To Aberdeen and back....

So the last weekend Cheryl and I had a three day weekend so we decided to make the most of it instead of taking overtime for once. We decided to go to Aberdeen because it looks so pretty from the train. Turns out it just looks pretty from the train. Cheryl called it Edinburgh's poor cousin. It was nice mind you, but unfortunately I am worried that nothing is going to compare to Edinburgh. Edinburgh has ruined everything else for me because if it's beauty. Not to mention that most of the castles around Aberdeen are closed for the season. Fortunately though one was still opened. I'm really bad with names and I can't remember which one it was, but it was only about a 45 minute bus ride out of the city. This may seem like a lot but the grounds are amazing and it was worth it. It just so happened that on the day that we came they were having a 1880 Christmas party so everyone there was dressed up, and the house was all decorated for Christmas. The weather was quite mild too so we were able to walk around the grounds and not freeze to death. We got some amazing pictures...before you ask I'm still working on getting them online. I tried willing it but unfortunately it takes a little more fiddling than that.

Since there wasn't much to see or do in Aberdeen we did what humans do best...went shopping. Oh and did I shop! I got the most amazing pair of boots that I have ever even dreamed of having!! They have suede AND fur. They are fabulous! Don't ask how much I paid. To even it out though I bought an amazing sweater for £6.99!! I may wear it for our big Christmas dinner at the castle, but I'm looking for something a little nicer for that. (dare I say...a skirt?...ooo maybe a dress...haha don't get your hopes up. I already have a nice pair of pants to wear and I'm cheap).

As for the hostel we stayed in...we had the craziest roommate. She would come in at 3am turn on the light and go through all of her belongings. Now here comes the strange part...she would then remove tape from around her stomach and reapply some more. She wasn't quiet about it either. She did this both nights we were there. So we made sure to make as much noise as possible, and finally on the second day I jumped out of bed and stormed out of the room. Don't ask me where I was going, I didn't even take my glasses. Oh and she cooked her dinner in the room and it smelt sooo bad. I still cannot believe how inconsiderate she was. It was shocking. Other than that the hostel was pretty anti-social and disappointing. Made me appreciate my bed all the more.

On the day we were leaving they had a tree lighting ceremony and we decided to get in the festive season we would go. It was *cough* nice. Tree was a little bigger than the one my parents will be getting, and they couldn't even be bothered to different coloured lights for it. The choir was from Norway (funnily enough we met them the day before at the castle), and because of sound problems they were less than fantastic.

Despite the sad tree lighting, it got us in the festive spirit so when we got home, we began to work on our decorations. First to go up was our Festivus pole. we made it out of toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls. We then used aluminum foil to make it more festivus poleish. It is very shiny and pretty. I hope in the years to come I will be able to have a real pole for festivus, but this will do for now. We put it in our 'shrine' area. We couldn't agree on a festivus sign so we are both making our own interpretations of what it should look like. Can you tell we have a lot of time on our hands. We only got a Christmas tree out of boredom, and we are hoping that the lights coming off of it will make the Festivus pole look even prettier. We hand made all of the decorations for the tree, we haven't had the official lighting yet, as we are still making some ornaments for it. Cheryl has all the Scots convinced that we don't celebrate Christmas in Canada, but instead we all celebrate Festivus. We are planning on having a Festivus celebration with some of our friends...even those who sadly have never heard of Seinfeld. (For them we feel much pity and obligation to invite them in order to enlighten them). The only reason we are celebrating Christmas at all is because we are going to be in a castle(!!!) Otherwise I would have worked (you get awesome overtime if you work catered parties on Christmas). My sister sent me a great shirt for the season though! It says Holiday cheers. I've already worn it too much!!

I do admit though, Cheryl is a little more committed to it than I am...I sent out Christmas cards. (But I booked it off from work, hehe).