Well it's six days and counting to the big adventure. I have to admit, thoughts of the planned trek to basecamp Everest have become all-consuming; I hardly give a thought to the work I am to do in Kanti hospital for the next 5 weeks. Terrible isn't it; I have been looking forward to this elective for 3 long years and it's finally around the corner. Well, all the equipment has been bought, all the experienced gained, the language attempted and I am thanking all those who financially helped me get this far on Thursday at the local carvery. Thoughts inevitably [View Full Entry]

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Hi ya :), This be my 1st entry to the travel blog, I am really just testing that it works before I set off on my intrepid travels... I am very excited at the mo however can not sleep at night due to apprehension!! Hopefully this will be a good read and if all is well there will be loads of photos for you guys to take a look at! OK so next entry will be from Singapore, as long as I don't drink too many of those famous cocktails and get in to trouble!! It will be hopefully just after [View Full Entry]

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Getting Ready Just finalising the details before we head off on Boxing Day. I know that no matter how much we say we are going to be ready, the morning of Boxing Day is going to be frantic. Not to worry, 5 hours in the low-stimulus environment of a National Express coach will calm us down! One of the last things left to do is to get four different kinds of dollar - HK, Aus, NZ and US - and then I think (although Cath hates it when I say this!) we are all set. Haven't really had that much time [View Full Entry]

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My term is over here and though I know, everyone knows, that it's a short time, I didn't realize it was going to be TOO short. My room has the lived-in, disgruntled look of an undignified student room and I'm fairly certain that it is not what I will miss. I will not miss the inevitable smell of garbage in the kitchen or the almost complete lack of security from 10PM-8AM around the flats (unless security is called with a specific complaint of noise or other shenanigans (<-- I spelt that right the first time! I'M amazed...)). People tell me there [View Full Entry]

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While I am currently working on the Paris blog, I thought I'd fire off this short one detailing last night's escapades. As usual, flat 173 (us) were up late, listening to loud music around 1 or 2. Feeling festive, we were playing all sorts of wonderful christmas music. Apparently someone upstairs was not amused, as they kept pounding the floor in what I would call an agitated manner. Offended by their grinch attitude, we headed outside to sing them christmas charrols, with our music as backup. Security arrived at this point, and this is video #1, shot by me in clandestine [View Full Entry]

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I got back yesterday morning at 8 am from a week long trip with my Dad through a bit of England and South Wales. Dad had to drive a few more hours from Swansea to London, but I was able to crawl right back into bed. I'd gotten irritatingly sick in the last two days of the trip, with a headache, earache, sore throat, full body muscle soreness, and a slight fever, so I was pretty tired by the end of the trip. That being said, it was a wonderful week. I took the train and met Dad at our hotel [View Full Entry]

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I got a letter from my Dad and Marilyn yesterday, and his note at the end saying "We're assuming no news is good news" reminded me that I hadn't written in a while. See Dad? You really do have an influence on me. It's been terribly rainy and foggy lately. The winter rains have started and I woke up one morning about 3 days ago to a very thick fog (depicted in the picked picture). I had a terrible cold for about a week, with no voice for about 5 days of it. You almost forget what you sound like after [View Full Entry]

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Mom drove me to the airport, and for once in my life, I was ready to go and packed more than 2 hours before it was time to go. I ran into my friend Will as I was waiting at the gate, which is the only way we see each other. He was on the same flight as me, going to London for a year. The plane left Edmonton just as the sun was going down, and my God, it was spectacular. One of the nicest sunsets I think I've ever seen here. It just goes to show how sad Edmonton [View Full Entry]

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Well, it's been some time since I last put finger to keyboard in anger and now it's time for that to change. For one reason or another, I haven't seen some of you in a long, long while. Maybe it's because we live on different continents or we've inexplicably lost touch in this modern communication age. Maybe it's because we've changed addresses, lifestyles, phones and friends. Maybe we've just changed? Anyway, here's an almost chronological update of what's gone on in the previous sixteen months since I returned from my Latin American adventure... I arrived back at Heathro [View Full Entry]

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Writing exams can be such a stressful and 'mood-modifying' experience! As expected, after finishing our last exams (Phew!), friends and I decided to have a day out in Swansea (about 50 min by train - very fast train, by the way!) This, I was told, is supposed to be a place for relaxation, fresh air, less traffic, nice people, rejuvenation, exotic landscapes and reflection. Needless to say, it became our first choice to unwind and reflect upon a very long and energy-draining academic year... Usually at this time of the year here, the weather should be pretty warm (X fingers) - [View Full Entry]

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