Worst blogger ever..

Usually when I don't post for a while it's because I'm not doing much and I don't think anyone would be interested in reading about it. In this most recent absence, this has not been the case, it's just that every time I sat down to write, I'd think about everything I had to update you all on and it was just too daunting. BUT in the spirit of the olympics, I have decided to do a "highlight reel"- a point form list of the most interesting/best moments of the last 2 months, and I promise to be a better blogger from here on in. I think my last post was NYE so I suppose I should start chronologically:

-Spending New Year's Eve with Chelsea and Briana and watching the Gastown steam clock strike midnight and welcoming 2010 with a gigantic group of Korean tourists (who are apparently known for their love of the steam clock)

-Amanda coming to stay with me for a few nights before she flew back to London- we took an epic, totally drenched walk on the seawall

-Finally finding and joining a new swim team- I was nervous at first as I hadn't been in the water for 2 years, but the coaching is great and they don't let us slack off- I'm really pleased with how quickly my fitness is coming back. We are going to a few meets in the spring so it will be nice to race again.

-Standing on West Georgia St with all the colleagues from the hotel, waving Canadian flags, waiting for the Olympic torch to pass by on it's way to the opening ceremonies

-Operating the elevator in the hotel for Princess Ann and the Governor General

-Being in BC place, singing O Canada with 50, 000 other people while Alex Bilodeau received the first gold medal ever won by a Canadian on Canadian soil

-Seeing Barenaked Ladies and singing 'If I had a million dollars" with 50,000 other people..

There are lots of other moments but I haven't got time to write them all- Ted is in town and we're going for a run.. maybe this will have to be a multi-part post...

In the meantime, here are a few pictures..

C

Happy New Year!

What a crazy year....I'll do a year-end wrap-up tomorrow, but for now, I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year's Eve. Be safe and have fun!!! xoxo C

Just a normal day at the office

The hotel hosts an annual Dickens lunch... they asked me in my first week if I'd dress up- I didn't want to say no since I was new...it was fun though- we sold 50/50 tix.

Brrrrrr...

I wasn't sure if anyone still reads this, but Kristina mentioned the other day that I hadn't updated for a while, so that's one person....... maybe there are others, who knows!?

So I've been back in BC for just over 3 weeks and so far things are going well! I really like my job and I've already found an apartment- it's tiny, but I like the neighbourhood and it's really close to the hotel-it also has a gym which is great! I've been sort sick since I moved in last week, but as soon as I feel a little better I'm going to try to make it a daily routine. Although I am happy to be back, I do miss lots of things about the UAE (and a few about Cairo, but not many!)- friends obviously, cheap mani-pedis but most of all, the sunshine!! it is SOOOOOOO cold here! It might even snow this weekend- it's terrible! Just re-inforcing the fact that I am not designed to live anywhere that gets below zero...

So speaking of Kristina- it was great to catch up with her and Cole, as well as Adam, who is no longer a baby, but a little boy- but the most exciting part was meeting little Allyson Elizabeth for the first time. She's a very calm baby (unlike her brother was!!!)- I held her for ages and she didn't say a word! I can't wait to watch her grow up with her brother! Congratulations Cole and Kristina!!

Okay, my new favourite show, GLEE, is on, so I should go! Hope you're all doing well!

xoxo C

it's raining, it's pouring....

Wow, so a lot has changed in just a week! New continent, new country, new city, new job! One of the things I'm not so happy about is the new weather- man is it ever cold and wet here! I really miss the sunshine!



I'm currently looking for a home which seems to be a daunting task but hopefully I'll find something soon Meanwhile, here's a pic of Mike and his 'stach he's growing for movember (oh and a GIGANTIC canadian flag)

Hope you're all well! xoxo C

In Cairo again

So I landed in Cairo on Tuesday night- never something I'm super happy about, but it was okay this time as I'm only here for two days. I think most of you know, but I'm not sure if the news has reached all of my "fans"- I'm on my way back to BC for a job in Vancouver. It's cold here, at least 10 degrees cooler than the UAE and it's still in the mid 20s- I don't know how I'm going to survive in the single digits in Canada..ugh!

Although I'm never thrilled about being in Cairo, It has been great catching up with my cairo friends- a running friend picked me up at the airport, I'm staying with Ryan and Esther and Matt is just a few streets away. Yesterday I stopped by the hotel to finalize some stuff and it was great to see it in operation- everything looks fabulous and it was nice to see some of my old team-mates again. Things about cairo I did not miss: the pollution (I already have sore throat), the traffic (took me an hour to go 10K last night), the smell, garbage everywhere, street animals both living and dead, being started at... just to name a few..

Last night we went to see some sufi dancing at the local community centre.. they weren't true sufis or whirling dervishes (the ones who spin themselves into a spiritually enlightened trance) because at one point they turned into a horse, but it was neat to see nonetheless...

Tomorrow morning I get on the plane for BC- can't wait to see you when I get there!

Here are some pics of the dancing...

xoxo C

A few more pics...