5 things I love everyday

I got tagged by cowgirl about five things I love everyday... And really it was hard to find more than two things I love every day (travel/planning travel and l2.) I guess I'll have to change the list again in a few months

• the walk along the edge of the common
  
• gossip
• l2
• travel or planning to travel
  
• high thread count sheets

christmas review

I'm back in London and feeling a little worse for wear due to jet lag. Liam and I attempted to get on the right track and didn't go to sleep until after midnight yesterday but I still wake up at 3.30 a.m. each night.

Before I talk about the great two week trip here's a recap of what I wanted to do.. and here's what I achieved.

• Definitely visited J.Crew and anthropologie (and somehow restrained myself and bough one item in each place)
• Didn't go into the experience music project – was too expensive and not enough time. Played outside though…
• White spot was delicious, earls was so-so, I'm not sure about milestones I didn't go. Best food though was an amazing seaf
  
• No golf, hiking or biking as snow got in the way…
• Hours were spent with my nephew (pipes and heat vent and candles were topical) and hours with my animal nephew who took to howling when nephew was around. Hours were also spent with friends and grandparents
• No lulus were replaced. I'm still kicking myself. And I purchased more on Robson than west fourth
• went to the original starbucks location and had a free tea sample and back in Victoria had my delicious peppermint hot chocolate.
• I got to wear my picked family photograph outfit
• new years had no expectations

Image of the victoria snow and experience music project

2008 recap

switzerland - grindlewald

switzerland - grindlewald - sister in law, me and my brother rocking the hike

baby donkey outside brasov, romania

baby sheep at the end of the crazy hike in romania

our shelter. memories for the rest of my life!

eiffel tower at dusk

typical parisian metro sign

oxford garden

brighton old pier

Gaudi interior, Barcelona - Spain

kew gardens

national museum in amsterdam, netherlands

amsterdam, netherlands

well a year later and I'm reminding myself of all the things that I said I would do in 2008 before I make a few resolutions for 2009.

• I did lose 10 pounds and then gained it back. So I think I know another resolution coming.
• I was good with the gym until L2 arrived. darn L2 and wanting to do fun things than being underground in a crazy dodgeball gym
• savings started and one time used for romania (bigger trip) and the rest saved. still want to save more!
• photo albums ha. so now it's five years. and i may resign myself to just burning them onto cds and waiting until I come back to canada..... unless l2 and i can get our stuff together...
• travels: much better. jan-paris. feb- berlin. mar- highlands. apr - bath. may - amsterdam, barcelona, paris. june - brighton. july - romania. august - oxford berne and grindlewald, swz. september - kent. october - seville. november - cambridge. december - copenhagen, canada.
• french classes - was better but definitely dropped in september/october. practising begins at home (cheaper!)
• recipe cards - is a recipe box. a little organization is needed but at least they have a place.
  

above are a few of my favourite pictures from 2008

Lonely and dreaming of the west coast

There are definitely times that I wish I didn't have the travel urge. When I wish I decided to go to UVIC, find a good job on the west coast and be close to my family. Obviously this pang comes up everytime I fly back to my current residence.

I haven't lived in Vancouver for a steady period for over 7 and a bit years and yet I always consider it home and yearn for the sea mountain combo, the security of family and long time friends and the feeling that the one missing piece in London will always be there.

But at the end of the day, I wouldn't be me if I didn't want to see everything that I possibly could. It's one of the attributes that I love about myself, and my personality would have never developed without it. Plus I make my brother jealous!

I'm just a bit sad today thinking of all the things I'll miss being overseas.