I started crying while I was sitting on the top level of a red double decker bus today. I'm not really sure why, but I had been on the verge of tears all day.
I first noticed it on my lunch break when I suddenly got teary reading a really awful story in the paper about a girl who was attacked. Then a couple of our regulars came into work and I got choked up after finding out they held a benefit last night to kick off a charity they started on their daughters name. She was hit by a bus a year ago and killed; she was only 12. And on top of that I was listening to Jewel for some reason when I started crying. I could have left that part out of this blog post as it is very embarrassing, but if I'm being honest, it was a factor.
I've had a lot on my mind lately because our renewal for our flat is up next month. It's hard to believe we've been here for almost 6 months already. Justin and I have been discussing how long we see staying here and we have pretty different ideas of what our future holds, so that's tough. I'm not sure about any of it yet. At this point it's a wait-and-see kind of thing.
Being here has given me a lot of opportunity for self reflection, and I guess that can be overwhelming sometimes, and sometimes it can catch you off guard. At least in a city as big as London you don't have to worry about running into someone you know when having a little cry on public transit.
Kind of a bummer post, I know. Sorry.
Miss you all back in snowy Canada, but not missing the snow.
Gen
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Couple Sandwiches Short of a Picnic
Sandwiches are beautiful, sandwiches are fine.I like sandwiches I eat them all the time
I eat them for my supper and I eat them for my lunchand if I had a hundered sandwiches I'd eat them all at once!
I find this chorus from Fred Penner's classic song 'Sandwiches' running through my mind quite often here in London, because sandwiches are EVERYWHERE. I should have known they were a big part of life after meeting a girl who told me that "sandwiches were her favourite food". Who says that?! Londoners, apparently.
Sandwiches are the fast food of choice, and most places have meal deals where you get a sandwich, drink, and crisps or fruit for anywhere from £2.50 (at Tesco) and up. You can find sandwiches or these meal deals in every grocery store, at stand alone shops, drug stores, 
and even (so I've been told) the hardware store - with the quality being higher in the nicer chains. It's really not a bad thing, in fact I think North America could afford some sandwich infiltration as it seems easier, quicker, and healthier for the most part than McDonalds and other fast food chains.At work we sell is sandwiches (of course) which we make every morning. As the shop is new we are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't, and last week we decided to scrap our BLT and come up with a new chicken sandwich option. After thinking of what we had on hand and looking online for inspiration I jumped into sandwich history and invented one to add to our menu - Chicken, caramelised onion, rocket, and paprika-lime mayo. It's delicious! And it's been selling very well.
With the sandwich mania being so huge in London, I can't imagine what it's like actually in Sandwich - the town here in the UK (visitsandwich.co.uk). I really want to go so I can find out. Also, it looks really beautiful.
With the chorus of 'Sandwiches' still running through my mind I decided to give the song a listen to in its entirety to see what the rest of it was like. That's when I realized - I think there may be something freaky going on with me and this tune; there are eerie parallels to my life. First thing right off the top of it, Fred says sandwiches are his favorite food (what!), and then check out this verse of the song:Once I went to England, I visited the Queen.
I swear she was the grandest lady that I've ever seen.
I told her she was beautiful and could not ask for more,
She handed me a sandwich and she threw me out the door.
I swear she was the grandest lady that I've ever seen.
I told her she was beautiful and could not ask for more,
She handed me a sandwich and she threw me out the door.
Well, I guess we know what's going to happen to Justin and I at the Queens Garden Party in May.Cheers from London.
Come visit us and eat a sandwich!
Love,
Genny
(PS, if you want to listen to the song the link is here: Sandwiches)
Monday, March 5, 2012
Money... Well, Get Back
We have such a different relationship with money here, and not just because we are making less and our bills are more; It's almost a completely different way of spending in general.
I have been wanting to buy new shoes lately. I packed as many into my suitcase as I could, and even shipped a couple more over in a box once we were settled in, but 2 of those pairs have been totally ruined by work. I recently bought some nice boots at a charity shop but they have already fallen apart. So I figure I might as well spend the quid (I really wanted to type 'bucks' there) and get a good pair, but 70+ is a lot of money. So here I am still contemplating and not buying.
The thing is, it's not really about being unable to afford 'stuff'. It's that we'd rather spend our money on experiences than things - You find yourself weighing out whether you can get away with wearing coffee-covered-scuffed-worn-out boots for another night on the town, so you can justify buying a ticket on the EuroStar to Paris while your friend is there with a free flat to crash at.
Also Justin and I have a joint account here. Funny fact: Justin is listed as a homemaker on our account because I was employed and he wasn't when we opened it. They couldn't say he was unemployed because we would have been denied, so our banker had to fudge a few details. Another funny fact: Justin has become quite the homemaker since we have moved here, even cooking dinner a couple times a week.
At home in Canada our money was (and still is) very separate. In the past we've both been able to support ourselves and very rarely had to rely on the other financially, whereas here we can see everything the other spends, and how much money we make. It hasn't really been a big issue, but it has made me feel guilty if I purchase something just for me. I guess it's good in a sense because it makes you question what you buy before you buy it so you only get what you really need.
So maybe I'll buy some new shoes soon. I probably will. Screw it. I also really want a curling iron. And a pair of jeans. And a foamie to make our bed more comfortable...
I hear some sales calling my name.
Miss you all lots and think about home every day.
Gen
I have been wanting to buy new shoes lately. I packed as many into my suitcase as I could, and even shipped a couple more over in a box once we were settled in, but 2 of those pairs have been totally ruined by work. I recently bought some nice boots at a charity shop but they have already fallen apart. So I figure I might as well spend the quid (I really wanted to type 'bucks' there) and get a good pair, but 70+ is a lot of money. So here I am still contemplating and not buying.
The thing is, it's not really about being unable to afford 'stuff'. It's that we'd rather spend our money on experiences than things - You find yourself weighing out whether you can get away with wearing coffee-covered-scuffed-worn-out boots for another night on the town, so you can justify buying a ticket on the EuroStar to Paris while your friend is there with a free flat to crash at.
Also Justin and I have a joint account here. Funny fact: Justin is listed as a homemaker on our account because I was employed and he wasn't when we opened it. They couldn't say he was unemployed because we would have been denied, so our banker had to fudge a few details. Another funny fact: Justin has become quite the homemaker since we have moved here, even cooking dinner a couple times a week.
At home in Canada our money was (and still is) very separate. In the past we've both been able to support ourselves and very rarely had to rely on the other financially, whereas here we can see everything the other spends, and how much money we make. It hasn't really been a big issue, but it has made me feel guilty if I purchase something just for me. I guess it's good in a sense because it makes you question what you buy before you buy it so you only get what you really need.
So maybe I'll buy some new shoes soon. I probably will. Screw it. I also really want a curling iron. And a pair of jeans. And a foamie to make our bed more comfortable...
I hear some sales calling my name.
Miss you all lots and think about home every day.
Gen
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Booze Britain
Drinking is a pretty big part of British life, and there are a handful of differences I've noticed in the culture here that I thought were interesting:
Going out for a Drink
In London, people go out f
or a drink directly after work, rather than going home first like we're used to. This is because London is such a massive city it just doesn't make sense to commute all the way home and back out for a drink. London's underground also closes shortly after midnight, so everyone times their nights out to be much earlier to start and earlier to finish. London pubs are at their busiest between around 6pm until 10pm, which is quite a contrast to the pre drink and go out around 10pm attitude back home. People also seem to go out for a few drinks most nights, rather than save it all up for the weekend like we do.
This doesn't include clubbing, which is an all night affair, and I think they stay out until the trains start up again. I wouldn't even really say they're comparable because I'm pretty sure it's more drugs than drinking anyways.
Pubs in London are also just a bit different,
many have bizarre names and appear to be decorated just how they were 100 years ago. Drinking outside the pub is often more desirable than drinking in the pub, and is completely allowed. Some ask if you want your beer for outside and give you a plastic pint, others don't care. Some pubs are brightly lit and don't play music which is popular with a lot of people who just want to chat over a beer. London beers are all room temperature ales, but all pubs have a selection of lagers that are cold, but it's advertised as cold on the tap like that's special. Cider is also a lot more popular, Strongbow is on tap everywhere and most places have one or two others.
Events
Drinking seems to be much l
ess taboo than in Canada. At the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for example, there were countless stands set up selling beer and mulled wine. Everybody was drinking freely wandering around, amongst families and children. Even the cartoons on the fair rides were often holding a beer. Both times we were there, however, I didn't notice a single incident. In comparison, every time I have been packed into the beer garden at the PNE, where everyone would rather be wandering around with a beer in hand, there have been arguments and fights and tables of drinks tipped over.
They also charge the same price for a drink at a concert or event as they would at a pub, rather than doubling the price like we're used to.
Accessibility
Liquor can be b
ought in every grocery store, and most convenience stores are called an 'Off License' and sell until late at night. Not only is this incredibly convenient, but it means there's no over taxed government monopoly and there's actually competition and beer goes on sale. Of all the things more expensive here, booze is one that's cheaper. Goes to show the gouging we get in BC.
There are also so many more places to go. Where Vancouver has all it's bars centralized on Granville or in Gastown, and a shockingly low number of local pubs, London has dozens of entertainment areas and thousands of pubs. This means not everyone is packed into small spaces on the same street and forced out at the same time, which everyone knows leads to trouble every weekend in Vancouver. A few more liquor licenses and a little less bending over for the vocal minority crying NIMBY would go a long way. At a time when drinking and driving is such a major concern the radius between local pubs in rural BC seems a little bit ridiculous in comparison to the abundance available in the UK.
Public Places
While there are the occasional signs prohibiting drinking on the tube or in certain parks, it is generally accepted that someone having a beer at the beach or wine with a picnic in the park is not a problem. The rules seem to be in place to give police the power to use their discretion with groups of people drinking and being idiots in public. This is such a refreshing attitude compared to treating everyone with a beer like a criminal in BC. People here can't believe we're getting $230 fines for having one beer at the beach. Having a drink and being drunk and disorderly are two different things, and I've seen way less alcohol related incidents in this city that's 10 times the size than I've seen in an average Friday night in Vancouver.
Both countries have problems with drinking. Britain's seems to be a deeper issue of alcohol addiction that is more of a problem in the homes of people who can't draw the line. I suppose it could be argued that a relaxed attitude to social drinking can lead to alcoholism, but that's along the same lines as marijuana creating heroin addicts and video games creating criminals. As far as people being able to go out and have a drink without being hassled by police or beating each other up, they seem to have it pretty figured out here.
Canada's problem is an issue of trying to over control drinking and dealing with the backlashes. Treat people like adults and maybe they'll start acting like them. Maybe once they realize drug prohibition isn't working they'll have a look at the results of their oppressive attitude towards drinking. I'm not gonna hold my breath on that one though, my beer will get warm.
-Justin
Going out for a Drink
In London, people go out f
or a drink directly after work, rather than going home first like we're used to. This is because London is such a massive city it just doesn't make sense to commute all the way home and back out for a drink. London's underground also closes shortly after midnight, so everyone times their nights out to be much earlier to start and earlier to finish. London pubs are at their busiest between around 6pm until 10pm, which is quite a contrast to the pre drink and go out around 10pm attitude back home. People also seem to go out for a few drinks most nights, rather than save it all up for the weekend like we do.This doesn't include clubbing, which is an all night affair, and I think they stay out until the trains start up again. I wouldn't even really say they're comparable because I'm pretty sure it's more drugs than drinking anyways.
Pubs in London are also just a bit different,
many have bizarre names and appear to be decorated just how they were 100 years ago. Drinking outside the pub is often more desirable than drinking in the pub, and is completely allowed. Some ask if you want your beer for outside and give you a plastic pint, others don't care. Some pubs are brightly lit and don't play music which is popular with a lot of people who just want to chat over a beer. London beers are all room temperature ales, but all pubs have a selection of lagers that are cold, but it's advertised as cold on the tap like that's special. Cider is also a lot more popular, Strongbow is on tap everywhere and most places have one or two others.Events
Drinking seems to be much l
ess taboo than in Canada. At the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for example, there were countless stands set up selling beer and mulled wine. Everybody was drinking freely wandering around, amongst families and children. Even the cartoons on the fair rides were often holding a beer. Both times we were there, however, I didn't notice a single incident. In comparison, every time I have been packed into the beer garden at the PNE, where everyone would rather be wandering around with a beer in hand, there have been arguments and fights and tables of drinks tipped over.They also charge the same price for a drink at a concert or event as they would at a pub, rather than doubling the price like we're used to.
Accessibility
Liquor can be b
ought in every grocery store, and most convenience stores are called an 'Off License' and sell until late at night. Not only is this incredibly convenient, but it means there's no over taxed government monopoly and there's actually competition and beer goes on sale. Of all the things more expensive here, booze is one that's cheaper. Goes to show the gouging we get in BC.There are also so many more places to go. Where Vancouver has all it's bars centralized on Granville or in Gastown, and a shockingly low number of local pubs, London has dozens of entertainment areas and thousands of pubs. This means not everyone is packed into small spaces on the same street and forced out at the same time, which everyone knows leads to trouble every weekend in Vancouver. A few more liquor licenses and a little less bending over for the vocal minority crying NIMBY would go a long way. At a time when drinking and driving is such a major concern the radius between local pubs in rural BC seems a little bit ridiculous in comparison to the abundance available in the UK.
Public Places
While there are the occasional signs prohibiting drinking on the tube or in certain parks, it is generally accepted that someone having a beer at the beach or wine with a picnic in the park is not a problem. The rules seem to be in place to give police the power to use their discretion with groups of people drinking and being idiots in public. This is such a refreshing attitude compared to treating everyone with a beer like a criminal in BC. People here can't believe we're getting $230 fines for having one beer at the beach. Having a drink and being drunk and disorderly are two different things, and I've seen way less alcohol related incidents in this city that's 10 times the size than I've seen in an average Friday night in Vancouver.
Both countries have problems with drinking. Britain's seems to be a deeper issue of alcohol addiction that is more of a problem in the homes of people who can't draw the line. I suppose it could be argued that a relaxed attitude to social drinking can lead to alcoholism, but that's along the same lines as marijuana creating heroin addicts and video games creating criminals. As far as people being able to go out and have a drink without being hassled by police or beating each other up, they seem to have it pretty figured out here.
Canada's problem is an issue of trying to over control drinking and dealing with the backlashes. Treat people like adults and maybe they'll start acting like them. Maybe once they realize drug prohibition isn't working they'll have a look at the results of their oppressive attitude towards drinking. I'm not gonna hold my breath on that one though, my beer will get warm.
-Justin
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Queen's Garden Party
Possibly the most unlikely of candidates, Justin and I have been invited to the Queen's Garden Party on May 29th at Buckingham Palace.So how the heck did this happen? A girl that Justin knows through his good friend Chris works for the Canadian embassy. She send Justin details on how to apply to the Canadian government, and then they put our names forward.
I received an email a few days ago from the Royal Events Coordinator saying we were successful in our ballot for an invitation and that our invitation pack with details on dress code and security etc will be available 6 weeks before the event.
What happens at a garden party? I didn't know, so I found this website that explains it all and even has a super cool neato video explanation! Sounds like it's not up Justin's alley at all, but it's definitely a unique experience and I think he's looking forward to that. We have to find him a suit to wear (probably from a charity shop?), and I have no idea what I am going to wear, but I do know I am required to wear a hat, so that's fun!
So Justin and I will be representing Canadians this diamond jubilee year at Buckingham Palace. Certainly not anything I expected to be doing in my lifetime. We will try our best to be proper and refined.
Thinking of everyone.
Gen
Monday, February 6, 2012
Career Choices
I've realized since moving to London that I know myself better than I thought I did. Working with two girls in their early 20's - who are awesome by the way - has forced me to think of myself when I was their age and note how different I am now. I am happy to be who I am now. I'm happy to be 'old'(er). It feels really good. And none of my reflecting has anything to do with what job I had or where I lived or how much money I made. It's something less tangible than that.
When faced with big or big-ish decisions I inevitably wonder what my Dad will think about my choice. Especially when it comes to work. Will he be proud? Will he understand? This current decision was no different...
I was offered a 2nd interview at Pilat Media. This was an amazing job, I know they liked me and I had a lot to offer them ... but I decided not to go. I didn't leave a great job in Vancouver to find another great job; I left to travel, to have fun, and to learn the things a job can't teach you. The Pilat Media job, although impressive and interesting, had one major flaw for me: It was up to 80% travel in the year. That meant leaving London, a city I'm just beginning to know, missing out on things I already have planned (friends visiting, meeting up with Kandis in Paris this June, the Queen's Garden Party!), and of course, most of all, being separated from Justin for months at a time instead of sharing this experience together.
Another factor is that I have been offered to manage the cafe I work at. It's still not great money, but it is a raise and I can have whatever weekends I want off. They are kind people, they respect me, and they are totally flexible. It's also close to home which is so important here. So today I accepted the job. It's certainly not the coolest one in the world but it fits well with where I'm at right now.
I am so excited to be able to enjoy my days off instead of looking for work every free moment. And to finally have days off with Justin.
Thinking of everyone back in Canada.
Genevieve S.
Manager, Artisan Coffee
PS - If you want to learn a lot about Wikipedia check out my almost completed presentation I did for my cancelled 2nd interview. Maybe my hard work can be of some use!
When faced with big or big-ish decisions I inevitably wonder what my Dad will think about my choice. Especially when it comes to work. Will he be proud? Will he understand? This current decision was no different...
I was offered a 2nd interview at Pilat Media. This was an amazing job, I know they liked me and I had a lot to offer them ... but I decided not to go. I didn't leave a great job in Vancouver to find another great job; I left to travel, to have fun, and to learn the things a job can't teach you. The Pilat Media job, although impressive and interesting, had one major flaw for me: It was up to 80% travel in the year. That meant leaving London, a city I'm just beginning to know, missing out on things I already have planned (friends visiting, meeting up with Kandis in Paris this June, the Queen's Garden Party!), and of course, most of all, being separated from Justin for months at a time instead of sharing this experience together.
Another factor is that I have been offered to manage the cafe I work at. It's still not great money, but it is a raise and I can have whatever weekends I want off. They are kind people, they respect me, and they are totally flexible. It's also close to home which is so important here. So today I accepted the job. It's certainly not the coolest one in the world but it fits well with where I'm at right now.
I am so excited to be able to enjoy my days off instead of looking for work every free moment. And to finally have days off with Justin.
Thinking of everyone back in Canada.
Genevieve S.
Manager, Artisan Coffee
PS - If you want to learn a lot about Wikipedia check out my almost completed presentation I did for my cancelled 2nd interview. Maybe my hard work can be of some use!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Canadian Content
I listen to my ipod a lot at work, and the last couple times someone asked what I was listening to it's been The Tragically Hip, and Sloan. Obviously they had no idea who they were and I was asked if I listen to a lot of Canadian music. I never really thought about it, but I guess I do. I decided to see what percentage of my ipod was Canadian to see what influence Canadian content has had on my musical tastes. Of 2099 songs, 381 of them were bands or artists I knew were Canadian, 18%. This falls short of the 35-40% that radio stations are now licensed at (Thanks wikipedia), but I didn't bother with the specifics, such as written by a Canadian or recorded in Canada, which might bump it to 25% or so.Not quite up to CanCon standards, but pretty close I would say. I had never really thought about how much of the music I've grown to like has been forced down my throat by the CRTC until I got here, where Canadian music is just Michael Buble and Bryan Adams. It's interesting to think of all the music I've been introduced to by that law, as well as all the music I'm missing out on because of it. I can appreciate the purpose of it, but 40% seems unnecessarily high. When a band can be as big in Canada as the Hip, and unheard of elsewhere, is that law working? Or are we just creating bubble? Who gives a shit I guess is the obvious answer, the Hip rock.
-Justin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)