So yesterday was the 2 month anniversary of me landing in the UK. On one hand it feels as if we have been here for so much longer, on the other it feels like it's going by so fast.
So a few things have happened to me since I last wrote. The first was that it came to my attention that I had been unlawfully using a certain name in my blog that is not permitted under certain terms and conditions. And to the man in the little room reading this, sorry for any inconvience, I am sincerely apologetic, and slightly embarrassed that you had to read my blog, but I do hope that you enjoyed it. In the future I will be much much more careful, because although I didn't die of embarrassment this time, I know I will next time.
To everyone else, few of you know what I am talking about, so I'm eager to hear the rumours that will be spread!! Ha, just kidding, I know that Dececchi's will already be more informed than I am before they even read this. (Haha just kidding).
Back to my life thus far...
We finally have heat!!! It was getting pretty cold at night and for a little while it looked as though we may never be warm again. But alas when we thought that we could no longer stand it, we got heat. Now we just have to figure out how to use it. I thought I had it figured, but it ended up staying on all night long and I was sweating so bad that I had gone down two sizes over night. (Don't worry I ate a couple deep fried mars bars to get back up there).
As for my social life. I was supposed to have some riveting material but I ended up getting suckered into working instead of meeting up for a rugby game with a bunch of our friends from the hostel. Workaholic as I am I ended up working til 12:50am and then I had to be back at work at 8am the next morning. Don't ask me how I did it. I worked alot these last couple of weeks, which means my pays have been great!! Cheryl and I both have a 3 day weekend this week so we are taking all our hard earned money and going to aberdeen this weekend. By train, nonetheless. I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you who with but it's this fantastic train company!!! No free tickets unfortunately.
So I don't know if I mentioned this before, but it is well worth repeating. My favourite part of the job has got to be 'The running of the bulls'. I worked on Saturday and it was the finest example of it I have ever seen. Humanity at it's best!!! This story is best told in person but since I'm not with you now you have to do your best to imagine the scene on your own without my re-enactment (which I have done many times already this week)..
Setting the scene...
My friend and I are sitting in the restaurant car eating our lunch. Outside on the platform there are some 500 people standing at the gate waiting to board our train. Every seat has been booked on the train, and they always sell more tickets than are reserved.
Suddenly they open the gate. As we watch both in horror and slight amusement, our hopes for mankind fade into the darkness. If you have seen the movie Lion King, just think of the scene where the papa lion is killed. Don't laugh I could see it happening!!
When those gates open it is every man, woman and child for themselves. Everyone is literally running to get a seat. Mothers pulling their children along, screaming at them to run faster while the husbands use their elbows to know the little old ladies out of the way. Backpackers use the backpack to their advantage to knock to people out of the way, or stun them for a moment so they pause to see what hit them and then the backpacker can scurry ahead of them. Little old couples shuffle along with the husband dragging the woman behind shouting at her to hurry up because god forbid they don't get a seat together. Don't even think about using your cane if you have one, unless it is to trip the younger people up. The madness of it is insane, especially because they have 30 minutes until the train leaves!!!! Occassionally one will turn and look our way, and for a brief moment before they fly by you see their face suddenly change as they realize that yes, there are people watching them. We try to sit calmly, but I cannot help but sit and gawk in amazement everytime. I especially enjoy catching that moment of shame in their eyes as they see me watching them. It really is priceless.
I know that I cannot top that but I must soldier on...
After overcoming my loss of faith in the human race, and the feeling that I was working my life away for these people, I had a need to revert back to my tourist skin. So on Monday I dressed up in all of my Canadian gear and hit the streets. There is a German Market in the gardens, as well as a carnival. It is really pretty there and we spent the entire day there. We walked through the market, had some warm German wine that I'm not going to try and pronounce, it was very tasty though. They had some neat stuff there, but I had my money earmarked for another purpose...the Ferris Wheel!! My only regret was that they did not have any Christmas music playing, other than that it was quite enjoyable. We later went ice skating in the gardens on what had to be the best and the worst ice rink I have ever been too. The best because it's in the middle of the Princes Gardens in Edinburgh and very atmosphere, and the worst because there were puddles, it was all slushly and not at all the smooth ice I'm used to. Needless to say I didn't fall once...instead I did a graceful dive across the ice head first through one of the puddles. Oh but it was fabulous!! Later we all went out to eat a a Spanish restaurant, where our server couldn't speak English. That was an interesting meal. I'm not sure what I ate exactly, but it was tasty nonetheless.
Last thing before I leave...what is so hard about the question, "Coffee or tea?" Do people think they will die if they choose the wrong one? One of the managers, who on the outside appears to be a very proper gentleman, does the funniest bit. He walks about the train car at the end of the night going, (**Warning the next part contains off colour language that is extremely offensive**), "Coffee or Tea, Motherfuckers!!????" Sometimes he bends a spoon and puts it over his eye so he looks like the terminator, the best is when Cheryl comes out of the kitchen in our flat and does it. This man also does the best impression of Americans and sometimes talks to them with an American accent, it's almost impossible not to burst out laughing when your standing beside him. You have to keep a straight face though, I usually run to the kitchen. I love the Scottish sense of humour, and either they have it or they don't. Thankfully most of them do. It really makes the job worth it, I've never laughed as hard as I have this past month at work. It really gets interesting when we all go out for drinks!!
(How many words is that? I lost count)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
So many things...
Where to start, it's been so long. Well the reason that I haven't written in a while is because we've moved into our flat and it's been busy getting it ready and liveable (although we still have no heat so Cheryl would argue that it isn't quite liveable yet). It's so nice having my own room but on the other hand it's weird not having people around all the time. Now we really do have to go out a lot more. To cope with it I have just picked up some extra shifts at work. To pass the time we are thinking of getting a dart board and putting a picture of the woman in uniform on it to keep us entertained.
The weather actually hasn't been that bad considering the weather I keep hearing about at home. It's so funny when people here complain about how cold it is because I laugh and say 'Ha this is spring weather in Canada'. I've only had to pull out the hat, and mittens twice and one of the times was because of rain not cold. The other was when we went up to Loch Ness last weekend. That was cold, but it was made up by the fact that there was snow on the tops of the enormous mountains and it made it that much prettier. Loch Ness is something that you have to do because, well it's Loch Ness, but I was in it more for the drive up there. It was absolutely fantastic. The most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, certainly the best I have seen in Scotland thus far. Loch Ness itself I have to say isn't all that breathtaking. I thouhgt Loch Lommond was prettier. In Loch Ness we took a little boat cruise where they had all this sonar equipment which was pretty cool, and you kind of get sucked into the possibility that there really is something out there.
The only problem besides the weather about going out there at this time of year is that it gets dark sooo quickly this time of year. It's 3:45pm right now and it is almost dark outside. I was talking to a girl at work and she said that in December it will be dark by 1pm. And it isn't as if the sun comes out any earlier either. The funniest thing is that people always comment that they don't drink until it gets dark outside, as if that means anything at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. And they really do start drinking when it gets dark, but most places here close by 11pm unless they have a special license. I'm starting to get used to it though (starting to drink earlier that is).
My Aunt Bernie isn't going to like this next part so if she is reading this stop!!!
We went to Glasgow for our medicals a few weeks ago... I hated it there. In my opinion it isn't very nice, not after Edinburgh that is. It seems very industrial and unless you want to shop there doesn't seem to be much to do. Now as I say this I do realize I probably didn't give it due time, and I have been told by the Glasgow crew that I've worked with a few times, that I need to give it a second chance.
Speaking of work... it is going well. I've started taking overtime shifts because it's something to do instead of spending money (although we usually go out for drinks afterwards and in doing so spend money). It seems as though I'm working with a different crew everytime and it is beginning to get a little frustrating. It seems as though everytime I work I have to reintroduce myself and justify why I am here. It's getting a little tiresome. (I'm yawning thinking about it). The best shift I had Cheryl and I worked together with a fellow trainee who we occassionally go out with outside of work. I loved it!!! We weren't the outsiders!!! HAHA. The little group that we trained with is starting to form our own little group and if we can ever get organized I think we might have our own 'agency' staff christmas party. All the non-agency people keep going on about theirs, making us feel nice and excluded. I may finally have a crew though, as a few people have apparently been requesting me for their trains. It's a nice little ego boost I must say.
Oh, one of the agency staff I trained with is indeed the funniest man I have ever met. I must admit at first he was a little much but once you get over his over the top gayness you really can't help but love him. We worked together the other day and had the times of our lives. We did door service together (this is where we stand at the doors and thank the customers getting off and welcome the ones getting on). We kept taking turns saying 'goodbye' and 'thank you'. We even did a few in perfect unison. People loved us!
The best part of the ride though was when we were standing in the corner gossiping with eachother and when a train guard walked past we jumped and scurried off. The funny part was the look that he gave us. It was that 'what were you two doing in the corner look' combined with the 'he's clearly gay so really WHAT were you two doing in the corner' We couldn't stop laugh everytime he passed us that night, which made it worse for the poor guy.
Another favourite pastime at work is the people watching. Oh it's even better than at home here because I can be standing over people pouring them coffee and they talk as if I'm not there. Last night I stood and listened to a young woman propositioning her manager. The best though is when people are running, literally RUNNING for your train and when they get to the door huffing and puffing you smile at them and say 'Oh don't rush we still have another 10 minutes before we leave'. Sometimes I like to step back on the train so that they think that the doors are going to close. Last night people we're pushing eachother to get on the train like the doors were going to suddenly close on them...these being doors that swing out and need to be manually closed by the attendant standing OUTSIDE THE TRAIN BEHIND YOU. Oh it's the best. I've seen people fall off the train right onto there faces in their rush to get off. I saw one woman running for her train, loose a shoe and then fall down the stairs. Ouch. Don't worry her shoe was fine.
I don't know what these old ladies are thinking though when they pack up their kitchen sink and then try and cart it across Scotland by themselves. Sometimes they take the kettle and toaster with them too and have to struggle akwardly with all three. Oh good times.
My uniform doesn't always help me to stay invisible. Sometimes when we are standing in a group on the platform and I see someone approaching us with that questioning look on their face I go into a sudden coughing fit so that someone else can deal with it. I do love the ones who still ask me despite the red faced fit. That's when the Canadian accent comes in handy though, no matter what the question they all seem satisfied that I am not able to sufficiently answer them because I am not from here. 'Where's the toliet?', 'Just over there beside the...', 'Oh thank you dear, I'll ask that man over there...' But then he starts speaking Polish to them, but that's another story...
The best uniform story was when I was standing outside the station talking on my mobile when a woman ran up to me said "muhba haba dumba" and pointed, when I said pardon, she continued pointing wildly and saying " mahwba hawbaw dahba..." Doesn't help that I was half listening and half talking on my mobile. By the time I had my mobile away from my ear she was halfway down the walk going into the station. I looked around puzzled. I think that she was telling me about a group of men fighting, because clearly I was the one to go over and break it up, being about 2 inches taller than her, clearly not from around here, and no tazzer to jab them with. Maybe she thought #1 that because I had a uniform on I would care, and #2 my uniform gave me special superpowers to calm drunken homeless men. (Or she just thought I had some soap). All I did do though, was, in my infinite wisdom, scurry by them as quickly and quietly as I could. (Up up and away....)
OOhhhh, I almost forgot to tell my most tragic tale of the trip thus far...
After about 3 or 4 days in the flat I almost burnt it down!!! I know you are wondering how such an intelligent girl as myself could do such a thing. I'll let you ponder for a minute how I could be so stupid and careless...but before you judge me to harshly it was indeed the day from hell for me and I should have just stayed in bed.
So as soon as my alarm went off at 6am I knew that I shouldn't have taken an extra shift. They asked for someone to work it and when no one else offered I of course (being the kind hearted person I am) stepped up to take one for the team. Now the first real hint that it just wasn't going to be my day was when I was getting ready for my shower. I put my towel over the shower curtain rod and began to 'prepare' for my shower. Next thing I know the whole thing comes crashing down and my head. Fantastic. At the end of the day, when I looked back on the day I realize that it was at this exact moment that I should have said 'screw it' and gone back to bed. But I'm not a quitter.
The fire...
I push down my toast and head to my room to put my hair up. I've done this everyday for the few days we've been in the flat, coming back to add peanut butter as soon as I have that Lilith Krammer look. I hear a pop from my room, assume that it is my toast and step out of my room into the hallway which is filled with smoke (oh shit). I run into the kitchen where the toaster isn't just smoking, there is a flame starting to form from the top corner of it. Fantastic. (Stupidly) I blow out the inital flame, then unplug the toaster and turn off the outlet. I'm not that stupid and I don't blow on the fire anymore but I do look around the room and wonder what in the hell I'm going to use to quelch the rest of the flames. In all my wisdom I ran into Cheryl's room and shouted "The toasters on fire and I don't know what to put it out with" and then ran back into the kitchen. She comes strolling in, looks at the toaster, turns opens the cupboard, says "salt", then pours it all over the toaster, counter and floor. While she's doing this I realize how much smoke there is and I go around opening all of the windows, I'm still surprised that no one called the fire department. (although I doubt if anyone cared). With the toast inside still glowing red I took the oven mits and turned the toaster upside down over the sink dumped out my breakfast (yum) and ran cold water over it. The end result was that the toaster was, well toast, the counter was fine, and our flat still has the lingering smell of burnt toast. To top it off, that pop that I heard, that was the circuit going, which I didn't realize until Cheryl texted me that the fridge and freezer (which were just stocked the day before with our week of groceries) weren't working. Now my knowledge of breakers isn't very helpful when I'm at work for 12 hours so very embarrassingly to me she had to call our landlord and tell him what happened so that he could come down and fix it. Everyone I told though agrees (except Cheryl, but rightly so), that it was a faulty toaster and not me at fault. Had it not been me who did it I would point out the big sticker on our new toaster that clearly says "Not to be left unattended", but since it was me I won't bring that up.
I think my favourite part was that because of the stressful morning I ended up having a 'rough day at the office', and then when I finally got home I sat down on my bed and it broke. (but wait...) When I pulled my matress and sheets off to fix it I tripped on them and head butted the wall (don't worry the wall is fine). I ended up sitting in my bed that night eating my melted ice cream with a giant spoon.
**FYI I think I fixed the comments part so that you do not need a sign in name to post a comment, but with that being said, I'm having trouble opening the comments section***
*Some parts of this blog have been altered for the safety of others (wink wink nudge nudge)*
The weather actually hasn't been that bad considering the weather I keep hearing about at home. It's so funny when people here complain about how cold it is because I laugh and say 'Ha this is spring weather in Canada'. I've only had to pull out the hat, and mittens twice and one of the times was because of rain not cold. The other was when we went up to Loch Ness last weekend. That was cold, but it was made up by the fact that there was snow on the tops of the enormous mountains and it made it that much prettier. Loch Ness is something that you have to do because, well it's Loch Ness, but I was in it more for the drive up there. It was absolutely fantastic. The most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, certainly the best I have seen in Scotland thus far. Loch Ness itself I have to say isn't all that breathtaking. I thouhgt Loch Lommond was prettier. In Loch Ness we took a little boat cruise where they had all this sonar equipment which was pretty cool, and you kind of get sucked into the possibility that there really is something out there.
The only problem besides the weather about going out there at this time of year is that it gets dark sooo quickly this time of year. It's 3:45pm right now and it is almost dark outside. I was talking to a girl at work and she said that in December it will be dark by 1pm. And it isn't as if the sun comes out any earlier either. The funniest thing is that people always comment that they don't drink until it gets dark outside, as if that means anything at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. And they really do start drinking when it gets dark, but most places here close by 11pm unless they have a special license. I'm starting to get used to it though (starting to drink earlier that is).
My Aunt Bernie isn't going to like this next part so if she is reading this stop!!!
We went to Glasgow for our medicals a few weeks ago... I hated it there. In my opinion it isn't very nice, not after Edinburgh that is. It seems very industrial and unless you want to shop there doesn't seem to be much to do. Now as I say this I do realize I probably didn't give it due time, and I have been told by the Glasgow crew that I've worked with a few times, that I need to give it a second chance.
Speaking of work... it is going well. I've started taking overtime shifts because it's something to do instead of spending money (although we usually go out for drinks afterwards and in doing so spend money). It seems as though I'm working with a different crew everytime and it is beginning to get a little frustrating. It seems as though everytime I work I have to reintroduce myself and justify why I am here. It's getting a little tiresome. (I'm yawning thinking about it). The best shift I had Cheryl and I worked together with a fellow trainee who we occassionally go out with outside of work. I loved it!!! We weren't the outsiders!!! HAHA. The little group that we trained with is starting to form our own little group and if we can ever get organized I think we might have our own 'agency' staff christmas party. All the non-agency people keep going on about theirs, making us feel nice and excluded. I may finally have a crew though, as a few people have apparently been requesting me for their trains. It's a nice little ego boost I must say.
Oh, one of the agency staff I trained with is indeed the funniest man I have ever met. I must admit at first he was a little much but once you get over his over the top gayness you really can't help but love him. We worked together the other day and had the times of our lives. We did door service together (this is where we stand at the doors and thank the customers getting off and welcome the ones getting on). We kept taking turns saying 'goodbye' and 'thank you'. We even did a few in perfect unison. People loved us!
The best part of the ride though was when we were standing in the corner gossiping with eachother and when a train guard walked past we jumped and scurried off. The funny part was the look that he gave us. It was that 'what were you two doing in the corner look' combined with the 'he's clearly gay so really WHAT were you two doing in the corner' We couldn't stop laugh everytime he passed us that night, which made it worse for the poor guy.
Another favourite pastime at work is the people watching. Oh it's even better than at home here because I can be standing over people pouring them coffee and they talk as if I'm not there. Last night I stood and listened to a young woman propositioning her manager. The best though is when people are running, literally RUNNING for your train and when they get to the door huffing and puffing you smile at them and say 'Oh don't rush we still have another 10 minutes before we leave'. Sometimes I like to step back on the train so that they think that the doors are going to close. Last night people we're pushing eachother to get on the train like the doors were going to suddenly close on them...these being doors that swing out and need to be manually closed by the attendant standing OUTSIDE THE TRAIN BEHIND YOU. Oh it's the best. I've seen people fall off the train right onto there faces in their rush to get off. I saw one woman running for her train, loose a shoe and then fall down the stairs. Ouch. Don't worry her shoe was fine.
I don't know what these old ladies are thinking though when they pack up their kitchen sink and then try and cart it across Scotland by themselves. Sometimes they take the kettle and toaster with them too and have to struggle akwardly with all three. Oh good times.
My uniform doesn't always help me to stay invisible. Sometimes when we are standing in a group on the platform and I see someone approaching us with that questioning look on their face I go into a sudden coughing fit so that someone else can deal with it. I do love the ones who still ask me despite the red faced fit. That's when the Canadian accent comes in handy though, no matter what the question they all seem satisfied that I am not able to sufficiently answer them because I am not from here. 'Where's the toliet?', 'Just over there beside the...', 'Oh thank you dear, I'll ask that man over there...' But then he starts speaking Polish to them, but that's another story...
The best uniform story was when I was standing outside the station talking on my mobile when a woman ran up to me said "muhba haba dumba" and pointed, when I said pardon, she continued pointing wildly and saying " mahwba hawbaw dahba..." Doesn't help that I was half listening and half talking on my mobile. By the time I had my mobile away from my ear she was halfway down the walk going into the station. I looked around puzzled. I think that she was telling me about a group of men fighting, because clearly I was the one to go over and break it up, being about 2 inches taller than her, clearly not from around here, and no tazzer to jab them with. Maybe she thought #1 that because I had a uniform on I would care, and #2 my uniform gave me special superpowers to calm drunken homeless men. (Or she just thought I had some soap). All I did do though, was, in my infinite wisdom, scurry by them as quickly and quietly as I could. (Up up and away....)
OOhhhh, I almost forgot to tell my most tragic tale of the trip thus far...
After about 3 or 4 days in the flat I almost burnt it down!!! I know you are wondering how such an intelligent girl as myself could do such a thing. I'll let you ponder for a minute how I could be so stupid and careless...but before you judge me to harshly it was indeed the day from hell for me and I should have just stayed in bed.
So as soon as my alarm went off at 6am I knew that I shouldn't have taken an extra shift. They asked for someone to work it and when no one else offered I of course (being the kind hearted person I am) stepped up to take one for the team. Now the first real hint that it just wasn't going to be my day was when I was getting ready for my shower. I put my towel over the shower curtain rod and began to 'prepare' for my shower. Next thing I know the whole thing comes crashing down and my head. Fantastic. At the end of the day, when I looked back on the day I realize that it was at this exact moment that I should have said 'screw it' and gone back to bed. But I'm not a quitter.
The fire...
I push down my toast and head to my room to put my hair up. I've done this everyday for the few days we've been in the flat, coming back to add peanut butter as soon as I have that Lilith Krammer look. I hear a pop from my room, assume that it is my toast and step out of my room into the hallway which is filled with smoke (oh shit). I run into the kitchen where the toaster isn't just smoking, there is a flame starting to form from the top corner of it. Fantastic. (Stupidly) I blow out the inital flame, then unplug the toaster and turn off the outlet. I'm not that stupid and I don't blow on the fire anymore but I do look around the room and wonder what in the hell I'm going to use to quelch the rest of the flames. In all my wisdom I ran into Cheryl's room and shouted "The toasters on fire and I don't know what to put it out with" and then ran back into the kitchen. She comes strolling in, looks at the toaster, turns opens the cupboard, says "salt", then pours it all over the toaster, counter and floor. While she's doing this I realize how much smoke there is and I go around opening all of the windows, I'm still surprised that no one called the fire department. (although I doubt if anyone cared). With the toast inside still glowing red I took the oven mits and turned the toaster upside down over the sink dumped out my breakfast (yum) and ran cold water over it. The end result was that the toaster was, well toast, the counter was fine, and our flat still has the lingering smell of burnt toast. To top it off, that pop that I heard, that was the circuit going, which I didn't realize until Cheryl texted me that the fridge and freezer (which were just stocked the day before with our week of groceries) weren't working. Now my knowledge of breakers isn't very helpful when I'm at work for 12 hours so very embarrassingly to me she had to call our landlord and tell him what happened so that he could come down and fix it. Everyone I told though agrees (except Cheryl, but rightly so), that it was a faulty toaster and not me at fault. Had it not been me who did it I would point out the big sticker on our new toaster that clearly says "Not to be left unattended", but since it was me I won't bring that up.
I think my favourite part was that because of the stressful morning I ended up having a 'rough day at the office', and then when I finally got home I sat down on my bed and it broke. (but wait...) When I pulled my matress and sheets off to fix it I tripped on them and head butted the wall (don't worry the wall is fine). I ended up sitting in my bed that night eating my melted ice cream with a giant spoon.
**FYI I think I fixed the comments part so that you do not need a sign in name to post a comment, but with that being said, I'm having trouble opening the comments section***
*Some parts of this blog have been altered for the safety of others (wink wink nudge nudge)*
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