one last cappuccino

On Monday night I revealed myself as the true sap (or sucker, depending on who you ask) that I am.

You may not know that, while I’ve been working full time in PR and Marketing at the College, I’ve also maintained one night a week at Starbucks. Why? Mostly because I like the people, the free coffee, and feel justified when I take home something new from TopShop. The Union Street Starbucks, to be honest, has wormed its way into my heart and I do feel some attachment!

So the other week when I was sick as a chainsmoker on what was meant to be my last ever shift, I requested, for nostalgia, one final evening at the ‘Bucks.

Never once did it cross my mind that 50% of that three-hour shift would be spent cleaning up after all my beloved customers had gone home for the night. Nor was I aware of a new policy that cut the number of closing staff, leaving poor me, all alone, banging up my toes and legs (and even my head at one point) stacking chairs on tables and taking them down again, and single-handedly sweeping, mopping and squeegee-ing our massive café. Whew!

Not sure I can say it was worth £18 and a bag of coffee.

My last night was, at the very least, blessed with a celebrity customer. But alas, while everyone was whispering, pointing and posing for photographs, my Canadian ignorance shone through – I had no idea who said celebrity was. The more educated informed me that Jimmy Carr is a comedian of some fame, with a quiz show or two on Channel 4. oh.

I am happy to be done with my barista days, but I have to credit Starbucks for giving me a key to the city, of sorts: I can’t walk down Union Street without seeing at least one or two friends or acquaintances I’ve met at the café... Makes this Granite City feel like my own little village.

yesterday

two years on. it's true what they say. it just keeps getting better.


With five days remaining until his thesis submission, Dean and I celebrated low-key: roses, candles, champagne, funny poems and a pretty amazing lamb rogan josh (if I may say so myself). Marriage is a good thing.

the prettiest house in oxford

AKA Your Guest House in Oxford, Revisited

The previously mentioned interview at the prominent Englandshire business school turned out to be a bit of a bust (it's obvious they are looking for someone 40+ with an MBA - this is simply not me), but yesterday's trip to Londontown was still by all means a huge success!

The sun was shining and I was making nice with Paddington Bear when my delightful friend Jordan, in town with his very cool job, met me and we boarded a train to Oxford.

We had all of two hours in my future hometown, but it was enough to reassure me that I am a lucky girl to be moving to such a great city. The students were out in their formal exam attire (no sweat pants for these guys: see rule 5) and the outdoor pub seating was packed thanks to true summer weather.

So, like I said, I was there to see a house. And see a house I did. Frankly, it is what you dream of when you think of living in Oxford. And now, it's ours. We lost a small deposit on the Littlemore house, but I will never regret it. Please see below for evidence.


Last week I had been feeling some qualms about Littlemore and renting a house so far from town. For the last 2 years we've had the luxury of walking anywhere we need to. North Lodge, however, is in the heart of town, bordering the University parks... literally the former gatehouse of the park. Here's some history. It's even on Wikipedia. :)

Care to visit?

my eco footprint is getting bigger

I'm a small girl, but this business of living in Scotland is making for a BIG contribution to the world's carbon emissions.

Tomorrow morning I shall hop yet another plane down south, and come back north later that same day. I have a second interview for an editorial role (or I should say THE editorial role) at a prominent business school.

I confess, the London-Oxford commute has me in a bit of a quandary. We chose the Littlemore house based on the assumption that I would not be travelling by train every day. But life can be full of surprises.

Yesterday's surprise was that a seemingly spectacular cottage is now available through university staff housing. It's a dream on the outside, but of course, no interior photos are available.

So instead of visiting the Design Museum after the interview, I'm taking a very brief jaunt up to Oxford to see a man about a house. And I managed to convince a friend to come along for the ride! Stay tuned for photos!

celebs

your comments have made me aware that I completely forgot to report our stellar sighting in NYC last month.

It was quick and dirty:

Walking home from Mamma Mia, Julie and I noticed two photographers huddled in a doorway outside NBC Studios. No sooner had I looked over at a big black SUV parked opposite to see what was the fuss than it opened and out poured Mr. Krasinski, accompanied by Gossip Girl herself, Kristen Bell, and the slightly more obscure Dax Shepard of Punk'd fame.
We crossed the carpet at about the same moment John stepped onto it, and had to do the tourist double-take to spot the other two. We saw Dax again later in the week, wrapping up on the set of When in Rome, in Central Park.

strike two

I've moved from novels to back to back episodes of indulgent television. Yesterday it was the Office (which I feel a much stronger connection to since locking eyes with a bearded John Krasinski in NYC last month) and today it's Sex and the City.

In my defense, I showed up at work once again this morning. By 10am they had me packed up and on my way home again. I'd like to think it's because they care so much about my well being, but I know better - the newspapers covering their faces as they walked into my office were pretty obvious.

But you won't hear me complain.