorter flights, and to avoid that point after five and a half hours where you think "Right, I'm halfway there now" - always frustrating. However, on the other side of the coin, it did mean a longer journey and the killing time in Toronto was annoying as well!
The flights themselves were both really smooth, very enjoyable and I even managed to doze on both flights, for an hour or so on the first and two hours on the second. This really cuts into the flight time, so I was very grateful for this! I also watched Sherlock Holmes, twice - the first a classic film from the 1940s (I think - could be earlier). You can tell it was classic because he was investigating a man who was hiding a robbery secret through musical boxes. The other was the more recent version from last year, which actually wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. Relatively enjoyable, at least.
In other thoughts prompted by my journey, I cannot be the only person who flies Air Canada tempted to always respond bilingually - particularly when you leave the plane. When every announcement is made first in English, then in French, I had the urge to leave saying "Thank you, goodbye, au revoir, merci",
Perhaps it's just me.
The flights themselves were both really smooth, very enjoyable and I even managed to doze on both flights, for an hour or so on the first and two hours on the second. This really cuts into the flight time, so I was very grateful for this! I also watched Sherlock Holmes, twice - the first a classic film from the 1940s (I think - could be earlier). You can tell it was classic because he was investigating a man who was hiding a robbery secret through musical boxes. The other was the more recent version from last year, which actually wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. Relatively enjoyable, at least.
In other thoughts prompted by my journey, I cannot be the only person who flies Air Canada tempted to always respond bilingually - particularly when you leave the plane. When every announcement is made first in English, then in French, I had the urge to leave saying "Thank you, goodbye, au revoir, merci",
Perhaps it's just me.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Departure Time
Well, I'm currently killing time at Heathrow airport as I wait at the gate.
This, of course, is leg one of the journey, to Toronto. After much thought I'm still not sure which is better - that annoying 11-hour flight, or a 16 hour total trip, meaning longer travelling but with a break in the middle and two flights of a more tolerable length!
I'll let you know tomorrow, I'm sure.
This, of course, is leg one of the journey, to Toronto. After much thought I'm still not sure which is better - that annoying 11-hour flight, or a 16 hour total trip, meaning longer travelling but with a break in the middle and two flights of a more tolerable length!
I'll let you know tomorrow, I'm sure.
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