The Big Finish 2010

 Another trip down memory lane, continuing with the summer of 2010.

After seeing Macca with Paige, I just hung around her wee Alva flat after she left for America for a bit.  It was, again, a good place to do some focussed work and not be distracted by much of anything.  Except the Famous Alva Highland Games, which I already posted about ages ago.  You can read that again here, if you forgot.  The World Cup (football) was going on at the same time, and whereas in January I didn't turn on the tv except to see the New Year's Doctor Who episode (*sob*), this time I had a the matches on (even though I didn't pay that much attention to many of them).  I can't help myself-- I just love national sports.  Club sports, not so much.  Maybe that's why I'm not such a fan of the NFL?  Go figure.

Anyway.  I was quite lucky to get to be in Alva to work, and I worked hard to get ready to submit by the end of the month.  After being robbed (which you can read about here, if you've want to hear the story again), I wasn't sure what I was going to do about finishing-- I had lost my computer, Lynch's loaned computer, and my thumb drive.  Even worse, I'd lost the past three weeks' work, a lot of which was fixing footnotes and other busy work.  Luckily, however, I managed to get a laptop on loan from the university for a couple of weeks.  Generally they hadn't been very helpful with things like offices and information, but this time I lucked out-- they had a laptop that had been returned by a faculty and had not yet been reassigned.  They didn't need it for another three weeks, and I was only going to be gone for just over two.  Yay!  It was a university miracle.  It was an older model and not all that great, but it had wireless internet and Microsoft Office, which were really all I needed.  I gratefully borrowed it, and gratefully returned it.

I got home to Aberdeen and Kenny told me there was good news and bad news, regarding the break-in.  I asked for the bad news first, and found out that the insurance folks weren't going to cover any of my stuff, because they said I was a lodger and should have had my own renter's insurance (even though they had ages before said I wasn't considered a lodger because I wasn't on an official contract...).  That meant I would have to buy a new computer, for which I did not have the funds.  Yikes.  I was not happy.  Luckily, the good news was that Kenny is awesome (which I already knew) and that because the insurance company made him angry by that, he just claimed for his stolen laptop and then gave me the new one.  He had recently bought himself a new one, and the stolen one was the old one, anyway.  So it arrived just a few days after, and I got to finish my thesis on my shiny new Samsung!  Have I mentioned that Kenny is the best?  Because he totally is, and not just for this.  This is only one small example of why he is awesome. 

I had intended to submit before Harry Potter's birthday, but due to the loss of work and having to redo so much annoyingly time-consuming stuff, I ended up finishing in time to submit the first of August.  Or rather, the second, because the first was a Sunday.  But since I was, for all intents and purposes, done, and because I just wanted to, dang it, I had a Harry Potter party!  It was 31 July, his birthday, and in celebration of me being done-- because it was the whole HP controversy that got me started down this thesis road to begin with.  Lynch, RitaB and Aleithia came, and we had fun.  It was a small celebration, but a much-needed one with some of my closest friends.  We had custard cremes (and everyone managed to avoid the canary cremes!), cockroach clusters, chocolate frogs, Gryffindor-coloured cupcakes and rice krispy treats and deviled eggs, and Butterbeer!  Plus some general party food, like cheeses and other goodies.  Basically, we just sat around and ate, but that makes for quite a good party in my book.  And that celebration meant that I was officially done with the major part of the thesis.  Woot. 

You can see all the photos from the month's activities here. 

International Potluck

At my birthday party, an idea was born: to have an informal international potluck.  There were a couple of us sitting around talking about food, all of us from different countries, and we decided we wanted a chance to try them all for ourselves.  A couple of weeks later, we did just that. 

Noelle hosted us at her flat, and Natalie brought along some of her floorball friends, and then there were the usual suspects of Lynch, RitaB (and her mum and sister, who were visiting), and me.  We ate well, let me tell you.  The devilled egges I took disappeared quickly, and that was just Lynch!  We all brought things from our home country, or from a country that we had adopted as home (in Nat's case).  Oh my life.  Good food.  So much good food.  And leftovers.  Yum. 

I think this should happen at least once a month.  =D

Oh, and photos here.  From 32-52.  Don't say you aren't warned-- these will most likely make you hungry. They do me!  

Party Like It's 2010... Oh, Wait...

So I had lots of my friends from different circles (uni, church, etc) and different eras (as long as I've been here, in the past year, etcd) to my flat for eating and laughing and goofing off on Sunday.  It was a good day.  I made Laurie's bean dip, Kayla's cream cheese salsa dip, ranch dip with veggies, raspberry choco streussel bars, Legend's fruit tea, and birthday cake balls (I had to neuter about a dozen and a half, poor cakes.  But their sacrifice was duly appreciated by the guests at my party).  I'll let the pictures tell the story, with a wee bit of commentary from me.  =)

(they might not have eaten the cake balls if they'd seen these photos first...)

the fridge stocked:

Becker boys, Scot and RitaBekah

what the boys did the whole time, and didn't share:

Liz and Jay, caught in the act.  Of what, I'm not sure.

Aleithia.  Classy. 

Which came first?  Looks like neither one is doing very well... considering they were supposed to be going straight off the edge to the right of the photo. 

Natalie and Noelle, vying for the win!

And the mystery parcel-- revealed this!  Not busted yet.  Needs a neater garden and less rainy day.

That's it.  I'm officially olde now.  Yay! 

Betcha didn't know...

that fish 'n chips is healthy.  as is kool-aid.  and hanging out with liz.  i have photographic proof...

The box says a lot of things.  They are all obviously true things.  And Liz buys it... she drank the kool-aid, so now she's on board.  Fish 'n chips=healthy. 

See?  I told you so.  =D

Pancake Day

Mardi Gras?  What's that?  Around these parts, it's Pancake Day.  Why?  Well, I asked Wikipedia, and she told me this:

"Pancakes and doughnuts are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foodstuffs such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasized eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure: In many cultures, this means no meat, dairy, or eggs."


I invited Aleithia and RitaBekah over for a pancake supper.  I have some Krusteaz mix, and we made three kinds:  banana (with raspberry jam on top), chocolate chip (with powdered sugar), and plain (with golden syrup).  They were so yummy.  I hadn't made them for a while, but I'm not sure why when I enjoy them so much.  And it was fun, hanging out and chatting with the girlies who were in town.  I missed Liz and Paige, but oh well.  That's life, isn't it?  And, of course, silly me-- I forgot to take a single picture.  Again, that's life.

Eight Days a Week: I Luh-uh-uh-uh-uhve You

On this day, I was actually quite miserable.  We slept in late, which was good, but as we were getting ready to go out poddling again, to some fancy spots and do some shopping, my back went out.  In a major bad way.  Suddenly, I could not move.  And it hurt so flippin' bad.  My back goes out from time to time, and it usually lasts a couple of days.  This time, it ended up hanging on more than two weeks, and not even three strong prescription painkillers from my GP made a dent in it.  Oh my life.  It was misery.  But dammit, I was in Paris.  And I was NOT going to sit in the flat and do nothing.  So.  Out I went.  Just really, really slowly.  And while I was moving, it was better.  It was when I stopped that things got sticky.  And starting again?  I don't even want to think about it.  Anyway.

Other than that, this was a lovely day.  Poddling around.   Buying famous French tea and macaroons.  Being served coffee by Sulu.  Just taking in the sun and sights.  Come along, see for yourself...

I love all the stalls along the Seine, selling books and art and souveniers and stuff like that.  One thing I wanted to buy while I were there, if I could find it, was a Babar book.  If you didn't grow up reading about Babar and Celeste and their adventures, you missed out.  I loved those books, and since they are French... well.  I had to have one.  And I found one!  A hardback.  And a good price. I was so happy!  I also bought Paige's Christmas gift at one of these stalls... and some goodies for me, and to give as gifties.  Yay for shopping!

These titles cracked me up, though.  It somehow doesn't have quite the same affect... oh well.

I bought tea here, for myself and as a gift.  I wish I had thought to take a photo inside.  It was tea-heaven!  I could have stayed in there sniffing blends for hours.  If you like tea, go here when you are in Paris.  No questions-- just go.

And if you like nice pastries and goodies, go here for the macaroons-- Laudree.  It is not cheap (yikes!) but they have loads of flavours, and they are the best in Paris.  The line was out the door!  And their packaging is so darn cute !

Decisions, decisions! I got one of eight different flavours, in a lovely wee box.  Worthwhile investment.  I even shared some of them... though I hated to give them up. ;)

I told you the line was long!

I felt very chic with my fancy shopping bags.  So we went for coffee, to be even more Parisianne.  And because my back was killing me.  But mostly because that's what you do in Paris-- drink coffee outside at cafes.

Kristianna and I both were thrilled that Sulu was our waiter.  He was great.  =D

This is me, being all Parisy.  Life is boring, and I'm too chic for it all.  Obviously.

And this is the real me.  ;)

This is the last photo I have from this day, so I think my back must have driven me home.  I remember watching Ratatouille (because it's set in Paris, of course) with Kristianna one night... that might have been this night.  I honestly don't remember... and I don't have my journal from then with me here.  So... I'll just say we went home, and ate and drank and watched films and talked and laughed and slept eventually.  Because that sounds good. 

Ah, Paris... Ain't Got Nothing But Love, Babe... Eight Days a Week

I've Been Here a Week Already?!

 We saw Paige off to the airport from the big Metro hub, and Kristianna and I poddled on into town to indulge in the best falafel in Paris and then to have a wee bit of a wander.  After a while, she left to go do stuff, because she wasn't on holiday like some people, and so I poddled around on my own a bit . The benefit of staying so long is that by this time, I knew my way around enough that I didn't get lost.  Not once did I get lost.  I'm so cool.  

We had to make a connection at this Metro stop, and the walls were all done in these murals.  They really were impressive.

Next stop:  Palais du Fallafel!

In case you can't tell by my stuffed face, it was seriously yummy.

We saw this Chagall-esque painting in the shop across the way, and took a photo for Paige.

We wandered 'round to the Hotel de Ville and it's surroundings.  I am ashamed to say that I do not remember the names of most of these places that I took photos of... but I could take you to them.  I know how to get there.

This is a monument to this saint (whoever he is):

Another churchly find.  Also lovely. And from here out, I'm on my own. 

Shopping, anyone?

In case you didn't know, Paris has a couple of bridges.  My friend Barb likes bridges.  I was 'playing Barb' of bridges... for Barb.  =D

And for me, too, of course.  I mainly just loved being along the Seine.  It was just about my favourite place... and my other favourite places were generally right by it, too.  Convenient, non?  This above was my view, as John and I sat on the wall and wrote some postcards and read a bit.

Back at the Hotel de Ville.  And by the way, have I mentioned that I could not have possibly dreamed up better weather if I had tried?  The whole time I was there, it was gorgeous.  Usually it was very comfortable--even warm!--and the sun always came out.  God was loving me special this holiday.

If you don't know why I walked an extra block, crossed a busy street, and doubled back a good bit out of my way to take the above photo... well.  You don't know me very well.  And you're an illiterate dork.  =D

It's the Colonel... with his wee beady eyes... and his secret recipe that makes you crave his chicken fortnightly!  He's taking over the world!

 Kristianna and I met back at her flat for dinner, and we were treated to yet another gorgeous sunset.  Makes me sad to only live on the first floor... looking out on a pub...  *sigh*

This is the view out her kitchen window.  I love that these Paris flats totally make the most of light and air.  So many of them have courtyards in places like this--sometimes in the centre of a building--just to let in more natural light. It's fantastic.  And it's great for getting an evening breeze going, too.

The netting, I'm assuming, is to keep birds outta the kitchens.  It's a very good idea.

Kristianna cooked us pasta, and we had a nice tomato salad (they had great tomatoes... better than here) and, of course, wine.  On my way home, I'd stopped at the courner pastry shop and picked up an assortment of goodies for us to share:  two traditional French ones and two Mediterranean-types.  They were all fabulous, and only lasted a day or so.

And that night, the moon!  Wow.  It was such a lovely night. 

Time definitely does fly when you are having fun.  My trip to Paris proves it.