Friday 19 December 2008

Last day...

Today is my last day at work for this year, it's my last days in Ireland and the last day to get anything done that need to be done.

Thankfully I have nothing left to do. I'm all packed, weighted the bags, repacked and security ties them shut. Now all they have to do is to arrive when they're supposed to in Montreal! Please please god let them arrive!!

Today is a half day at work, we're all heading off early this afternoon for our Christmas lunch/party. It's a big recession if you haven't heard and therefore there's no more going out an big parties that last all night, it's just an afternoon off and lunch at the Purdy Kitchen in Dun Laoghaire.

This is fine with me as we're having 'Christmas' at Derek's parents tonight and have to be at the airport early tomorrow morning so I'm fine with a not too late night tonight and certainly not having a hangover for tomorrow's travels!!!

I will post again before the holidays, once I arrive in Canada and all that, till then! Enjoy!

I'm looking forward tomorrow to: arriving safe and sound with my ass not too numb and my bags with me, seeing snow and family for the first time in almost a year and having dinner at Katherine and Alwyn's new apartment... it really has been far too long!!

TTFN!

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Monday 15 December 2008

Have I started the countdown yet???

I have to admit I'm so very excited to be going home to Montreal for the holidays in only 5 days!!!

I also have to admit that every part of my being is dreading the trip home on Saturday. Granted I'm flying via Paris again so thankfully there's no Heathrow worry this time and it all went really smoothly last year but I'm waiting for a disaster to strike.

I'm not a bad flier, I'm not scarred or feel the need to drug myself with prescription medication to get myself to the final destination I just really despise the whole ordeal. Now once I get there... with all my bags, I'm the happy camper but for the 10 or so hours it take for me to get to that stage (one time thanks to BA loosing my luggage and all my Christmas gifts it took 5 days to get to that stage but anyhow...) I believe it's all worth it.

I'm impressed with the whole 'adventure' that I leave here at noon and travel for an eternity and arrive in Montreal at 6pm. If only the journey only took 6 hours I might not feel the need to complain about sheer boredom and a sore ass but alas I paid a lot of money for that opportunity!

I'm a worrier and as a worrier I don't like the whole travel bit. It starts around now, I worry about what to pack. Then I start to worry about getting to the airport (which didn't used to be suck a big issue until I missed a flight this summer... disaster) and then I worry about getting my bags checked in and the scales.... will I be over - the shame!!! Finally I relax a bit and I'm ok... I'm bored with a numb butt but I'm otherwise relaxed until we land and then I start to worry about whether my bags have arrived, I have no problems with customs (here's hoping that I haven't jinxed that and end up with a cavity search on Saturday) but that long time standing at the carousel waiting for my bags containing all of the joy and effort in gifts that I have worked so hard at for the last few months is so long and feels like longer than the flight itself.

This year I'm going to try it differently. I'm going to relax, I'm going to under pack my bags. I'm not going to struggle with a carry-on the very maximum size allowed. I'm going to be a better traveler and when I do arrive and my bags are left in Paris, I'm going to be OK with it because it will only be the 20th and they have 4 days to turn up in Montreal in time for opening the gifts on Christmas morning.

Of course, I say that now......

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Good news...

There's been a snow fall in Montreal and it's been a good one.

My multiple wishes on every little thing possible have been answered.

Now all it has to do it stick around and snow some more!!!

A few cm is not enough... I want this:




...once again my mother's going to kill me!

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Relax....

I'd like to say I haven't been posting here lately because it's been quite and nothing to report but the truth is it's been a bit crazy busy followed by a slump where you do nothing and then busyness returns!

I am excited about the holidays, less than two weeks to go and I'm home! But I feel like I have so much to do before then so that makes me feel rushed!

This week I have the AGM for the complex where I live on Wednesday, I expect that to be a late night with the heat up on full and will need to bring lots of Gatorade and snacks to last the night! On Thursday my friend Lar is supposed to be coming over so must prepare for that by having a clean apartment when mine is a total disaster! - why is it that getting a cat caused complete and utter chaos in my neat and clean lifestyle?! So now cleaning takes a little longer as the place always looks a little messier. Then it's the weekend where I plan (ooo love a plan) to get ready for the trip!

I have been working up to this by getting all the laundry finished and then not wearing my best clothes... this leads to me inevitably going to work for the next week and a half looking like a mismatched hobo sometimes but I'll look great in Montreal!!

Regardless, the apartment will need a good clean before I leave because that way I can expect to return to it looking just as nice! Take that Derek!!! But I tried that last time we went away and returned to muddy footprints from the cat all over everything... and I mean EVERYTHING! But sure I'll give it a go!

Any way you look at it the holidays are coming and soon and mostly that makes me feel all warm inside, now all I have to do is remember to bring in my favorite Christmas album into work and it will be perfect!

Monday 1 December 2008

A pinch and a punch…

I can’t believe its December, I love Christmas and the beginning of the month just makes that day even closer.

I’m looking forward to heading home to Canada for the holidays; I hope there’s snow… I’m OK if there’s not as much as last year but I do hope for a white Christmas, especially as Derek will be spending his first one away from home with me.

As I was making dinner last night he leaned over and whispered, ‘we’re spending Christmas together for the very first time.’ I think he’s just as excited as me.

Let the countdown begin!!!