Bess let me hold her perfect little baby

jill and bub, originally uploaded by bess grant.

I took a bunch of photos of little Desiree, too.

An adventure in aquatics

One rainy Saturday, Michael and I went to the Vancouver Aquarium. Never again. That sort of activity should be reserved for playing hooky from work on Wednesday's when NO ONE is there. I did have a lot of fun at the jelly fish tank though and I got a good snap of some alligators. Check it out:

Straight

Straight, originally uploaded by jill y.

I saw this guy sleeping on his bike this morning. I couldn't help but snap this.

my friend Sonia finds the best videos

my laptop crashed again

Dear Tech Support:
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance -- Particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as NFL 5.0, NBA 3.0, and Golf Clubs 4.1. Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.

I've tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do?
Signed, Desperate

Dear Desperate:
First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, While Husband 1.0 is an Operating System. Please enter the command: 'http: I Thought You Loved Me.HTML' and try to download Tears 6.2 and don't forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5. But remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT install Mother-in-law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources). Also, do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0. In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Food 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck,
Tech Support

prize for the best comment

"I love how every Nickleback song sounds EXACTLY the same.

I also really love Chad Kroeger's great sense of style, and ultra sexy haircut. It really turns me on.

Where can I find a Kroeger for myself???

Oh yeah - on the 99B - Line.

Jill, thanks for the tip."

-Sonia

to avoid any confusion....

The shop where I bought my new bike is swapping parts from one frame to the frame I bought. Therefore, my foray into bicycle commuting does not start until the boyfriend drops me off on Saturday and we race back. Me on my bike, him in his truck. On Sunday, I do a trial run and see how far I go. I don't seriously think I can just start riding 20k a day out of no where and not hurt myself.

Thus, I was on the bus yesterday. And likely will be again because the buses in Vancouver have bike racks!!

no one cares if a rock star rides the bus

I swear to god Chad Kroeger from Nickleback got on the 99 B-Line at Main and Broadway today. He got on with some other guy that I couldn't see because Mr. Nickleback is 9 feet tall. He was wearing the usual "I'm a rock star" uniform and seemed to be looking around for the non existent clicks of cell phone cameras going off.


He got off on Broadway and Commercial. Obviously, he was looking for drugs because in this shot he's clearly wearing a Blunt Brothers tshirt and everyone knows Blunt Brothers is where you go in Vancouver to kit yourself to smoke pot. I think the trajectory is obvious, don't you?

The bus has really been getting to me.

Me: Hi Mom. I bought a bike (the one pictured!!) with the inheritance you gave me.

Mom: Did you buy a helmet too?

Yes I did. And a lock, and a set of fenders and a bike rack and at the end of it all, I told the man behind the counter if he through in a water bottle and holder, it was a deal. I also made the boyfriend promise that we would cycle Stanley Park regularly this summer.

All this is just in time for the Bike to Work Week. Wish me luck. It's a 10km commute each way. By the way, if you can't tell, it's a Brodie Infinity and I got a sweet deal because I chose a less expensive bike and the shop agreeed to swap the parts from that bike on to the lighter and better Infinity frame. At 1/2 hr to close, I also got them to cut a deal on the fenders, rack, and helmet. They threw in a water bottle and holder for free.

PS Mom: I love the color.
PPS: Brodie Bikes were created in Vancouver. Gotta support the local shops, right?
PPPS A Certain Jane: I get the bike on Saturday May 25 and bike to work week starts on Monday the 28.

Spencer Tunick nude photo shoot

Spencer Tunick nude photo shoot, originally uploaded by SaintsAsylum.

Spencer Tunick is the artist that gets all those naked people together for photographs. You know the ones. You think to yourself, "Mmn..looks like fun." Why don't you sign up for the next project in Amsterdam? I think he should do one of people shopping on Robson Street but it would probably do better on Rodeo Drive. Here's one he did in Brugge, of which I have just visited:

shoes really do make the outfit, don't they

Please check out this incredible shoe museum.

menagerie

menagerie, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Brugge, Belgium

IMGP5744, originally uploaded by smoooch.

accidents happen

The whole series is of "accidents" is totally hilarious. Of course you will find a way to have a stuffed lion with an arm in it's mouth. And Patricia Waller is a crafty genius. While having a crocheted chicken would make a great centerpiece at Thanksgiving, I'm not sure about the decapitation in yarn.

Or maybe it would.

At that view, the world seemed like a different place.

the world seemed like a different place, originally uploaded by smoooch.

childhood memory

Whenever anyone mentions the phrase "running around like a chicken without its head" I instantly remember an early childhood experience.

I was a little girl, maybe 3-4 years old. My parents used to take me down to Olds where my grandparents had a farm. In the shelter belt tree line, they had a small wooden shed equipped with hooks and a small chopping block. This was where they beheaded the chickens. One of my earliest memories is standing in the white and freshly fallen snow. My hand knit mitts probably damp and frosty from playing in it. I had a one piece snowsuit. I think it was red and it had some sort of fluff trimmed hood and zipped up with a thick zipper and I had these little snow boots that were silver. I was standing there in the snow white snow in my little snowsuit and boots watching with slight curiosity and probably a little horror as my grandfather decisively swung the ax and hung the chickens to drain from the hooks. As I try and remember this early experience, I think back and see the trees standing tall and dark against the snow, the blur of adults around, standing there cold like my mittens against the site of a chicken or two running in circles without its head, the others caught and draining. White snow spashed red like my snowsuit.

my mom taught me how to cook

Mom also taught me:

how to sew, and thus I made curtains last night
to keep my room clean and I still do to this day
to save my money for a rainy day and pay my bills on time and now having savings rocks
tough lessons so I would be resilient and responsible for myself
the value of myself that exists beyond anything I may do or accomplish

Thanks Mom. You've taught me so much more and mean so much more than I could write here, so instead, I'll share the soup recipe I made for lunch today. I steamed some broccoli to add to it after it was finished since I didn't have any cilantro. Oh, yeah, you helped to develop my ability to think creatively.

Coconut Curry Red Lentil Soup

Taken from La Dolce Vegan, pg 106

1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1-2 garlic cloves, chopped
1-2 celery stalk, cubed
1-2 sm potatoes, cubed
1 sm yam/sweet potato cubed
2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup dried red lentil
1 tbsp curry paste
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tep ground black pepper
1- 14 oz can coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

In a medium sauce pan on medium heat, saute onion in oil until translucent. add garlic and celery and saute for another 5 minutes. Add yams, potatoes, stock, lentils, curry paste, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked. Stir in coconut milk and with a hand blender or food processor, blend half or all of the soup until smooth. Return to pot, stir in cilantro and serve. Makes 2 large or 4 small servings.

fat fatter fatest

gold shares or groceries

My family recently inherited some money from my Great Great Uncle Alf.

I guess iy goes that my Great Great Great Grandfather immigrated to America after doing his duty with old hand in the jacket Napoleon's and his army in France. His son, my Great Great Grandfather was Alf's father. As a wee bairn, poor Alf was forced to travel across the American west in a wagon train with his parents (his dad was the wagon master) and older siblings (Grapes of Wrath comes to mind here). The family finally settled in Colorado where my Great Grandmother, Joyce and her twin sister, Josephine (clever names for twins), were born. Of course my Great Grandmother eventually married and gave birth to my mother's father and they moved to Canada when my grandfather a year old.

Old Uncle Alf homesteaded in Alaska and prospected for gold. As far as we know he never found much and apparently he also married a local lass when she was only 15. He did, however, leave his homestead. About 20 years ago his nephew (Josephine's son) started to work on proving that the family were entitled to Alf's estate. Now, all these years later it is settled.

Much more effort was spent splitting up the inheritance but at the end of the day I received $800 from this incredible part of my ancestry. I mean this dates back to the 1800's.

When my mother gave it to me she wrote, "So - no strings attached - enjoy - buy gold shares or groceries."

What do you call a woman with no arms and one leg?

, originally uploaded by kk+.

Peggy.

She seemed so nice until she saw you had wasted the ribbon.

sunset on Tuesday, originally uploaded by smoooch.

For an explanation, see this post.

let's do lunch (or breakfast, or take out, of dinner , or hell.. maybe we'll just stay in)

Eggs Benny baby, originally uploaded by smoooch.

I was tagged for a restaurant MeMe by Christine in Dallas:

The rules:

1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you.
Include the city/state and country you’re in.

Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas(ish) Texas, United States)
Iliana (Dallas (ish), Texas, United States)
Christine (Dallas, Texas, United States)
Jill (Vancouver, BC)

2. List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location.
3. Tag 5 other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they’ve been tagged.

These are my favorite places to eat:

Yogi's on Commercial Drive-
Their potato pratha and raita is like crack to me. They also have this fruit salad with papaya, banana, and potatoes in a tamarind dressing that is unbelievable. You'd never know how those 3 items could taste so good together. Really peaceful ambiance, dimmed lighting, not fancy and on the weekends there is a Sitar player which is slightly annoying in a Beatles circa 1969 sort of way. The pots of Chai are pretty good too. Dinner for 2 with Gulab Jamon will run about $25. Lots of vegan choices too.

Slickety Jim's Chat & Chew on Main Street
Very cool dineresque atmosphere. Kooky decor abound. Looks like it was decorated in a flash trip to the local thrift store with a stop over in the lost in found box of the local library, but it all works. Staff are clearly actors/artists/painters/dancers looking for a little side money waiting tables. Always busy and always worth it. Kooky menu, for example:
Salad of the Renaissance- a soft, delicate poached pear guided by a most subtle and divine goat feta as they laze about a garden of wild greens, mingling with fresh herbs and sun dried black olives with implied subtleties that only a lemon and olive oil vinaigrette can provide.
Or my favorite: a scrambled egg, veggie sausage and peppers wrapped in a warm tortilla with cheddar with a side of hash browns called "Society Made Me What I Am".

The Clove- Commercial Drive
I'm big on ambiance and aesthetics. This place always has a unique and understated display of fresh cut flowers. Their table water is filtered and seasoned with fresh mint and lime. I could go there just for the water. The food is amazing. A mash of Asian/ Indian. My favorite is the Thai Beef salad- Lean strips of beef marinated with lime and ginger served on a bed of greens. Tandoori Chicken and Paneer fritters are running a close second for my taste buds.

At home with the How it all Vegan Cookbook
There is an amazing selection of fresh food in Vancouver. A prolifery of them reside on Commercial Drive. Then there's Capers and Granville Island too. Sometimes I just want to cook up a little something at home. And so know one is confused, I live in the Commercial Drive area and I am not Vegan.
note: Sarah Kramer is a local Victoria gal who runs a tattoo parlor and has co written the cookbooks, "How it all Vegan", "In a Garden of Vegan" and independently wrote "La Dolce Vegan". These are killer and highly recommended cookbooks. Lots of other cool ideas are in the books on natural cleansers, DIY's, etc..Another killer local cookbook is Rebar, based on the legendary vegetarian restaurant in Victoria, BC. (I swear BC was colonized by hippies and tree huggers.)

(another note: If I had a restaurant, it would have a cool web page and it would publish a cookbook. Doing this Meme I was surprised that my favorite hangouts don't have web look sees. Dang)

last but not least and proof of my non-vegan status:

Szechuan Chongqing on 12th and Commercial
They have the best szechuan beef, szechuan green beans, broccoli with garlic sauce and probably a whole lot more yummy yummy but that's all I ever order because I am addicted. They're 4 blocks from my house and I order in at least twice a month. It's always enough for lunch the next day. So good!!

Ps. The photo is from breakfast at Cafe Du Soleil (on the Drive, where else). A little tiny 12 table place with a patio out front. All vegetarian and some vegan. Everyday you can get hash browns made with baby potatoes, yams, onions and peppers. Every so often you'll see a grocery clerk from the store across the street hustle something over. In the summer they have these mint and raspberry smoothies that will make you gratful to be alive. I can't get enough of their eggs benny (sans the ham)with free range eggs course. Michael and I often share the side banana bluberry pancake and they warm up the syrup.

Salivation has begun.

I'm tagging daisies@pluckthepetal.com and Nakedjen for this Meme.

My mother told me bread was a kind of addiction.

thought process

Catherine, my sister, is a compulsive ribbon hoarder. If you give her a gift she goes to great lengths (no pun intended) to save the length of ribbon. You can actually hear her heart beat faster if you pull out a pair of scissors and threaten to cut the ribbon. She is somewhat compelled to save the lives of wrapping paper as well, but not to the same extent.

I'm at her house right now and she just handed me a neatly bundled package of organza:

"But Jill, look, this is a ribbon that I received 7 years ago on a box of chocolates someone gave me in Ottawa. Isn't exquisite."

She is wrapping up a few little(and very small)items for someone. She stops and asks me,

"Do you think I should use this ribbon? (As she fondles a piece of mauve ribbon I used on a gift I gave to my father last Christmas.) It kind of matches the gift don't you think? What about this, does it match the color of the soap? No, maybe not."

I go back to what I'm doing and she continues on, almost pretty much to herself.

"What about this, is that colorful enough? Hmm."

I glance over and she is comparing another saved scrap of threaded confection against the choice of plain brown paper bag wrap. A decison is made and she carefully ties the bow and clips the ends into sharp pointy spears.

But, in all honesty, it's a charming and heartwarming trait to have. True to our frugal Scottish farm roots too. Catherine, has always been one to see the value of something another would carelessly toss:

"Wait! I can use that."

PS. She just opened a drawer and gasped, "Shoot! More ribbon." I laughed as they they all have be folded and secured and bagged.

little green house

IMGP4855, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Since I have been home:

I have:

worked nearly everyday
woken up early
slept late
done the laundry twice
bought groceries 3 times
inherited an unknown sum of money
cleaned the kitchen
done the dishes
made dinner
mailed my postcards from Europe
eaten out
felt happy
gone to the gym
rented a car
bought flowers
seen my sister
talked to my mother
had a coffee in my favorite cafe
printed photographs
felt sad

I have not:
had a picnic in the park
walked 18km in one day
had a blister on my foot
slept in a room with more than one other person
carried a pot of jam around with me
taken numerous photographs in one day
attempted to communicate without using English
gotten lost
talked to my father
felt in awe
gone to a museum

IMGP5596, originally uploaded by smoooch.

and their thighs slap dixie

, originally uploaded by MaggieMason.

press

prada soldiers 3, originally uploaded by smoooch.

It's a pretty old photo I took when I went to NYC the first time. I still love it. Do you? And apparently someone else does since it's been grabbed for a online NYC website. It's getting some coverage. It'll be great if I sell prints.

good vs. bad

Look, I'm going to be blunt. Driving cars is bad for the environment. Transit is better. We all know this and we all (or maybe most of us) need a car from time to time. Laundry soap is a bitch to carry home.

If you live in Vancouver and a bunch of other cities you can have access to a car sharing program called Zip Cars OR you can have access to a car through the Co-Operative Auto Network. Now why would you choose one over the other and which one should you choose? Well, I'll be blunt. The Co-Operative Auto Network is the one you should choose and here's why. The Co-Op is, well, a co-op. That means the profits go back into the company. The Zip Car is a caplitalist venture. That means the profits are making someone rich. (Rumor has it the Zip Car people phoned up the Co-op and asked them how they did it and then started up Zip. Fuckers.)

Zip Cars

Extra Value Plan:
One-time $25 application fee.
Pre-pay $50/$75/$125/$250 (your monthly commitment) and get that much in driving.
Once your stash is used up, you pay as you go at discounted rates.
From $8.78/hour and $62.10/day (any 24-hour period), depending on the car model.

Occasional Driving Plan:
One-time $25 application fee.
Annual fee of $55. No deposit. No monthly commitment.
From $9.75/hour and $69/day (any 24-hour period), depending on the car model.

Perks:
Free Gas
Free Parking
Free Insurance
150 free km

Co-operative Auto Network (3 price points):

Full member Shares ($500, paid one time, refundable if you leave the Co-Op)
Associate Shares ($250, paid one time, refundable if you leave the Co-Op)

"All three price points charge $2.00 per hour (to a maximum of $24 daily) plus applicable admin and kilometre charges, which are:

• Higher Usage: $40.00 monthly admin fee and 18¢ for every kilometre driven.
• Moderate Usage: $15.00 monthly admin fee and 28¢ for every kilometre driven.
• Lower Usage: $6.25 monthly admin fee and 38¢ for every kilometre driven.

A special Excursion Rate may apply for trips of more than 72 hours.

Any trip lasting longer than 72 hours (3 days) MAY use a different pricing. It will be charged $40 daily (cars) or $50 daily (trucks and minivans) OR regular rates - whichever is MORE. The $40/$50 includes all fuel and kilometre charges. It is a minimum charge designed to mitigate any losses the co-op may sustain when a vehicle is out of the fleet for extended periods. Any day or portion over the 72-hour period will be charged $40/$50 per day."

Perks:
-Free Gas
-Free Parking
-Free Insurance/ maintenance
-Discounted car rental from 3 different car-rental agencies
-Discount on YMCA memberships
-eligible to sign up for extended health and dental benefits through Pacific Blue Cross
-eligible for the Employer Pass Program, which provides a 15% discount off monthly FareCards
-BCAA

I personally think the choice is crystal clear.

the lizard king

IMGP5029, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Why is that when you tell people you went to Paris, they ask if you went to Jim Morrison's grave? Wouln't someone ask about the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre instead? Well, if you're curious.. here it is.

steps in Cesky Krumlov

IMGP4820, originally uploaded by smoooch.

One of those situations where you wander into an run down or abandoned building and you're clearly in a place you shouldn't be but it gets you some great shot and then you quickly get out. That's where I got this.

the in and the out

The outside, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Right. Remember this lovely post, when I first saw this window and knocked on the door and politely explained my purpose in Brussels and graciously asked the nice blond woman if I could see the inside and she pretty much said no. Well, I went back. And the spanish construction worker doing some reno work on the apartment let me in to see the other side of the windows. Here it is.

The inside, originally uploaded by smoooch.
I wonder how the snobby blonde woman would react if she knew??

not mine but I think it's very cool

twenty and forty, originally uploaded by ◄Kentigern►.

I am a passenger.

The muffled sound of music can be heard. Just audible, drum beats and bass clap their hands in the invisible air. The tiny white ear buds are instantly recognized. A member of the Ipod army. She sits down next to me on the bus. Grey pant suit noticed as I glanced quickly at the filled space next to me. The bus is sweaty with condensation from the breath of so many riders and the rain falling outside. Umbrellas dripping moisture onto paper shopping bags. Manicured nails clutch the tan leather handbag that almost passed as quality, but there's something secretly cheap about mass manufactured goods to appeal to the gleam of high fashion magazine ad admirers. She wears a fitted grey wool coat, blond hair hitting it softly at the shoulders. I glance at her face. Her make up is neither subtle or heavy but almost seems like a toned down version of a garish night out. She looks like a legal assistant with a dark secret. The aroma of music wafts between us and I ponder if she listens to anything else other than heavy metal.

Little Lamb

Little Lamb, originally uploaded by smoooch.

The collection.

The collection of photos from the little European Holiday.

If you love something let me know. And of course...

Prints are available.

You can contact me at justajill@lush.com.

Having lunch with Jacques Cousteau.

"The World's First All-glass Undersea Restaurant opens in The Maldives. April 15 marks the day that the first ever all-glass
undersea restaurant in the world opens its doors for business at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. It will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views."

Wow. The Ithaa is a highly exclusive affair for only 15 people at a time.Can you imagine having dinner in an underwater acrylic tube? Going to the bathroom must be surreal. Would it have the same stunning views as you did your business with a local school of fish travelling by? Flushing?? Or how about having a plate of freshly caught snapper as a gaggle of them drift by?

I have to admit it's really stunning and enticing and I'm surprised it hasn't opened sooner. We have the option of living in a hotel entirely made of ice so why not a restaurant underwater. I have one curious question though.. do they have submarine sandwiches on the menu??

Very cool, either way. Thanks to Sonia for the tip.

Mona Lisa has a moon.

IMGP5876, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Captured in Bristol.

decoration

IMGP5595, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Beautiful ornamentation like this is commonplace above the doorways and buildings of the remaining Art Nouveau houses and buildings in Brussels. It was nearly impossible to photograph most of it that could really capture the quality and presence, but I did get this one.

Art Nouveau architects undertook every aspect of a buildings design, down to the doorknobs, air vents, foot scrapers and letterboxes, which was a good thing for me as I photographed those quite a bit better. But not only did Art Nouveau affect building design but also furniture, fixtures, carpets, even kitchen utensils. The poster arts were another area influenced by Art Nouveau, as seen in the work by Mucha. Decoration was obviously an important aspect of this period of art, often including stained glass, mosaics or sgraffito that I photographed above. Inspiration from the designs came from the natural world, flowing lines, organic forms, including Victor Horta's famous whiplash movement.

get the hint

get the hint, originally uploaded by smoooch.

I saw this walking down a back lane in Bristol.

sweet

I came home to find a card from my loving sister Catherine.

"Sometimes 'right back where you started from' is right where you belong."
Welcome back from your adventure.

Thanks Catherine. It was really really nice to come home to that card. It all seems a bit hazy and surreal to be back home.

Just call me

Jet lagged Jill.

I flew 10 hours into sunlight. I left Heathrow at 12:30pm local and arrived at 2:30 pm local, except I spent 10 hours someone in space. Michael, the dear, took me out for a rather posh Curry restaurant and tried to keep me up as long as possible. I got up at 4:30 am, which considering it's equivalent time zone in Europe (12:30pm) that's a pretty good lie in. Ruby slept right next to me the whole night unlike sleeping on her little spot closer to the wall. So nice to be welcomed back.

I just hope no one minds that I'm doing laundry and cleaning up

one que after another

That's what airports are. One long line after another. If you're not in line for security, you're in line to try and get rid of the last of your foreign money. Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports and yet I managed to run into someone I knew. Off in the distance I could hear, "Hi Jill." Like a distant echo, it repeated. Vaguely familiar, never associated with myself until someone grabbed my arm and the words made their way through the layers of protective strategies to block out the many many sounds around me. We ended up taking the same flight but I didn't see her again until 9 hours into attempts to entertain myself resulted in a wander around the strange creature hurtling us though the upper atmospheres of travel. I was standing in another que, this one for a bathroom when I saw her sitting a few rows back, and waved.

I'm home. Clothes which I now resent strewn around the floor. Gifts and parcels long ago bought unpacked and Ruby petted, the boyfriend revisited.

xoxo
Jill

on my home

I photographed 3 Banksy's today while on a really great walk around town with Michael's younger sister victoria. Later I met his older sister, Trish. They are clearly both very fond of Michael. His whole family is really really nice, and I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to have met them.

It's been a really fantatsic ending to my whole trip.

xoxo
Jill

Ps.. see you when I get home...

Brasserie

Brasserie, originally uploaded by smoooch.

A favorite, snapped in Paris.

Bristol

Yesterday I arrived by train to Bristol to spend my last days in England with Michael's sister Victoria and her husband Martin and the enchanting 4 year old Katherine.

Today, Katherine stood on a chair in the kitchen and in an exasperated voice, exclaimed to her mother, "but I caaannnnn'tttt wait not another moment for my breakfast." Oddly, it was reminiscent of of Michael saying, "But I can't wait another moment, I'm going to expire immediately if I don't have a coffee."

Mnn...genetics.

Later, we'll go into town and I'll have a chance to photograph 2 Banksy's that are here. Ironically, Banksy is originally from |Bristol, but I don't think I'll have time to find all the peices he has here.

But I know of this one and this one.

So a bit of graffiti and a bit of the fella's family. A really nice ending to a pretty fantastic trip.

xoxo
jill

tick tock

I can't believe my trip is nearly over. Depending on the moment it seems like I have been away for along time or sometimes it seems like it was only yesterday. Travelling with 2 changes of clothes in a backpack is a funny endevor to take on. In the midst of it, it can suck. You get dirty. Your clothes are smelly slept in creatures. You sleep in rooms with people who snore loudly or smell funny or won't cease the ongoing party or they get up dreafully early and slam door and zip and unzip bags without mercy for your slumbering ears. When you travel alone, you suffer through navigating foreign languages in dingy bus and train stations. It seems as though the whole world can see that you are alone and vulnerable and confused. And especially the scary people definitly know this, or at least that's what you tell yourself.

In order to travel one must inevitable transport oneself from one place to another. It's a dreadful to take this on.

"Bonjour, je n'parle pas francais. Tu parle anglais?"

Then you mangle your way through a conversation hoping that you are booking the right room for the right day and the right ticket going to the right place and you understand the time and where to get the bus. You need to navigate phone numbers 20 didgits long and try and get directions to that far away room in a dorm and hopefully arrive there safe all with not loosing your camera, bag, money or mind. Of course you need to repeat this for everything you do, from getting directions or following a map for the laundrette, grocery store, or anything else you want to see or need. And you walk and walk and walk. If you get on that bus, do you know where it's going?? How will you get back if you get too far?? Taxi's are not an option when you shoestring it around.

I think it many ways its better to do this alone. I would be much more distracted by another person to keep a watchful eye on all my belongings. I would get careless and compacent with another person travelling with me. There is a sense of security provided by another person and it's not reliable in the times you may need it the most. True, whn your lost at that distant tram station, with the sun setting quickly, it's less scary with your friend there, but when your both laughing in a relaxed moment and then next thing you know, you've dropped your wallet somewhere.. well then its not so great.

Poole has been really lovely. The weather has continued to be warm and lovely and sunny. Every Tuesday night, bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts come from all around to park down on the quay and admire each others bikes and matching outfits. It was quite a specticle. In fact it was as though Sturgis had come to Poole for the day. I had a pint of my favorite Strongbow cider with blackcurrent cordial, of which you can't get in most 'pubs' in Canada despite their immitation of the English way of life. Later I had an amazing dinner of marinated chicken with mint, almonds, and artichokes in a cream sause, with basmati rice. Later in my hotel, I had a 'sticky toffee pudding' while I watched the TV. I slept like a rock.

I leave tomorrow for Bristol to visit the boyfriend's family. Looking forward to it. I've spoken to them on the phone and they're looking forward to meeting me. I think it will be lots of fun.

Strangely, I am looking forward to getting back to my own bed, my feather duvet and pillows, my cat, the boyfriend and having an incoming flow of money rather than just the outgoing, and the usual routine. And of course a bit more travelling in my own country....

xoxo
Jill

changes

Lovely how a big bed, feather pillows, a TV and a private bathroom can equal so much comfort after slumming in hostels and overnight sleeps on the bus.

Too bad that when I flicked on the TV, the news of the school shooting in the US was plastered on all 3 available channels. My thoughts go out to those family and firends that have lost someone so senselessly.

riding the rails

IMGP4366, originally uploaded by smoooch.

There's something that 's really exhilerating about navigating huge subway sytems like the London Tube.

Having a blast in London despite asnag with picking up a package I left behind. Probably the lack of sleep and proper food.

xoxo
Jill

transporting

Holy moly. I cannot believe the trip I have had. If I could have afforded the train, it would have clearly been the better choice. I jumped on a train in Brugge that was packed and ended up spending the 1 hr trip sitting on the floor in the train car boarding area. I got to Brussels literally 2 hours early as I thought the bus left at 10 pm but it actually left at 10:45, or at least it was supposed to. Afetr walking around and eating the only food that was available to me out of vending machines, the bus arrived an hour late and didn't leave for 2 as the bus driver had to meticulously record every detail of every passport on the full to capacity bus. Couldn't that have been done in advance??

During the trip we stopped for 1/2 hour at a gas station for reasons unknown. We went through the Calais (France)/ Dover (England) border. Had to get off again when we boarded the ferry and have our bags x-rayed, get back on the bus and then get off for the ferry trip. There, I had the unfortunate incident of being cornered by a fellow passenger who asked me how Christianity was in Canada and used that comment to launch into a nonstop explanation of his faith. I broke away.

However, at one point, and this is a bit funny, I went in search of hot food and saw a que in line for what looked like breakfast. So I fell in line. The usual English breaky of sunnyside up eggs (yuck. luckily there was scrambled.), fried bread (Really, what are they thinking? That and cold toast? I don't get the appeal but I had some.), ham bacon, some kind of fat sausage, fried tomatoes and french fries. Packets of jam, brown sauce, malt vinegar, and ketchup waited for us at the end. And it seemed that no matter what you had, you paid £3.20. OK. Well, it also seemed that the room was too small for all the passengers on the boat and that they only ones eating this breakfast were quite burly and tattooed. Then I saw the door sign that read "For Transport Drivers Only". Oops. I masqueraded as a lorry driver and got a cheap breaky. Best part of the trip.

Well, I have finally arrived in London. It's 9 am and I was supposed to be here at 6. Off to find London Fields, the home of a friend of Michael's and where I stayed when I first arrived, to pick up a gift for Michael's niece and then onwards to Poole for activities that because are work related are never mentioned in detail here.

Hope everyone back home is doing well. I miss you.

xoxo
Jill

last day in Brugge

I trundled off this morning to the closest laundromat as the clothes need to be cleaned. I have actually managed to accomplish this just before I leave a country. I cleaned them before I left the Czech Republic and before I left France and it seemed fitting I would do them again before I leave Belgium. Here's to changing into my pajama's and back into my clean clothes in front of strangers!!

I take a late train back to Brussels today. I'm scheduled to get on a 10 pm bus departure for London, which arrives tomorrow at 6am. I'll try and put the bag in storage while I do a bit of running around and then I get a train to Poole where I have a hotel reservation waiting for me. This is the point where work picks up the tab.

Well, my last day and I think I'll take another bike ride into the country side and around town. It's an hour to the Dutch border. I wonder if I can do it. Probably not, but maybe I'll see Little Bo Peep again. Oh, there's some Beguinage Nuns here that I'll stop in and say hello to as well.

ps. take a look through the link as there are some great pictures of Brugge that pretty well represent what I am seeing everyday.

xoxo
Jill

bit of this bit of that

Backpacking with one pair of shoes and 2 changes of clothes is a drag. There's no way to know what the weather is like so you inevitably end up carrying something you don't need and not carrying what you do. Why didn't I bring a book? Why do I have 8 tops? I consistently worn 3-4. I have washed my socks, underwear and bra in the shower with me and I only have 1 towel. The other day I had to drop my pants to pee in a park and I sprayed my pant leg. I've worn those pants 3 more days since and I'll finally do my laundry tomorrow.

Anybody that tells you backpacking Europe is a barrel of laughs is either lying or has never done it. In reality, its a job no one pays you to do.

PS. A special thank you to my sister who gave me a small change perse that had a keyring. I have attached that each day to whatever clothing I am wearing. I never feared a pickpocket since.

xoxo
Jill

I went into a shop today that seemed rather interesting, or at least the man in the shop seemed very welcoming. There were very striking dolls in the window. I popped in and had a chat with an artist, Phillip Heath. He makes all the dolls by hand with a process that I can't begin to describe, and they are all based on photographs he has taken of street children. Further discussions revealed that he worked with organizations like UNICEF in the past and had a life history of working with abused children. The profits from his dolls supports his life and continues to support his commitment tohelping abused or homeless children.

Take a look at the website.

what I have learned so far

• I found this cheese shop, Androuet while I was in Paris and had a very interesting chat with the owner. He mentioned that the owners of a cheese shop in Vancouver come and visit him. I was surprised at all the knowledge I had retained about the various stories about cheese I once knew. I felt passionate and interested again in the subject and feel like I should at least one day a month in a cheese shop or maybe open my own one day. I will start with the one in Vancouver (or maybe the one in Paris will have me back?? ha!)
  
• I still feel like I would like to run or own a hostel somewhere in the world. I have felt this way for 11 years and am no closer than I was when I first discovered this feeling. How do I make this happen??
• I want to grow my hair out into a short boy cut. I have seen lots and lots of women with this look and it appeals to me. Right now, I am not that far off.
  
• I want to walk 10000 steps every day, even maybe more. Even though I detest walking normally, I have come to find it very calming and love my little pedometer.
• I love the idea of lunches of bits of cheese and meat and bread eaten wherever, and off the brown papers their wrapped in. Must do this more at home. I also like the idea of little bottles of wine sold at the grocery store. I wish I could do this more at home. First thing in order is a picnic at Trout Lake with cheeses and meats wrapped in brown paper.
• It is lonely to travel alone, and sometimes scary. But in the end, you are without the compromises and sometimes dramas that can accompany a companion. For to have the freedom of making all your own decisions you give up the fun and sharing of a companion.
• Cause and effect: When something bad happens, it may not be because you did or said something bad; it may not be the effect. The bad thing may be at the start of the lesson, the cause, that in turn creates an effect that is unexpected. I met a girl who in a moment of distraction had her bag snatched. It contained all her cash (and alot!), her credit cards, camera, blackberry, ipod etc.. She kept saying she must have done something horrible in the past for that to happen to her now. I said, maybe it happened to force you to stay in Brussels an extra day to prevent something bad from happening. Or maybe it was something that happened to push your life into an experience of growth and something better.
• Always travel with a good book for when you are in countries where English is not the 1st language and everything is unreadable.
  

What have you learned lately??

xox
Jill

more Brugge

My sleep in my little room was nice, if not a little lumpy. I walked down the hall to the bathroom last night and there on a ledge was Van Gogh's 'Room at Arles' which I mentioned below. I brought it into my room. Very nice. The furniture is almost the same. This morning I had the distinct impression of a cat walking on the mattress near the pillow. I could very clearly feel the depressions in the surface near me and when i would open my eyes It would disappear. When I closed them again, it come back. Clearly my room is haunted with the spirit of a cat.

Brugge on the other hand seems to be the holiday destination of the well heeled European. The people are mostly middle aged, garish taste and weather exposed leather skin. Sagging ochre tanned decolettage abound. The streets are packed with them and their more tatseful offspring and the shops are clearly in line with their needs. I saw this really nice, simple dress in a shop window and popped into chech the price; it was 138 Euro. A little steep for me. Nontheless, the streets are full of people, the streets a mash of bicycles, tiny cars, horse drawn carriages and SUV's. Yes, SUV's. I was also very surprised to see them in a tiny canal ridden place like Brugge.

I took a boat ride through the canals. Best 7 Euros spent apart from the bike ride. You pile into a boat with 20 other tourists and drift thoughtfully under the bridges and around corners. Other tourist boats pass and every time you go under a bridge, the other tourists looking down on you wave. And some wave back. I got on and sat next to a little boy:

Little Boy: Mommy, I don't want to sit next to a stranger.
Me: Well my name is Jill. There! We're not strangers anymore.
He scowled.
The mother: It's OK, she's from the States too.
Me: No, Canada.
She slightly scowled at me too.
I turned and faced the other direction.

The views from the boat were great, like postcards. I took lots. I wish I could show you but I'm not going to risk another loss and the new USB stick seems to be having troubles. Maybe this operating system needs an upgrade. Sorry. For now, no pictures.

I may hire another bike and zip around again. Apparently if you go past Damme you can ride to the Dutch border. Maybe I should take my passport for stamping?? It's the cobblestones that deter me. Other than the boat trip, I haven't done anything touristy. I don't really feel like standing in line to climb the 300 stairs to the town belfry this time around.

xoxo
Jill

Stephanie and Stephanie

Stephanie and Stephanie, originally uploaded by smoooch.

This is Stephanie and Stephanie, both from Melbourne. We shared a hostel toom in Montmartre, Paris for 3 nights or so. The only other person in the room was this guy who came in very late and left very early in a suit. One of the Stephanie's claimed that in the morning he would walk from the bathroom to his suitcase etc.. with nothing on. I would bear witness to that phenomenon a few days later. Weirdo.

These girls had a grand sense of humor. They had a photo of them standing out in the middle of Chaps Elyesses with these candy fangs in their mouths. It was really funny. I suggested they do a whole series; in front of the Notre Damn, the Eiffel Tower and so on. My last night in the hostel they bought fangs and wanted to have a photo taken with me but just as I snapped this, a gang of learing Morrocans came into the hostel and distracted us. Besides, the fangs are starting to dissolve.

Really lovely girls. I hope they keep in touch.

-Jill

on Brugge

I am staying at a very nice little hotel in the old part of Brugge. My tiny room is on the top 3rd floor, up a very narrow and steep winding stairwell with what I observed to be a very rickety railing. One quick stumble and you and your backpack would crash right through it to land on the faded and worn carpet below. The room has one little wood framed bed, one little desk and one little chair. On the other side there is a small sweet wardrobe. There is also a little window with a little view. You know that Van Gogh painting? That's my room, but smaller.
The hostel has a resident dog; a Sharpie named Sophia that is, get this, having her period so she walks around with a special diaper on. Interesting. I would have rather had a resident cat, but you can't have everything. I do have free Internet and a kitchen to use. Tonight's dinner incidentally is spinach tortellini with bolognese sauce, bread and boursin. Which is highly anticipated after the ride I have had.

I rented a bicycle and rode all over Brugge. I had to stop and buy a shoulder bag to carry my camera, maps, notebook and pen. My feet don't hurt now but my ass does after all the cobblestones I encountered. I rode all the way to nearby Damme. It's about 1/2 hour. It was just about the nicest thing ever. Riding along a canal on a tree lined narrow rode in the Belgium countryside trying to remember the words for "in Flanders's field's, the poppies grow row on row...". The view was something else. I passed 3 windmills. I seriously thought I would see a Flemish nun milking a cow in wooden shoes. It was incredibly picturesque.

And then I happened upon Little Bow Peep instead, except she wasn't wearing a flouncy dress, but she did have the curved walking stick and a bunch of bleating sheep. They were all along the road munching the clover. Of course, I got off the bike and took lots of pictures of the little lambs with their pink ears. All these sheep just walked around me and you could reach out and pet the wee ones. You know, they aren't as soft as they look. But one of them left behind a woolen fleece tangled on a bit of a branch and I thought about collecting it to stuff between my toes for comfort, but do my feet need to smell THAT bad?

Damme was damn boring. If they filmed a movie there, I couldn't find anyplace worthy of a location scout. It was full of quaint houses, and perfect lawns. No canals really, just some swamp water. I stopped in a off the beaten track (and you didn't have to go far) place for something to eat. Everything seemed to have meat in it so I settled for a glass of coke and asked for a big bottle of water. I get a 1 litre GLASS bottle of water. How am I supposed to transport that?? I drank the whole thing and the coke. The bill was 8 Euro. I left Damme and 1/2 hr later headed for the first bathroom I could find.

Now, I'm settling in for a relaxing evening and an early night. Tomorrow are the street markets and some regular sightseeing. Did you know the blood of Christ is here in Brugge? No, me neither, but I think I may try and see it.

how to post comments

1. Click the little red word that says "0 comments" or it will say 1 or 2 etc if someone has already left comments.
2. A window pops up and there will be a box that says, "Leave your Comment". Type your thoughtful and considerate prose in that box.
3. Mom: pay attention here..Scroll down to where there are three buttons and it will give an option of "Other" or "Anonymous". Choose "OTHER".
4. When you click on the "other", 2 lines pop up that asks for your name and web page. Fill them in accordingly. If you are my mom, type Mom where it says name, etc..If you don't have a web page, leave it blank.
5. Thus, if you're my mom, when your comment is published later (all comments are moderated through me first), it will say "Mom says..." rather than "anonymous says...". And it's better that way.
6. Preview first if you'd like, then click, "Publish Comments". I get an email letting me read the comment before it appears. The next time I go to post a comment, I publish yours. Make sense?? Hope so.
   
7. Good luck.
8. xoxo Jill
   

I am a girl, but I don't have a pearl earring but I am packing an useless rain coat..

Today I am going to rent a bike and ride along the canals to nearby Damme which is where part of the movie, "Girl with a Pearl Earring" was filmed. Should be very relaxing and a change of pounding the cobblestones.

I have a small issue between my 1st and 2nd toes. It started as a blister and then popped. Then it turned into something between a callus and a corn. Now it is a blister underneath the thick callused skin and it's quite annoying and sore. It really needs a break from the 18km walks, so a bike ride is in order. Incidentally, I do believe I am finally loosing weight from all this walking.

Incidentally, it has not rained one day while I have been in Europe. I don't believe it has rained anywhere in Europe. When I was in Paris the weather was in the 20's and I read a headline that Brusssels is supposed to break a heat record with a predicted 32 degrees for this weekend. Alternatively, my mother in Red Deer, Alberta says that it has snowed and that spring just keeps getting delayed. I do believe that Europe will become completly uninhabitable during certain parts of the year and the only people who will be in these cities will be fountain caretakers or backpackers wearing very little.

xox
Jill

A Treat

I have safely arrived in Brugge. It's alot like Cesky Krumlov; medieval, quaint with a canal or two. I shelpt my way to the HI Youth Hostel which was nearly 2 km from the train station. It's cold, ornary, rule orientated and reminds me of another hospital. And it's outside of the old quaint part of town. No fun at 18 Euro. True I could rent a bike all day for 9 Euro, but then again, the cost of internet is 1.5 Euro for 1/2 hr!!!

So I went looking. And it's a quaint hotel in the old part and I can get a private room with shared facilities for 26 Euro. Breakfast, the internet, bedding, warm and friendly reception are all included. It's the Hotel Lybeer and I'm having a little treat after so much walking and the weird and dirty Brussels.

xoxo
Jill

Score

My last day in Brussels and I did walk back to a few of the good spots. I wrote about one here. This time, the snooty Blonde woman was gone and a friendly Spanish construction worker was there and he let me inside (I don't think she would be too happy to know that.).

So Lucky me, I have looked out through these windows.



I'm off to Brugge in a few hours. I have the momentary impression that Brugge is Belgium's version of Venice. I envision quaint boat trip down scenic canals and quaint cafe's and well rested feet.

224

IMGP5452, originally uploaded by smoooch.

for a family of 4

IMGP5417, originally uploaded by smoooch.

another tiny car

IMGP5505, originally uploaded by smoooch.

right now as I type

Due to the location of the Youth Hostel I am staying at in Brussels, I am in a heavily Muslim area, I think I have mentioned that. There is a massive crowd in the street right now as someone has died in the building, I believe upstairs in the apartment above the internet place. Women are yelling and crying and people are EVEYWHERE. It alternatively reminds me of Morocco and some thing I have seen on TV after a car bomb has gone off. But this is the seat of the EU and not Iraq.

And I am the only caucasion girl on the whole block, typing away while this all goes on just outside the door. There are police and ambulances and the sounds are something else. I wouldn't dare take out my camera for this, as it seems my presence may be unrespectful at best. The police have come into the internet cafe and there are sirens and general commotion. I feel like I am a war correspondent filing a news report. The yelling and noise and commotion is crazy, but sounds of grief not anger.

I think I'll get out and get back safely to the hostel before the tide turns.

the saga of lost photo files

Well, I don't think it's a complete loss. Did I think I was going to blow up my photos into monstrous proportions? Not exactly. If I am unabale to use the flickr files for suitable printing, there is a lovely program called Qoop that will be able to print at least 8x10's and 8x12's. It gets a bit sketchy any biggerthan that.

I came back to the dodgy internet place with a translater and alas the files are unretrievable. But as my lovely mother pointed out, the letterboxes and doorknobs would not work so well as huge prints, but smaller as a series.

By the way, Mom: it was great to talk to you today. It kind of reminded myself of when I travelled Europe before and I would phone home wheneverI was having difficulty. And it was a snag, but certainly not the end of my visit in Brussels.

I don't think I will go back to the walking tours again and grapple at getting the same photos twice. It's not worth it. It will feel frantic and rushed and won't be any fun. But I may go early in the morning for a few doors that I remember. I'm glad I saw what I did. I am looking forward to getting out of this crazy neighborhood and visiting Brugge for 3 relaxing days. Who knows maybe there is a whole show on Brugge waiting.

I hope your class went well and the weather possibly improved, but then again, it's Alberta.

xoxo
Jill

from the top of the Notre Damn

IMGP5288, originally uploaded by smoooch.

always watching over the city of lights

IMGP5286, originally uploaded by smoooch.

ribbon

IMGP5524, originally uploaded by smoooch.

Beautiful, isn't it.

xox
Jill

ps. feeling ok about the photo catastrophe. There isn't really anything I can do, but move on, right. But it was a rather large jug of expensive milk I spilt, so clearly a day full of kindness and treats for myself is in order. Hopefully, all will work out on the Flickr end of things.

xoxo
Jill

SUV's are a rare sight in Europe.

IMGP5508, originally uploaded by smoooch.

But I have seen some insanely cute and very tiny vehicles. I would have to say scooters were the popular mode of transportation in Paris and every 7-10 car is a Smart Car. I see an SUV maybe every 50 cars or so. Otherwise, all are small and very compact.

xox
Jill

they're gone

I ran and got another USB stick this morning. I ran back and waited for this crappy little Internet hole in the wall to open. The files are gone. The system deletes all temporary files when its shut down. I can't believe my stupidity. The original large format files of all those art nouveau photos are gone. I can only pray that what I can download from Flickr later on, will be suitable for printing.

I can do 2 things: I can stay in Brussels another 3 days and miss Brugge and recreate my 15km walks and photos or I can cut my losses and move on.

Mom, what do you think I should do?

I think I need to get out of this neighborhood and definitly this dodgy internet cafe. I can't believe I could be so stupid with my photos. I could spend the rest of the day crying, but I have one last walk and one last stab at getting some photos.

Apart from the Art Nouveau, I really don't like Brussels much. On a side note, I have emailed Flickr in hopes of peace of mind knowing that the files I have on Flickr can be blown up to 8x10 or larger. Keeping my fingers crossed.

watching the looking

IMGP5532, originally uploaded by smoooch.

I stumbeld upon a free photo show in a park today. The people looking at the photos made for a few good ones. I approached these 2 women afterwards to let them kknow that I had snapped their photo. They were both Catholic nuns. I told them I had taken hundreds of photos since I had come abroad and that the one I took of them was nearly my favorite. In terms of any pictures I have taken of people, it is.

xox
Jill