island life

Visiting my parents on the Island this week. So far it's just Dean and I which means loads of rest.

It also means little Island anomalies--like stocking up on vintage books in "downtown" Parksville, dropping prawn traps in the bay with dad, spotting three bald eagles and a slew of sea lions.

Tonight two sisters, one bro-in-law and three little ones carrying influenza will descend on the house. better soak up the peace while it lasts--I'm off to do some knitting :)

jet lag

5:30am and I've been tossing for nearly 2 hours. I've given up on sleep even though I now possess the most incredibly wonderful bed on the planet (I think Dean would agree with me that's it's approximately 30 sq feet of heaven right in our bedroom).

Being home has really been about food. While devouring my custom eggs benny (brie & avocado) at Barney's yesterday Jules agreed with me that the food is the thing you miss most when you're in the UK. So to make up for those three months away we have already dined out three times: Earls' thai noodle salad, Cactus Club's yam fries and west coast pocket, Barney's for me and Minato sushi for Dean... surprise, surprise. Then to top it all off Beth and Jessica put together a remarkable spread at Joe's last night.

In only 1.5 days back we've been lucky enough to see a good many friends and fam, get reaquainted with our old apartment (which the renters left in impeccable shape!) do a load of laundry and achieve some semblance of organization.

the A-list, starring Dave "Monty" Montgomery

Yes, it's true we're home. We're thrilled to be back, but a little bit of our hearts remain in Aberdeen (it didn't hurt too much, don't worry)—thus, this is a post in honour of a few of the people who made our time there very special.


On our second to last night we got the crew (minus one) together for one last meal. It came up during our conversation that someone very dear and near (he lives across the street) to us has not yet received a mention on the blog.

with three months of non-mentions to make up for he's now getting his very own post.


this is our lovely friend and neighbour Dave Monty. Dave works for Aberdeen's city council, but his true passion is real estate. He's well on his way to being Aberdeen's own Donald Trump (with better hair). He's half Irish and half canadian, and if you ever forget that he was born in Canada, he'll put on a Roots hoodie to remind you. Dave has a gorgeous girlfriend named Cheryl who had to miss out on our farewell celebration to visit family in N.Ireland (priorities, sheesh!). Standing at a towering 6'2'' and weighing in at 200lbs (okay I made that up) Dave is a star hockey player (not the Canadian kind, the grass kind) and a keen investement advice giver.

we like dave.

Front Lawn Fresh Cuts vol.XI

your final update from the Granite City

On the Reading List: a triple pack of British mags acquired in Edinburgh: InStyle, Marie Claire and Living Etc, all for 6 quid!

On the Playlist: Last night our friend Manos played us some Waylon Jennings ("the #1 outlaw of country music")—the song of choice? Amanda, of course!

Current Obsession: Paperchase. It’s actually an ages old obsession, but it was revived with a visit to the Edinburgh shop. Stocked up on kraft paper Christmas cards, a 2007 “diary” (planner) and a few other lovely treats.

Design of the Times: Willy Guhl concrete Loop chair has struck my fancy this week. Check it (and other classics) at twentytwentyone.

Have an ’Art: Mimi Ko's photography (below) is absolutely stunning.

Blog Log: freshly blended—not only good for fabulous paper products, but also a great blog.

Crisp of the Week: McCoy’s Flame Grilled Steak [3.25 out of 5 stars]

Scot Slang of the Week: glaikit— verb. stupid or vacant. usually in reference to a person.

Insider Scoop: myspace might be all the rage back home, but over here the cool kids are all over bebo.

Countdown To: THREE days to HOME.

To Do List: pack, enjoy one last dinner with friends, call a cab.

Lastly: this is the end of my Scottish Fresh Cuts. The move back to Vancouver will mean I no longer have unholy amounts of free time so Fresh Cuts will no longer be a weekly event. I always stumble across goodies I want to share though, so watch for the occasional fresh cut at the end of regular posts.

not so fresh

deadlines, packing, last meetups with friends mean this week's fresh cuts (also know, by dean, as Wednesdays with Amanda) keep getting shoved to the backburner. tomorrow, friends, tomorrow.

One suitcase is full and 2kilos over the limit.

today, after my final coffee with Claire, unlocking my phone and making a reservation for 7 at the local Italian, I will practice the science of equal distribution.

letter to Costa coffee

dear Costa brothers,

your coffee sucks. The only reason I continue to drink your coffee is that you have (had) the best location in all of Aberdeen. I could come and buy my nasty americano and sit for hours writing to a great soundtrack without distraction.

so imagine my dismay when I learned today that you deserted the building with the most character in the north east of scotland and reopened in the centre of the mall. I gave your new location a chance. the nice busboy forced me to buy a coffee and promised me this new location was actually quite peacefull and quiet. I believed you for a moment, committed to a sit-in beverage. The moment I sat down, however, the incredible obnoxious Christmas display began its inane routine with echoed across the entirity of Bon Accord Centre.

I'm really disappointed Costa. So I've moved to Kilau. Their coffee is good and their music is better. They give me free wireless and a place to plug in my laptop (I even posted my Edinburgh photos there), thought it is sadly filled with loud uni students drinking irn-bru. I hope you're happy.