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This trip has been random and strange and heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. I'm still not entirely convinced any of it's been a good idea, nor do I regret any of it.
Still though, it's been a great trip. I'm more zen now than I can ever remember being in the last year or two. I'm not missing home nearly as much as I thought I would (though I do miss all the lovely company I have at arm's reach in Toronto). Few more days in Ireland left and I never thought I'd say this but... I'm ready to move on. For now.
Though, in England/Ireland, I do find it remarkable how easy it is to get the lay of the land. It helps that all the city centers are so tiny.
Anyways, I hope everyone's doing well. I skimmed through the friends page and things seem to be fairly alright with everyone? Jo, I hope the hangover's left you by now. Kristen, I hope everyone's just overreacting to nothing! Soph, I hope there's some middle ground to be found (though, your school system still seems completely foreign to me). Toxica, I hope you're feeling better too (stay away from your cell phone!). Addey, Esther, I will see you soon and look forward to hearing all your tales in person.
EVERYONE ELSE, I HOPE YOU'RE WELL AND HAPPY AND LOVED.
- Staying up until 3am while wandering around the city with a new friend talking international politics and media is divine. I highly recommend it. It really made me regret not doing it more in university.
- Sherwood Castle has NO Robin Hood related things in it at all! There's a Robin Hood statue and RH related things in the gift shop (I bought a hat, of course), but nothing related to RH lore.
- I've never gotten as many hugs in a day as I did in Nottingham - every time I came into the room, there'd be a bear hug awaiting me from my aunt who I did not get to spend enough time with. Generally, there was more love in that house for me than I think I've ever gotten (and I'm certainly not deprived of it at home to begin with).
- My body cannot handle old houses filled with dust and cobwebs. My allergies haven't been this bad since I was a little girl.
- Spending your days by the river really makes you appreciate that "you can never walk into the same river twice" saying people like to throw around. It's unbelievable how easy it is to waste away a few hours by the riverbend. And it's heartbreaking to me that we have no rivers running through Toronto. That just isn't fair.
- Boat tours with DRUNK Australian Alpaca veterinarians are so much fun. "WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. We have a tennis ball?! And a bucket?! Let's play tennisbucketball!" It was probably more fun watching them try to (unsuccessfully) keep the ball from falling overboard than it was them trying to "score".
- Galway is a beautiful city. It stole my iPhone, and yet, I loved it. It's stunningly beautiful. But very... commercial. Opposite one of the old churches is a French Connection store. It's a strange juxtiposition that doesn't really work. But an afternoon of guitar strumming by the Spanish Arches of the 1700's followed by a Lisa Hannigan gig is sheer bliss. I should have stayed for both of her shows (she debuted a new one the night after I left). I was serenaded to by a homeless man though. He was surprisingly good.
- I kind of love that a quick 30 min. flight requires a total of 2.5 hours of bus and wait time.
- I hate how much Islamic TV my dad's been watching while here.
- Lisa is the loveliest creature I've ever met. My eskimofriend followed her around town for a little bit and then set up to busk in a place where she knew Lisa would have to walk by. She played a Lisa song and Lisa and Tomo both saw/hear her. They called her in before the gig to meet the band. And Lisa dedicated a song to her that night. And afterwards, Una arranged for all of us to meet Lisa before she went off to bed near the flat she was staying in - we got pictures and conversation (they bought some violins for the band, and they're heading back to North America/Massey Hall in some capacity this fall) and hugs all around.
- It's amazing having Mock The Week and 8 out of 10 Cats and QI and Top Gear on an actual TV without having to wait until 3am for an MU link to pop up.
- I love the way you get all 4 seasons in a day here, and how it changes from one to the other at the drop of a hat
- I love having lots and lots and lots of tea
- One of my favorite moments so far: hearing Canada's very own Final Fantasy being played in the Roisin Dubh after the Lisa gig
- I found "The Strand" of Ireland in Galway and spent a few hours rummaging through their books. Only walked away with one though (though, I can't be arsed to go upstairs and get the title of it for you)
- I do not understand my parents' desire to go to malls and shop for things we so easily get in Canada, while bypassing all of the things that are special here in like wool sweaters/scarves, celtic jewelry, Nottingham lace, etc. Instead, my dad bought a suit. I can't even remember the last time he wore a suit, and he just spent $300 on two suits in Toronto a few weeks before we left
- I love all the random relics of castles that litter the countryside and mountains and riverbends and are pretty much everywhere you turn your head.
Still though, it's been a great trip. I'm more zen now than I can ever remember being in the last year or two. I'm not missing home nearly as much as I thought I would (though I do miss all the lovely company I have at arm's reach in Toronto). Few more days in Ireland left and I never thought I'd say this but... I'm ready to move on. For now.
Though, in England/Ireland, I do find it remarkable how easy it is to get the lay of the land. It helps that all the city centers are so tiny.
Anyways, I hope everyone's doing well. I skimmed through the friends page and things seem to be fairly alright with everyone? Jo, I hope the hangover's left you by now. Kristen, I hope everyone's just overreacting to nothing! Soph, I hope there's some middle ground to be found (though, your school system still seems completely foreign to me). Toxica, I hope you're feeling better too (stay away from your cell phone!). Addey, Esther, I will see you soon and look forward to hearing all your tales in person.
EVERYONE ELSE, I HOPE YOU'RE WELL AND HAPPY AND LOVED.
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First we sampled a bit of the 
Later on in the night we we saw or.. attempted to see... the finale performance from 
