chuffed!

A story I wrote last week is up for the reading at Relevant Mag online.

Also, if you haven't noticed, I've been uploading all our photos in reverse chronological order. I've just posted pics from our las day in Vancouver and our very first weekend in Aberdeen. Check them out!

other reading: An afternoon spent researching a project for Campus Crusade led me to this article about the nearly 10 years of war in the Congo. I've certainly heard about it but had no idea it was so extreme—but isn't that always the case? This is a fascinating read.

Front Lawn Fresh Cuts vol.X

your mid-week source from the Granite City

On the Reading List: The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith, purchased at Shakespeare & Co. in Paris—I'm only 30 pages in and already she's rivalling John Irving and Tom Robbins for favourite author!

On the Playlist: a conversation with a new friend this week reminded me how much I like Aqualung, so I dug Strange and Beautiful out of the itunes archives.

Current Obsession: Convincing our Scottish friends to visit us in Vancouver :) Every time I think about home these days, I smile, and having them come hang out there would be even better.

Design of the Times: A host of original work by Scottish designers and artisans can be checked out at Papa Stour. They're dang expensive, but I’m a big fan of the textiles.

Have an ’Art: Spotted the work of Brazilian artist Vic Muniz in the pages of Living Etc. and thought it was pretty amazing. Check out the Rebus Collection from 2003.

Blog Log: My new favourite spot for gastronomic inspiration: Chocolate & Zucchini, tales, advice and recipes from a Montmartre kitchen.

Hipsters on the Web: (okay I stole this one from Dean) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has a selection of new tracks for the sampling on their myspace page!

Crisp of the Week: We're stuck on Somerfield Salt&Vinegar. When you find something you love, why look for anything else? [bumped up to 5 out of 5 stars]

Scot Slang of the Week: well, it’s not really slang, but among other British affectations Dean is trying to work into his vocabulary (joining the ranks of “chuffed,” “gutted” and “mingin’”) the latest is “just now” at the end of sentences. I, on the other hand, am perfecting the art of when to add “a wee” before nouns (“a wee cup of tea” is perfect usage).

Insider Scoop: Hogmanay is New Year’s Eve in Scotland. Edinburgh has a Hogmanay celebration to rival times Square. It starts on the 29th and doesn’t stop for four days: film fests, ceilidhs, candlelit concerts, street parties, fireworks (launched from 7 sites), rock shows, theatre, a morning polar bear swim (here they call it the “Loony Dook,” triathalon and dog races! This year’s entertainment even includes the Petshop Boys and Scotland’s newest musical darling, Paolo Nutini.

Countdown To: TWO days until our first trip to Edinburgh and my fifth visit with Lorah Styer in one year. Looking forward to soaking in some history, seeing stunning sights and window-shopping my little heart out.

To Do List: find a flippin’job in Vancouver!

Lastly: Saint Nicholas was good to Dean and I yesterday: I got yet another lovely orange penguin classic and Dean received Nick Hornby’s 31 Songs (thanks Verity!)

PhD wives club

Maybe it's the weather. Aberdeen has never been so pleasant as it was today.

Left the house early to visit a clinic I was never able to find and opted instead to spend the morning traipsing around town.

My traipses brought me to some stellar Christmas gifts for Deano, a lovely 1949 Penguin edition of Aldous Huxley's Music at Night (for me!), the BP Portrait Awards at the art gallery, and the much talked of but impossible to find Kilau coffee shop.

The final stop emerged from the ladies' meeting at church last Saturday. While chatting with a fellow North American we were aproached by a Nigerian woman who introduced herself as Comfort (brilliant name, eh?). The three of us got talking. Turns out we're all here because of hubbies doing PhDs and we're all barely/un-employed and getting a little bored. We met today along with two other American PhD wives and spent two hours getting acquainted. It was lovely and another reason I'm getting sad to leave Aberdeen.

No FreshCuts until Friday—I have to see a man about a broken washer!

free health care?

Deano and I are going to the doctor today... taking advantage of free health care and free prescriptions before we head home for 7 months! Interesting that the appointment landed on the same day that I learned I owe MSP back home a chunk of cash. Will have to dig into that misfortune asap!

No news from this end except to say I have begun the job hunt. Any tips or leads on communication jobs in Vancouver are welcome!


Lastly, Baltic in Newcastle just posted a little documentary about Kozyndan's illustrated panorams in the Spank the Monkey exhibit. Their process is pretty neat. Check it out here,

weekend roundup

Canada in two weeks and this weekend I met yet another slew of people I'm excited to get to know on our return to Aberdeen.

We had a lowkey Friday night to make up for the busy weekend ahead.

Saturday morning I joined about 50 other women at Gerrard St Baptist to hear Stephen's mom (Claire's mom-in-law) talk about hearing God's voice. It was incredible to see women of every age group blending and enjoying eachother's company, praying for one another and encouraging one another. What could be better for the life of the church? Evening brought our St.Nicholas party complete with gifts, mulled wine, canapes and ginger bread!

Sunday got us further acquainted with our friends' parents. Since wife Suzi was in Ediburgh playing hockey, husband Iain invited us to join him for Sunday dinner with his folks out in the country. The afternoon felt like one our truest tastes of Scotland—and not just because his parents are named Dougall and Morag (though it doesn't get more Scottish than that does it?). We had the full meal deal, beginning with drinks in the sitting room, hot meal and dessert, and then coffee and chocolate flake bars to follow. It was no special treatment—Iain's mom goes to this much work every week!

Want to see more classic Scotland? A few photos from our first visit to Footdee are posted.

december one

a new month, a new 20MB.

The full photo account of October's visit to Newcastle is posted.

December 1 also marks the official start of the Christmas season and the first day carols can be played. We didn't have any seasonal tunes with us on the way to the University this morning, so we sang them instead :)

Maybe it's the lights we've had up for nearly 3 weeks, or the SPECTACULAR(ly disappointing) tree lighting ceremony we saw in Old Abderdeen last night, but I'm feeling particularly festive this year.