Glaswegian travels (click title for photos)

So I'm sittng on a train at the moment, on my way back to Aberdeen. I've just spent the weekend down in Glasgow with my friend Felicity and her husband Juan. Its really nice to be able to see her, because she and I actually met online a long time ago (4 years ago) and have met up down in Port Elizabeth (where she is orginally from).

I took the morning train down from Aberdeen on Saturday, getting into Glasgow around lunchtime. The train ride is quite beautiful, as it winds its way down the eastern coast of Scotland before heading inland to Glasgow. I tried to get some snaps on the trip down, but unfortunately it was raining, and my camera couldnt focus properly (just one more incentive to get a camera with manual focus capability).

Felicity met up with me at the train station, and then Juan picked us up and we went straight to their apartment, which is in a little village just by Glasgow called Barhead. They have a very nice little place, which they are in the process of emptying as they are heading back to South Africa in a couple of weeks.

We sat and watched a bit of the rugby which was on, and saw Argentina's defeat of England at Twickenham... Which is a story for another day!!

Saturday night was organised as Felicity's going away night with some of her work friends, so we went out to meet up with them. After meeting at a bar, we headed out to a greyhound racing meet. Very interesting, as its the first time I've been to one of those things. I had a good time, as I placed a couple of minimum bets, and it was good fun cheering on the dogs as they raced around the track! After the dog racing we went to a club, but weren't really feeling it there, so we just went home to get a relatively early night.

Sunday morning we woke up a bit late, and jumped into a car and drove across to Edinburgh. We went straight into Edinburgh castle, which was incredible!!! It is built on an extinct volcano (which I didn't know about) and is absolutely steeped in history. We only had a couple of hours really to get around it, but to really go through it properly you need a full day!! I got to go and see the Scottish Crown Jewels, and they are spectacular, it was amazing to see these intricately designed pieces which are so significant to the history of the country and have been around for hundreds of years.

Once out of the castle we took a walk down the Royal mile, which is a cobblestone street which leads from the castle down the the palace. As can be imagined there are a lot of touristy stores along the way, which we stopped in and looked at. I was thinking about getting a kilt, but then looking at the price to get all the right stuff i.e. the kilt and belt and spooren, woulc have set me back at least 150 quid... I just couldnt justify that right now, but I was thinking it might be a nice touch to wear that kit to Scott's wedding. I shall see if I can get some good deals back in Aberdeen.

Once we were done, we jumped back into the car and raced back to Glasgow, and I managed to just miss my train, but it wasnt a big issue as I managed to get onto the next train a bit later on. I had a great weekend, and would love to get back down to Edinburgh again while I am here, I just need to figure out if timing will allow...

LONDON BABY

This past weekend I caught a late flight from Aberdeen to London Luton. When I was booking the ticket I really did not have a clear concept of how FAR London Luton is from Wimbledon. May as well have landed in a different city!! I spent almost as long on the train from Luton as I did on the plane from Aberdeen!!!

Anyways, it was definitely worth it, as around midnight I arrived at my destination, Maurice's appartment. He has a really nice little two bedroomed place in Wimbledon. Definitely one of the nicer apartments that I have seen while in the UK. It was so good to see him, as I don't think he and I have actually seen eachother since he left Zim 2+ years ago!! We stayed up talking, and partaking in a bottle of Black label until the early hours of the morning. I need not say the next day my head was not appreciating the abuse from the prior night!! Maurice and I just went for a cooked breakfast once we were feeling more human and then headed back to the apartment for a bit of a lazy day Saturday. After lunch Julia, Maurice's better half from Zimbabwe, got back and it was great to catch up with her too.

That night we had arranged to head out to a South African pub called Zulus which is just by Putney Bridge (sp) I believe...(I have no idea of where things are in the Greater London Area). We were meeting up with a whole bunch of Zim folks, including Derek & AJ, Sean and Casey. Derek caught onto the fact that we have moose in Canadia, and for the rest of the evening was asking about my pet moose... which really made me really miss Mike (my pet moose). Zulus is a really good pub/club, they were playing some really decent music, and also I was thrilled to be able to look around and just see friends... Something you sorely miss when you are in a strange place like Canadia. Maurice had told me about a drink called a "Snakebite", and Derek persuaded me to try one. I believe its a mix of raspberry liquer, cider and beer, and tastes pretty good, but certainly could hit you hard if you were not careful!! We were dancing and having a good time and ended up heading toward Maurice's place at about 1 or 2am, while making the obligatory stop at a BK for a burger on the way.

On Sunday morning I had to get going early as the cheapest flight I could get also meant I had a lunchtime flight out of Luton which is pretty far (see above!!!); it was over as quickly as it had started!! Maurice came with me on the tube to see me off at the train station in London as I had to transfer, and it was a good thing as I don't know if I would have actually been able to find my way if it were not for him. It was sad having to say goodbye, but I know I will be getting down to London again to meet up with him and the crew, so that was fine.

The strange thing while I was down in England is that they don't seem to be too keen to take Scottish currency, and some places just flat out refused to take it it all. Its meant to all be legal tender wherever you go in the United Kingdom, but the Scottish currency is so different from the English, so some of the tellers do not recognise it at all. I now know to try to withdraw cash down in England when I am there, rather than up in Scotland.

Remember, remember the 5th of November...

So, being the UK, they celebrate Guy Fawkes day, and in no small measures either. I got back into Aberdeen on the afternoon of the 5th and went down to the beach area where they were going to be having the fireworks display. I'm starting to enjoy photography, so along came my tripod with me and I set up to take some photos. Still not getting great pics, but c'est la vie. Enjoy! (click on title for link to all the photos)

More randomness from the North Sea

I was talking to a friend the other day and he told me that it was time now; he needs to find a wife, settle down, have kids, and basically get on with the next stage of his life. I was pleased, becuase it is great when people solidify a plan for their lives. I would not be surprised if this past weekend he was been putting into place steps to meet that goal.

(If the above slideshow takes forever to load, please tell me and I will remove it from my blog.)

Now, in the past I've thought that I'm ready for a major shift into the next stage or possibly more aptly, MY next stage, as each person will have their own personal stages,metrics and doors they need to pass through.

The question I find myself posing is: Can we actively choose to follow the path to the next stage, to transition, or will this just come about more as a culmination of the development of a person on a number of different levels/fronts?

I'd like to, as an independant person, believe that I have to some extent control over my direction. I'm not sure how I would feel if my direction is majorly directed through the choices and results of the past, so like a large rolling boulder the best that one can do is nudge it from side to side, little by little?

Now you may be wondering why I am getting all philosophical on the crew, and its really because recently, and in the foreseeable future I have a number of big decisions to make, which requires a solidification of my plans, and also the cementation of my values into actionable steps and tangible boundaries.

As I said in an impromptu speech back in school, "Which road is the one to success? I can't say for certain, but what I can say is that I'll see you when you get there."(ad libbed a bit because I dont remember my exact words). Young. Arrogant. Optomistic... Perhaps even wise? Time will tell.

Ramblings from the North Sea (click here to see photos)

Sitting on some rocks overlooking the North Sea, listening to the constant, yet irregular flurry of waves, and I think what would I have done without this experience, this change to outflow and think about life and the direction I am going.

This is helluva dramatic as images go, sitting on the edge of a fatally compelling stretch of water. Only the other day I heard on the news of a fishing trawler going missing with all crew.

Although my line of work is nowhere near as risky, it does make me wonder; did those men love what they did? Were they the lucky ones who do something they loved, and so were the so-envious exception to the rule - don't live to work, but work so that you can live...?

I'm in no way in a position to advise anyone on this as I am currently going through the internal debate myself as to what do I want to do with my life? There are, as I can see it, two possible solutions (NOT outcomes, as many different outcomes do not solve the quandry)

The first is the more risk adverse, obvious response, which is to find a job which suits your basic skillset, and that allows you to live. (Work to LIVE)

The second is much more difficult as it requires one to look deep inside oneself and try to come up with creative solutions to allow you to do what you are passionate about as a career. Already I hear groans from people as I say this, because people are sick of hearing this and are saying "there are not many positions as flying kites <<>>" (I'm on a beach, and there are kites about, cut me some slack with the images ;) Possibly the true solution to all of this is breaking down the specific elements that you enjoy, and then try to find careers that allows you to match those.

I'm not a career guidance person, no matter what I may profess after a beer or two, so don't ask me for a customised, detail 10 step program. This may go into a book one day, this may not, I just wanted to ramble a bit, get some thoughts down onto paper. Let me know what you think, any suggestions or comments are appreciated!

Och Aye Laddie

Yeah, havent posted properly for a while, and sorry this isnt gonna be a proper post either. Just wanted to update everyone to let you know that I am currently in bonnie Scotland. I am up north in Aberdeen for work till December, then I head down to South Africa. If you are in the UK - GET IN TOUCH WITH ME PLEASE!

Calgary - take 2

Well this past weekend I was back in Calgary, spending time with Jen, Adam and Henry. I arrived on Friday night, only to be greeted with a light SNOWFALL... Winter is well and truly here!! It was a very relaxing weekend overall, with only one real PARTY night where we went across to Jason (a work colleague in Calgary) and Natasha's place for a BBQ.I got to spend time with both Jen and Henry, which was really the main objective of going across, coz I'm likely not going to see them until next year now... I flew back to Winnipeg on Tuesday, and got straight back into the craziness that is my life.

Updates x 3

Ok so there were a few updates I posted today, apologies for posting them all at once, I had them queued for a few days, I just needed to press send!!

I'm in Calgary again this weekend, which is likely going to be my last break until December. Things are really starting to get tightly sprung in preparation for busy season and my trip to Scotland. I'll have to send out an email to everyone in the UK to try and find out where you are to see if I can coordinate meeting up with you while I am over there (bearing in mind that I will be based in Northern Scotland).