Art Attack!

Hello All! I have had quite the busy week, I worked full time 8-4 Monday through Friday at the Nursery I work at as the kids have a week off (lucky). I loved it, it was often tough to get out of bed at 6:30,  I came home knackered, but it was a wonderful experience. It was a lot more one on one with the kids, getting to know them, and doing what they would like to do. I got to learn more with how to deal with the kids, what to do in certain situations, lots of learning! I also got to play, which I loved, doing kids stuff and just enjoying myself. I also got to have a routine for a week, which I have been craving, and will be really sad not to go to work and be busy all day doing something I adore. It does give me the push to go get some routine though, resumes have been dropped off and fingers are crossed.

Its strange it being Halloween time and not feeling like it is. It's not a big thing here, and not really celebrated very much, definitely not in a North American way. Actually, it is actually seen as a dark celebration by alot, and that's why they don't do it. So strange when it is not thought of that at all in Canada, its just a great day to dress up, get candy, get spooked and have some fun! I do like Halloween, and am surprisingly sad that I haven't done much for it. It makes me miss home seeing all the Halloween pictures on Facebook and knowing I won't get to enjoy the time like the rest of my friends have and do the usual Halloween things, pumpkin carving, corn mazes, costume making and having a good wholesome party. You had better bet next Halloween will be a big one for me.

So, this weekend instead of partying in costumes, I made Pumpkin Cupcakes for my co-workers, as a Halloween treat, which was about as much as I could do because Halloween is a no-no in a school. Also, I did a craft. Whatah comparison, partying and crafting, pretty obvious who had the better time. I made a frame to hold pictures of my lovely friends, it turned out really well. I like doing crafty things, its just getting the ideas to make something, this idea was great and I love the finished product, a beautiful way to display my friends! I do like doing crafts though, and am already storming ideas of crafts to do with the children for Christmas, and already eager to do them. Also on my Halloween weekend I have had a To Do list that I have been happily crossing things off of, nothing better then the feeling of feeling you've accomplished something. Looking forward to the whole list being done, yet that never really happens for me.

As I was sorting through pictures to put in my frame, I just thought "Wow, my friends are hot". I have beautiful friends, inside and out. They are so supportive for me, always cheering me on and cheering me up. Encouraging me to enjoy my time here and follow my heart to what is right for me to do. I love them very much, and couldn't ask for better friends, being here is so hard without them. As being here is sometimes hard, and I always have a good friend by my side when I find myself in these spots. Though I know, they are by my side, just a few thousand miles away. I am growing to be more independent, and find the happiness in all situations, making a great effort to keep postive and now trying to not look back and not look to far forward but focus on now. As I can't change or go back to what has happened, and I'll never really know what's to come. I can reley on the moment though, and make what I can make of it, and hope to make good. It's hard being away from them, especially my boyfriend who I can't be with on our 6 months, I know my realtionships are strong and that when I see my friends it will be the greatest feeling and we will fall right back into strong relationships.

I watched the Grinch this weekend. I love Christmas, I love Christmas movies and I love Dr.Seuss. I cannot wait for Christmas, mostly because a great friend, Tedi, and my boyfriend are coming to see me in December. Now, it is not everyone, but it is a little piece of home, and I cannot wait. I'm excited to show them around, and see all there is too see (as I haven't seen some of it yet either) and have some social interactions, which I have sadly been missing lately. I am so looking forward to it, showing them the beautiful sights and shoving their faces with tea and biscuits. If only all my loved ones could come see me, that would make me explode happy (what would that look like...?) It also saves me a large sum of money sending home presents in their bags rather then mailing them, as bad as that is to put on the postive list.

Now being here two months (can't believe it's been that long, and I have survived that long) I am hearing less and less of accents. They are obviously still there, but I think I hace just grown acustomed to them and don't hear them as different.  I am beginning to think I sound different and silly rather then them sounding silly. I now think I sound ridiculous when I say water. And I am finding that I have to use English words more, especially around the young kids, as they look at me baffled as if I have two heads or something having no idea what I am trying to say. I say things like bin, biscuit, toilet (instead of washroom/bathroom), jumper so that people understand me. I am thinking when I come come I will sound silly for saying those words. Whatever, being English is cute.

Cider has been my drink of choice from over the summer, and I found this here. My love for cider continues!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing. No joke, they were delicious

What got me through the long week, and general English life, tea and biscuits

I am still confused by  English money and take a little too long staring at all the change in my hand when paying for something. Debit is often used.

I already have my advent calender, Where's Wally (Uhm, I dunno, but I know where Waldo is). Already psyched for December 1st.

Drawing I go in my week at the nursery, that girl is actually me, quite the resemblence, hey?

Naked frame. Painted an old frame of my Uncle's, and put wire across

Wa lah! Mini clothes pegs and its holds pictures that put a smile on my face!

Found this little guy hanging out in the curtain by the door. I let him be, it's getting cold out there, I understand.



Tree looks like it's melting, weird!

 Happy Halloween all, hope its wonderfully spooky!
Love from England,
Jessie

Lean Mean Fighting Machine

It has been a pretty uninteresting week. I joined a gym, which I am super stoked about. I went in for orientation, and they gave me a routine to do, and they will help me update it in 8 weeks as I hit a plateau. I tought this was great, as I would have probably aimlessly walked around the gym not knowing what to do, and not get a good workout at all. And I am more excited to go to the gym because I know what I have to do, and I don't have to make it up. I have been twice so far and loving it. I have energy throughout my workout (which is and hour and a half long, but feels nowhere close) and I leave the gym energized and happy. I think I am going to become a gym-y. I can also take their group classes, which they have tons of, so I will do an update on that when I attend one, which will be a whole new experience! It's just nice to have something to do with my time.

I had yet another family gathering, for 3 birthdays. It was nice, we sat out in the glorious sunshine and had drinks ( I didn't realize how much I needed one, and my was it lovely). I am still very quiet with family, I don't really know where/how I fit. They have all grown up together and spent lots of time together, so I feel quite awkward sometimes and don't really know what to do with myself. I feel someout left out, but that is obviously going to happen as this is the first large amount of time I've spent in England and around this family. I hope to find my spot soon.

I think I have grown comfortable with the fact that I don't have a job, and therefore ready to go get a job. I know, this doesn't make much sense, that's just my feeling right now. I am going to give a right effort this week, and try and get me a job. I know I am always nattering about jobs, how I don't have one, how I need to get one. It annoys me that I just talk about it, how hard it is. I am going to make an effort this week to get this sad unemployment song off repeat. I hope I can manage that.

The other day, my boyfriend and I were have a decision about uniqueness, and if there is really such thing as unique. And I was of the mind that there isn't really, because if everyone and everything is unique, doesn't the word just lose its meaning? He brought up the fact of snowflakes, that they're all snowflakes, but no two snowflakes are the same, and that's how people are. And I said, if they're all unique, doesn't that make them the same. Now, I know my logical doesn't make much sense, I was just exploring the idea, all things are obviously unique, but does that not make them the same in aspects? It was just a silly, interesting and surprisingly deep conversation. In the end, I think I am unique, and everyone is. But there is unique in the way you look, and unique in the way you are. You look different from everyone else, and everyone has different personalities, but in your general outlook, can you be unique from others. I really had nothing in my idea I see now, it proved and interesting thought though! I am sure this is gone to gobbality gook, so I will end it there.

With all this talk of unique, came the thought of : Is there such thing as a new idea? Or have all ideas occured? Could that happen? I decided no, because you can make up some strange things, and there is always new inventions. It is just always something that I wondered. For example, has someone ever thought of having a peanut and leaf sandwich between 2 pieces of glass? Or, a pool filled with marbles? An invention to clean your belly button? I suppose it is impossible to think every thought. I suppose it is the only impossible thing really, and do not think "Slamming a revolving door" Because I can think of many ways to do it.

Okay, I have made myself look crazy enough for one blog post, I hope that got you thinking! Let your imagination roam, maybe with a little help from Dr.Seuss or Alice in Wonderland for some wacky ideas as they have never ending imaginations (imagine the impossible thoughts of those authors!) And I leave with a quote from Alice in Wonderland , as said by the Queen "Sometimes I believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!"

I didn't feel like doing photos in this post, I know, shocking. I may do a post of some pictures later on in the week. I do leave you a song that I've heard here and really like, not sure if it's made it to Winnipeg. Enjoy!




Love from England,
Jessie




Wow, that was scattered.

The Death of A Pumpkin

So, my mum has gone ahead and decided to bring Canadian Thanksgiving to England, and that is what I am thankful for this year. I've always liked Thanksgiving, family getting together, pretty autumn colours, and my favourite...sweet potatoes! This year I decided to take on the pumpkin pie, and what a task it was.

I helped cook alot of the dinner. I cannot say how many times I constantly stirred until boiled and thickened. It was nice to know I added to the dinner, that I helped make the delicious food. Apperently, holiday dinners here are eaten here at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, so weird! And my stomach was well confused to.
I also made a few flower arrangements with flowers from the garden. I thought they turned out really nice and was very proud of my handy work. I basically felt very achieved this Thanksgiving.
Tinned pumpkin seems to not exist in this country, so I had to make my own pumpkin puree. I really enjoyed gutting the pumpkin, cutting it in half seemed so weird, but cool to see it a different way then usual. The kitchen smelt of Halloween, and brought memories of carving pumpkins with my Dad, something we always did together and something that made me very happy. Him trying to keep me from chopping my fingers off, pulling the guts out (making horrible noises and squishing it as I did), carving out the usual Jack O'Latern face then cooking the seeds on the fireplace as a special treat for us.

Thinking of Halloween, which is definitely high up in my favourite holidays. Many memories of elementary school and days dedicated to Halloween games, eating too much sugar, not so haunted houses, and costume parades. And in the night, facing the cold weather walking door to door, being smart knowing which houses give out full size chocolate bars, carrying heavy Unicef boxes full of change around our necks,being scared by decorations and neighbours hidden well in their decorations, parents standing in the street with a wagon full of our loot and transportation for when we grew tired. Of course this is when we were very young, as we grew other, we grew smarter, going to the rich houses, with most people in the area with the shortest driveways and going late so we are the last trick or treater and get the last of the goody bowl dumped into our already heavy bags.

Arriving home, pouring out a full pillowcase of sugary goodness, sorting candy into what to keep and what to donate to those children that couldn't go out on the spookest night of the year, with a little push from our parents not wanting us to be on a sugar high for several months. In the end, we were still left with plenty of candy, which I wouldn't finish even by Easter, and a toothbrush or too handed out by a cheeky dentist wanting to prevent cavities.

I know it is a little early for Halloween reminiscing, the memories were just to happy not to share. And its just a little reminder that it is coming, so get your costume ready!
So, a few thoughts to get your mind going, What are you thankful for this year? And, what was the strangest thing you got Trick or Treating?
Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin before dissection

Cut in half

Gutted!

Chopped and ready to steam

Pumpkin brain. I did save the seed and cooked them, yummy!

A poor picture of me and the pumpkin goo

Pumpkin puree! And there was leftovers, just need a recipe to use it in now

And pie! I was going to have more pictures, but it was very rushed to make it. It turned out delicious. Family and friends liked it, a new food for them!

Flower Arrangement #1

#2 Lovely berries, with hidden thorns, that was a nice surprise

#3 For the dinner table

Did I mention I am not a huge fan of pumpkin pie? I love the idea of it, always try it, never too fond. Yeah.
Love from England,
Jessie

Life Isn't Grey

Happy October Everyone! One of my favourite months and part of my favourite season. Though, it has not really felt like fall here, it was sunny and glorious out, all sunshine and 25+ degree weather, it is no catching into autumn with colder weather and strong winds. I enjoyed the sunshine while it was here, rare for this time of year and in England, needless to say I was well pleased. I haven't done too much this week, done lots of paperwork, which is not my favourite thing. I went for a long walk and found a wonderful field near my house, it was beautiful with the changing colours of autumn. It was nice to get out into the fresh fall air, that smells so good, hear the crunch of leaves under my feet, watch the sun set over the colourful trees, it was very beautiful and so peaceful.
My mum and I drove out to Brighton, which is at the seaside. It was so nice! We spent hours walking along the beach (which had stones instead of sand, strange). We went and looked at the hotel my dad used to own with a few friends, which was just a few steps away from the water ( a little sad that it was sold). It was great to use the hot weather well and enjoy some time, and ice cream, at the sea.

I am happy to say I am officially part of staff at a nursery, working every Tuesday and Thursday. I have really enjoyed it so far and hoping to continue too, maybe even working a little more. I have yet to find another job,  I am taking my time and confident in the fact I have one job, so I have the ability to get another! Working with the kids has been really fun, and quite interesting. Watching the kids and co-workers interact with one another, how they react, getting to know the personalities of the kids (some very mischievous). To see the kids play, the things they come up with, the games they play for hours. I can see their imaginations whirling in their heads, trying to figure out how to play with the simple items they have. We play out in the garden a lot, which I think is great. They aren't sitting in front of a screen dulling their mind. They are using their imagination, which I think people are using less and losing too quickly, and really, its incredibly sad.
To a child, every idea is brilliant, and it seems they have a new idea every 30 seconds, and they never second guess it. When we're older, we struggle to find one good imaginative idea, when kids are constantly throwing them out. What I am trying to get to is, a child's mind is a beautiful thing, that we can learn alot from and take something from it. Never second guess an idea, use our imagination, let the ridiculous ideas come, people become to uptight and worrisome, and maybe taking some advice from a kid could help to calm down a little. Kids speak their mind, don't hold back, show what they're feeling, things we grow out of, but desperately need with age.
That is my philosophical rant for this week, I hope you enjoyed it, and make take something from it, get your ideas going.
Also, If anyone has any ideas of a job I should look into, or maybe friends and family they have living in England,  or just some encouraging words, please let me know, on Facebook or email, jc-johnston@hotmail.com. I am really trying to make myself a spot here, and I am trying to help myself by asking.

I love this shot

Fall colours!

Tree outlines



Squirrel view



Beautiful sunset

They must have put it there because someone did it, right?

The old pier

Mama and the sea!

26 Oriental Place

Dad's old hotel

Down the street from the hotel. What's that? The sea!

His and Hers

Standing in the sea, which splashed me, getting my bum soaking wet

Do you want to go to the Seaside?

Look forward to another post soon... involving pumpkins?!
Love from England,
Jessie