everybody's working for the weekend

Today was the first day of our mid-term holiday and we had a GREAT day!

We started the day with going to the park for a fall photoshoot because for Christmas we are going to frame some nice pictures of livy and bell for their parents... and we had way to much fun (look at them all on facebook). Then we met Matilda and her girls for a teddy bear picnic on a huge roundabout by their house with tons of trees, and to end the day we went to Tumble in the Jungle (a childrens play place smaller than kidzone with Kylie and Matilda and their girls). Oh how i love the nanny network!

Tomorrow we head to Central London for the Museums!

This weekend was fun, Saturday Matilda and I went to the O2 Arena which is like a little village of resturants and little quiet classy bars and went to a free New Orleans Festival. It was really relaxing which was exactly what I needed because I was hungover from Friday. Friday we went to The George a local cheap bar with Matilda, Rita and Kylie and we ended up meeting these 3 guys who live just down the street from our house so after the bar we went over to thier place to chill and they had a trampaline and it was loads of fun. The plan is to hopefully hang out with them more and get some new friends... if it happens those will be my first offical ENGLISH friends because everyone else immigrated over here.

Sunday we (Matilda, Rita, Sonja, Kim and Suzanne) were going to go for a nice walk around London Bridge but it was raining so instead we hit up the Albert and Victoria Museum for a tour and Harrods. Oh My, if you dont know what Harrods is, its a HUGE department store that is way to expensive but such an experience. There are 6 floors all together and it sells all the brand names... we saw a purse for 2000 pounds. My favourite part was looking at the jewlery haha and dream and on the second floor there is a place called Christmas World and its a whole room thats open year round and its all CHRISTMAS... it was perfect. There was a section for pets and there was actually a dog bed with dog sheets, comforter and pillows... it was rediculous. Then we headed back to Ritas house because she found a new place to live and its so nice and Matilda and I were soo jealous. After we relaxed at her house we head to Brick Lane and new place which I loved. It was so chill and market/underground ish.... it reminded me of the Black Market in Toronto kinda, it will definitly be a place I want to explore in the day time because it was a little dauge. We went to a tea/hookah shop and I fell in love with loose tea. So next weekend Rita and I are going to go to Camden and get me a tea egg and loose tea leaves.
Man I live for my Weekends... Rita and I are in the works for Amsterdam plans :)

Observations....
It is kinda freaky, everyday I see tons of people who remind me of people back home, whether they be friends, family, neighbours or randoms... but none the less its a daily occurance. It really makes you wonder if all those stories you hear as a kid could be factual, like the only think that makes people look different are where their ears are placed... or that everyone has someone identical to them somewhere else in the world hahaha
Now I KNOW they are false but I has actually gotten to a point of being a little creepy. Lol and it makes me feel creepy because I just sit on the tube staring at people.

Anyways Bye =)

Transformation into Mice

Livy's Spring Holiday has started and this means that she has all of next week off and I'm working full time.

We have a full week of fun things planned so lets cross our fingers and hope that she doesn't get in too much trouble and thus getting punished and cancelling our fun outings.

Monday - Wednesday we are hitting up the Discovery Centre, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Tumble in the Jungle! Most of these things we get to do with Matilda, Anna and Mia which is nice for everyone. And then Friday we have a halloween party to go to at Isabellas nursary.... which we are VERY VERY excited for!

For Halloween we are stealing a costume from school last year and are being the three blind mice. Livy and I are going to be black mice and Bella is a brown one. We turned two of my tank tops into dresses for the girls and I sewed white tummies and tails on them and they are both wearing tights, its so cute. (see picture).

Life with Livy is hopefully going to change for the best... Sara and David has a parent teacher interview last night and it didnt go over so well, so shes now has 3 things she must change and they are cracking down.

1. No Talking and Listening in Class
2. Try your Hardest
3. No rudeness/Attitude to Adults

I wont get into the details of the interview but basically she was said to be very rude and her teacher even mentioned how she treats me in the playground, and shes so smart but not trying. So when they came home last night they asked for my opinion and I started giving it a nice version and hopefully we can chat about it again because I have now come up with some positive ideas to hopefully turn things around more. It was just really nice to see that Im not the only one who gets treated this way =D

Finally funny story the last two time I talked to Dan and Cassie and an English accent came out without me even noticing it... isnt that weird!

SPAIN

(me outside the Picasso Museum)

(me a little nervous to eat our dinner, because the shirp still had eyes... but it was the BEST EVER)

(Sunday in the beautiful weather, looking onto the Beach off of La Ramblas)

(Us Saturday night outside of the National Palace for the Fountain Show)

We are home from a great weekend in BARCELONA, and I can say that our first big trip was AMAZING.

Friday we didnt get to our hostel till about 12:00 and we were both so tired and hungry and sooo happy we finally found it. It was a really nice place with clean single bathrooms and we shared a room with two American girls. Once we were settled we decided to go find food and explore La Ramblas (the main street in Barcelona) and we were a 10 minute walk away from it. On the way their were prostitutes all the way along, real ones it was crazy. It was interesting to see men trying to look stealth paying for sex. The 'best' part was when a man walking past flashed 20 EUROS at us in hopes of getting lucky, ewww!

There was a mix up with the hostel so we ended up changing hostels for Saturday night and got set up with a man who turned his flat into hostel rooms so Rita and I got to share a double bedroom and our own bathroom which was sweet. It was raining Saturday so we decided to do the Museums and tourist things and hit of the beach Sunday. We started off that the Picasso Museum and made our way around to the Cathedrals. Lucky we went shopping Saturday too because in Europe the stops and stuff aren't open Sunday. My fav. part of the trip was Saturday evening, we started off by going to the National Palace where their is a huge Fountain that does a light and music show on weekends (just think fireworks but with water) it was so unreal. Then Rita and I found a nice place to eat that we got to sit at a table on the sidewalk have yummy food and Sangria :)

Saturday night after that we headed back to get ready and go out. We were going to Razzmatazz, which is a HUGE building with so many rooms we got lost like 5 times. Althought the venue was so cool the music was only house and techo so it wasn't really our thing.

Sunday we spend a relaxing day on La Ramblas and at the beach and going down all the markets. It was beautiful Sunday and like 23 degrees.

The biggest challenge was the language difference. As soon as we got off the plane i felt very ecocentric and North American because I made the stupid assumption that anyone who was white could speak English... so not the case! People would talk to you and i felt so stupid because we needed help or directions and I was getting so frustrated that we couldnt get help.

Its hard to explain a life experiences in words but I hope I explained it well enough for you, but can't wait to discuss it it person!

<3 Love from across the Ocean

The World is our Oyster

(note pictures for this weekend to come... still waiting on Rita *hint hint*)

This weekend was full of beautiful British weather, which suprisingly we have been getting a lot, Sara says its giving me a false perception of Britian! None the less it was hot and sunny getting to a high of 23 Sunday.

Saturday I was babysitting the girls all day, we spend the afternoon in the park with a nice picnic ending with ice cream from the local shop. I was free from babysitting duty at 6:00 and I got together with Rita and some new girls (girls Rita has met that live in Greenwich with her that are teachers as well). We all headed to central london to go to a new bar called SOUND. We went here for dinner and dancing. SOUND was 5 floors and 3 of which were open, the 3rd and 4th floor were house music and the 5th was where the resturant was which then turned into the R&B floor. 5th floor was my favourite for music but it was the smallest and all the guys were way to agressive. It was a really fun bar but all the guys were Polish or Serbian and thought that they were all God's gift to Girls... SO NOT THE CASE. By the end of the night I was no longer polite to the guys and would just flat out push them away. It was here that I really missed having my boyfriend with me <3

To end the night with true drunken fashion we went to McDonald... it was the first time i've been since i've been here and I will not be going back anytime soon. Its crazy that althought its McDonalds it wasn't the same greasy food I was expecting. The only options you had for chicken was the McChicken which is the worst one in Canada but I still ordered it and was even more grossed out by England McChicken that I am by the Canadian one, which is hard to believe. Instead of using the McDonald sause it their sause was like a tartur sause ON CHICKEN ewww it was gross and not what I was hoping for in my drunking munchy state.

Sunday Rita and I had another relaxing Sunday... which I am starting to LOVE. We went to Greenwich park which was beautiful. It is also the location of the Prime Meridian which was kinda cool to stand on. We went to the Queens House which is a art gallery in Greenwich and met Dan (a guy who is going to School in Holland and he is from California) and we started talking to him and ended up inviting him to our thanksgiving dinner we were going to have at the Canadian bar "The Maple Leaf ". We parted our ways with Dan and continued on the the Greenwich market and headed to Covent Gardens. At 7:30 we met up with Dan for dinner and drinks. The Maple Leaf was AWESOME, it was so Canadian, Rita and I got a plater that had poutine, BBQ wings and nachos! It was so weird to see the hockey game on, since I haven't seen hockey once since i've been here I thought that it was a taped game they just played because it was a Canadian Bar but then I used my common sense and realize it was a real game haha. I actually enjoyed watching it, it was the Red Wings game. Althought The Maple Leaf provided us with all Canadian Stereotypes it was still very comforting. It was a good way to spend our Thanksgiving, even though we didnt get turkey :(
From there we went to SOHO to find another bar, and we landed in a Hocka (sp) bar and we sat outside smoking out of a Hocka... (note: i dont really count it as smoking because its not a cigarette and you don't inhale) but none the less it is not a typical 'Jenn' activity, but I enjoyed myself.

The best part is that Dan is in Holland until the middle of January, and hes a half an hour away from Amsterdam and his university has guess dorm rooms that he can book and he said we could come and stay there for FREE. So Rita and I are going to look into go in November seeing that its the only month we could go. HOW EXCITING, i love making friends around the world!

And now its tuesday and Livy has been home sick the last two days... and so have I :(
It isn't the funnest thing because when your sick you want to take care of yourself and you can't really do that when you have a 2 and 6 year old to watch after. However, I'm doing everything I can to get better for Friday because its SPAIN weekend WOOT WOOT!

I'll post my pictures once I get them :)
LOVE YOU ALL

Post Scribe:
SARA GOT HER HOLIDAYS AND I GET TO COME HOME DECEMBER 18TH AND MOST LIKELY STAY AT HOME UNTIL THE WEEKEND AFTER NEW YEARS, SO IM HOME FOR OVER TWO WEEKS!!!
THAT WAS THE BEST NEW EVER TO GET WHEN YOU SICK =)

It's not Different, It's just Special

This Blog has been long over due, and I would now like to take the time on this glorious Friday evening in, to point out the not so suttle differences between the true north strong and free and here (Canada references goes to Kyle).

Special Quality #1: Children here Wee in the Grass
The first time I saw it I thought my mind was playing tricks on me but no no no it was real, a parent was holding a child up while they went pee in the corner of the park. Naturally I asked questions... only to find that this is a common occurance here. Ula taught it to Matilda and then the wisdom was passed on to me, however I just couldnt cope with it, they are children not dogs. So I took a stand and said even if Bell had to go wee when we were at the park I would rush her home rather than go to "the corner". Now not all children do it... I think its only legitamate if your children is 4 and younger, but none the less! Sadly I have to say that my stand was cracked and I'm not proud of myself. It happened on the walk home from the park and Bell said she had to go wee so I looked around made sure the coast was clear and did the lift, it is something I am not proud of and will try my best never to have to do the 'London Wee Lift' again.

Special Quality #2: Mixed Changing
School children here change together until they are in senior school... which doesn't come until year 7 (our grade 6). Every Wednesday we go to football practice and all the children Livy's age get changed out of their uniform and into their football clothes in the middle of the field. Now at first I thought this was strange, not because the children would think anything by it but because they are at the age where you need to start teaching them social normals and changing in public is not socially acceptable, thus I thought it was a little odd. But then to add on I found out that for P.E. they have the boys and girls changing together until year 7... children these days are going through puberty at that age, COME ON!

Special Quality #3: Bar Service
When you don't know how things run you can find yourself feeling pretty stupid in a new place. The first time Rita and I went to a pub for dinner and drinks we sat at our table for a half an hour without having someone come to serve us before we realized you had to place all your orders at a bar. At pubs and sports bars they don't have waitresses just bartenders... and you can't create a tab, you need to pay as you drink. This is a quality of England I'm beginning to enjoy because by the end of the night you don't have to pay for your night, you can just leave when you want without waiting around for the waitress to bring you your bill. But it was still something that I really had to get used too. Its all the little things that make me feel like i'm in a different place.

Top Stereotypes/Remarks made about Canada
1. Do you see Bears?
2. Do you see Mountain Lions?
3. What are the RCMP like?
4. You sound weird!
5. Does all Canadians hire out their basements?
6. Do all Canadians have huge gardens?
7. Can you say _______? Followed by a laugh of enjoyment at my accent.
8. Is it cold?
9. Is the fashion different?
10. Are there pubs in Canada?

Wierd Word Differences (North American = Britian)
1. Math = Maths
2. Vest = Body Warmer
3. Bra = Vest
4. Underwear = Pants
5. Pants = Trousers
6. Diaper = Nappy
7. Pee = Wee
8. Bathroom = Toilet
9. French Fries = Chips
10. Chips = Crisps
11. Sweater = Jumper
12. Jumper = Pinafold
13. Scab = Graze
14. Face Towel = Flannel
15. Seven-Thirty = Half Past Seven
16. Sept 8th, 1986 = 8th Sept, 1986
17. Pharmacy = Chemist
18. Blinker = Indicator

Hope you enjoyed your mini United Kingdom lesson.
Have a great Thanksgiving Weekend, its definitly making me miss HOME!

Only at the Pit

(a beautiful church on our walk to Blackheath )

This weekend Rita and I headed to Camden (the town of Amy Whinehouse) to do some black market shopping. It was quite an experience... we went to two markets the first was 'The Camden Market' which at first we thought it was a lot to handle but after we got to the other market 'The Camden Market' was a walk in the park! There was really no one who could fit it because they sold everything primary gothic, punk, and rave clothes... everything Rita and I have ever wanted! It actually got to a point where we were lost in the twist and turns of this underground market that we couldn't think and needed to get out.

Ever thought the undergound world of Camden was a little to much for a small town girl it was still very cool and i'm glad we got to experiences it... just another day of 'living the dream'.

Camden positives = I got a dress of the wedding and I got a new winter coat!!!

Once we left the underground world Rita and I went back to her house and got ready for a night out in Blackheath, the town Rita lives in. It took us a while but we found Blackheath Village (the place with all the bars), we just wanted to find a nice pub to drink at because we werent ready for clubbing or dressed properly. However ironically in England we couldn't just find a nice pub so we make our way to Cactus Pit (which by the end of the night was granted the nickname 'The Pit'). Our night started there because the first classy bar we found closed at 12 and when we left we were stopped but 3 guys who were trying get into The Pit but because there were already too many boys you needed girl with you to get in. So we said we would go in with them because they offered to buy us a drink and pay our cover! SWEET... but althought we were told The Pit was Blackheaths hot spot so we were a little nervous about our attire when we headed down stairs I was reunited with the England verson of PHILS (with an extra added cougar style). It was hilarous Rita and I spent our night people watching and mocking Britians lack of rythme. Anyways the lowlight of our night was when the drunkest of the 3 guys we met ended up telling us he thought he was going to sleep with us and then flashed his penis to the entire bus stop that we were sitting in (to make a really long story short!).

Oh, only at The Pit.

(us infront of the side view of St.Pauls Cathedral)

After our eventful Saturday we got to sleep in Sunday till 11, the latest I have slept in since I've been here! Our plans of going to Greenwich Park was cancelled by the constant mist London brings so we went on an adventure. We planned on going the the Museum of Albert and Victoria but got lost and found our way to Tate Modern Art Collection, the Millenium Bridge and St. Pauls Cathedral. At Tate we got away from the weather at got to see Picasso and Andy Warhol and we became rebels when we took a quick picture of Warhol.

BEST PART OF THE WEEKEND = Going to a Service Sunday at St. Paul Cathedral.

It was the most beautiful place i've ever been and I can't even explain it to all of you. The building was amazing, it was so hard to focus on the service because I was in awe the entire time with the atmosphere. At the end Rita and I lite a candle at the back of the church as symbol of our prayers and left, it is definitly a place I will try to go to as much as I can!

PS : Rita and I booked a weekend in Ireland in March for St. Patricks Day... WOOT WOOT!

Cookie Monster

Today for Olivia's reward for her positive reinforcement chart we got to bake cookies!

On Sunday we decided we were going to make the swirl cookies in her Kid's Cook Book because she had never made them and we got to bake them today. We made Chocolate and Blue swirls, we had tons of fun doing and it was so nice to have a good afternoon with her. Its days like this that make me appricate our times. No matter how much trouble Livy is at so time when shes being good we have great times. After we ate dinner we all got 2 cookies and she said they were very nice! WOOT WOOT, even though I burnt the first batch. We saved some dough for her and Sara to make some tomorrow and when we were putting her to bed she said she was excited to bake with mommy cause she knows how to cook and she won't burn them like we did... but the point of that story is she said "we" and she didn't blame it on me!

She Likes Me.... She Really Likes Me!


(we put flour on our face to look like we were working hard... we may have went a bit over board)

Matilda and I have been talking about accents a lot lately, because althought she has always noticed the difference between English and North American I am now slowly noticing it. It has made me wonder if now that I noticed the differences will I start thinking that how I saw words sounds inproper as well. To the folk here I sound lazy because I said "d's" instead of "t's"... and now that I notice it, it will be interesting to see if I adapt my accent. At first Matilda used to point it out, then I started noticing it when someone else was talking and then today on the way to nursary with Liv I noticed a word I said that I can't remember now that I used "d" instead of the "t" that was in it, and it sounded wrong as I said it.

Oh man I'm becoming a Brit.

Cherrio.