365 days a year...

Well the time has come to decide when im coming home, and i decided i just wouldnt be happy with myself unless i went for the full "canada experience" so i've decided to stay until October 3rd 2005 (arriving at 11.25GMT to be exact). This leaves me with mixed emotions, happy that ive got loads of time to do everything i want, but a little worried about how exactly im going to finance it. With the Shaughnessy job coming to a close (3 days to go!!) i'll have to find a new job fast, and to be honest, working 60 hours a week wasnt why i came here so it'll have to be well paid too. I'm hopeful tho, you never know whats round the corner :)

Ian did a very cool list of things to do while in Vancouver, so im going to attempt something similar. Perhaps better (only kidding Ian). Every month i'll look back and tick or cross the ones I managed or didnt manage

Simon's monthly Vancouver plan

January
Go snowboarding in Whistler
Find a job paying $10+ an hour
See Coldplay
See a Canucks hockey match
Get drunk more often

February
Snowboarding on the local mountains
Go to a gig in richards on richards or commadore ballroom
Go to a good club
Rent a bass guitar
Go to the Storm brewery tour

March
Properly explore California in my rented car
Buy new camera memory card and take millions of pictures
Live like a king for 3 days in San Francisco (whilst staying at a hostel)
See a top sporting event, preferably NBA
Visit Universal Studios
Spend the night in Yosemite National Park
Buy loads of cheap beer at the airport and maybe some fags for Gavin

April
Go to a Canadian soccer match and laugh at their standard of play
Start playing football once a week in a sunday league (not necessarily on Sundays)
Start swimming in kits pool even if it is "brass monkeys"
Visit Vancouver island, Victoria and hopefully Tofino with my mam
Visit stanley park
Go to the top of grouse mountain

May
Have a BBQ on kits beach
Sit on my balcony with a beer watching the world go buy
Eat at Gotham

June
Generally lounge around in the sun all month

July
Give Anthony and whoever else wants to come a tour of Vancouver
Go to the indianapolis grand prix
Visit the motor museum thing
Take some quality photos

August
Convince a friend to come to Vancouver
Show this friend Vancouver...
And go to New York with them

September
Embark of grand tour of Cananda in a car
Drive coast to coast stopping off at interesting places along the way...
Such as Montreal and Toronto
Leave 2238 Macdonald Street

October
Stay at the Hi-Hostel downtown Vancouver and claim my free night
Fly Home


I'll try to do updates on the progress of this every month
Simonx

Birthday!

At long last i've had chance to put my birthday pictures on! Enjoy...

(Andy's impression of a guitarist was known to woo the ladies world wide)

(A lovely photo of Ian - also everyone else)

(Chris and Debs seem to be having fun, well Chris seems to be at least)

(Well, you've got to have a couple of pints on your birthday haven't you?)

(Me and Ellie - pre-drunk, obviously)

(Chris generously decided to pay the bill)

Busy December...

(last year's festival of lights in the Van Dusen Botanical Garden where I work)

Well the Shaughnessy restaurant job is going well but working mornings at one job and evenings at another is taking its toll. Luckily though there's only 3 weeks to go but the Shaughnessy job is about to get a whole lot more difficult when the "festival of lights" begins. Its a show that takes place every night through december (except christmas day) and with my restaurant being in the middle of the garden means we'll be very busy and I'll only get 1 day off through December! Luckily though the tips should be pretty nice and with the money saved im hoping to take a trip down to San Fransisco in April, stay tuned for more on that...

Before i forget i'd like to thank everyone for coming out for my birthday, i'll post the pics up soon. I've heard from good authority that a good time was had by all and that Andy in particular enjoyed himself :)

Simonx