The English Snow Day

We don't really get snow over here but when we do, no matter how little we get, the entire country comes to a stand still. These photographs were taken January 25th. I took one looking out the door and thought to myself "Hurrah! The excuse I had been looking for!". Knowing it would take me about 2 hours to travel the 4 miles to campus I stayed home. It wasn't worth it for a three and a half hour class.

One of my friends tried to make the journey to campus. She pulled out of her drive and instantly found herself sitting in traffic for half an hour. Once freed she returned home.

Dad has several photographs of snow days off school where there was never actually any snow on the ground but because it had been predicted the day before, the school took the decision to be closed the next day.

January 2007 has become one of the mildest Januarys on record.

STURGEON’S LAW PREVAILS

My father recently introduced me to Sturgeon's Law. Basically it means that 90% of the time things are crap; similar to Murphy’s Law, or Sod’s Law as it is known in England. Recent weeks demonstrate this law very well.

I haven’t had the internet reliably working for over 2 weeks now. My provider, Telewest says it is their fault and compensation will appear on the next bill. The bill has arrived. There was no compensation.

This is not surprising as this company charged us £57 or $120 for phone calls we apparently made during September when we didn’t have a phone line in house. They refuse to refund the money.

I solved the mystery of the stain on the kitchen ceiling. It’s mould. Previously painted over, it is now showing and growing as the plumbing upstairs appears to be leaking in the vicinity of the toilet.

I normally e-mail but my internet isn’t working so I walked around the corner to tell my landlord. I briefly explained the problem and was told “We aren’t your landlords any more. I’ll give you the number of the man you need to call”. The next day I managed to contact the man who lives hours outside of London. He told me the reverse. It’s not his responsibility, it's theirs.

Ok so I will deal with the leaking plumbing later. Then again is it the plumbing at all? A housemate’s mate seems to spend a lot of time in my toilet (room the size of a washroom stall). He always leaves a puddle covering the floor; one that I have stepped in in bare feet on countless occasions.

I finally asked him about this. He told me it was just water. I had to mop it up to get to the toilet without sopping wet feet. What does he do in there? There is only a toilet in the room. Does he splash around in it?

At least I have water right? Our first water bill turned up last week for £779 or $1600 for two months. Fortunately this has been rectified.

I started getting some problems with my teeth last week. The dentist says I’m grinding my teeth; a condition often caused by stress. He’s given me mouth exercises. (If I did all the exercises prescribed for my knees, eyes and mouth that’s an hour a day!)

So I go to make a cup of tea to calm my nerves but....the kettle is broken.

I know this sounds totally negative but in fact I am actually beginning to find this really funny, especially after learning about Sturgeon’s Law.

MY TRIP TO.....

Canada house was open in 1925 by King George V. It is a very grand building on Trafalgar Square and boy did I get to see its lobby in great detail as I waited for someone to show up!!


I walked with a sense of pride. The sort of feeling I get when I step off the plane into Pearson's International Airport. But then I waited and waited and waited some more only to find out that the only way to get a social insurance number is by sending a form and ID off to Ottawa. EEEEeeerrrr!

I'm sad to report that although beautiful this building is, it is without some purpose. The man with all the answers that anyone with a question was suppose to see was on fire drill training. I sat in the former lobby of the building (that you see now) for over an hour with no one around and when he turned up I knew as much as he did!


You don't need a passport to get in. In fact there is a small art gallery inside the new entrance so anyone who can pass a metal detector test, and prove that their camera, MP3 player and phone are exactly that, can get in and sit around for as long as they like.


And as for being in Canada! Ha! If Canada wants to alter the building in any way they have to ask for permission from British Heritage!! That's right British law protects the building. I over hear this being said during a tour of three probably very wealthy men that passed by. The man showing them around said that they wanted to whack a maple leaf above the door but had to ask permission first! He also said that they didn't have a purpose for the former grand lobby (these photos). That's why its covered in leaflets justifying the war in Afghanistan I guess!

Well mystery solved. After 8 years of living in England I now no what lurks within the walls of my embassy. Let's put it this way. If I ever needed help from my country in any event that most other Canadians needs the same help.... this place won't be able to help us. :(

THE UNDERGROUND
The London Underground is the largest and oldest underground train network in the world. Unfortunately it is also now probably the most outdated underground system in the world in terms of most thing. Over 3 million people a day use the Underground.

Some of the tunnels are very deep. So much so that I tend not to think about it when I am down there. With the Undergrounds history of terrorism, the 1987 Kings Cross Fire and a documentary I recently saw on ghosts on the underground (click here to see it on google video) I try not to think too deeply about how deep in the ground I am!


It's when I descend into the tunnels that freaks me out sometimes. These photos taken in Leicester Square Station (Piccadilly Line) and Pimlico Station (Victoria Line) don't really depict how deep the escalators can run.

LONDON SIGHTS

STUDENTHOOD

This is truly the most challenging year of my life in every sense of the word. My house is a multicultural nightmare, my coursework threatens my every waking moment and my landlord is a less than reasonable man.

If I went missing I think the only way my housemates would notice when they realised the rubbish wasn't being taken outside. The state of the shower is appalling too and I am showering at the YMCA gym these days (for water pressure) so I know it's not me!




I have no freezer space to speak of but even if there was room I wouldn't take it with all the unmarked, half wrapped meat floating about in it. Between that and the meal making potential of my disgusting kitchen I am on a diet of canned goods and potatoes. Em, Em Salt!




I don't have a kitchen table or a lounge so my bedroom is where I eat, sleep, work, relax and count sheep to the sound of my Taiwanese housemate's speakerphone conversations and other two housemates getting in uproars about who knows what (unfortunately I could know what if I choose to listen!).



I just can't wait for this pathetic studenthood phase in my life to end. Whatever happens next will be tough too. I know that but like many people my age I ask too many questions... What's in store for me? What job will I get? When will I move into my own place? Will I meet someone?

...What is that stain on my kitchen ceiling? ...And then I realise that some questions are better left unanswered.

8 YEARS IN ENGLAND

(Thorpeleigh House and barn in Thorpe Waterville- the house we came home to on Tuesday January 12th 1999.)

That’s right… I am entering my 8^th and final year in the UK. I guess during this anniversary I am reflecting less on the past and dwelling more on the future. Moving back to Canada is going to be very foreign to me... But instead of panicking about what will be (my new year resolution is to stop thinking myself to death!) lets look at the England that welcomed me to it in 1999.

(thatched Roofs and stone walls - and a Royal Mail van!)

(View from our lane way or drive... it doesn't snow often in England but when it does it's gorgeous... we might be saying the same thing about Canada soon!)

OUNDLE

(bird's eye view of the town)


Note the church in the heart of town. Laura and I practised bell ringing at St Peters Church regularly climbing a staircase updated in 1664!! You had to crawl up as the head room shrank significantly during the climb. When we weren't ringing we could sit on the church roof. I asked if it was safe and was told of course it was - so long as you don't fall!

(Oundle Market Square)


(Central heating = Radiators!!)

This is my old bedroom. It was big enough for a a double bed and a dresser but had a walk in wardrobe (or a closet!).

(Our back garden)

We were never far from the countryside. Harris, Callum, Millie and Rocky are all putting on weight cause this used to be their play ground.

Hope on the horizon...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!

(It looks like this Dad)

I bet you thought nothing changed in Oundle. Well think again because they have new pathetic Christmas light instead of the old pathetic Christmas lights. Crazy! Other than that and the Tesco Metro not much else has changed since 1750.

(Most of the Christmas light were out before midnight and 2 minutes into the New Year it chucked it down and the street cleared)

Actually I lie. Rowan Atkinson now lives in Apethorpe . Yes, Mr Bean himself is regularly seen kicking about little ancient Oundle. His children go to Oundle School. It doesn't get much more exciting than that... unfortunately.

(Peterborough Cathedral)