I'm now in Toronto, where the snow has gone and it's warmed up a lot. I'm ready to go home now, though, because I'm just museumed out. My right leg hurt this morning to the point where I had to take a pill so I could still do stairs. Apart from that I'm definitely getting used to walking because I walked for an hour this morning and thought it was only about ten minutes.

I am looking forward to going to Niagara Falls on Saturday because that'll be so different from everything else. And I haven't allowed myself to buy souvenirs because I'd have to carry them, so I can buy tat there. And I'm looking forward to seeing Hilary and what we have planned for Sunday.

I'm just ready for my life to go back to normal now.

I've gone off Canada now. For the past couple of days it's been quite warm, but today the temperature dropped over 10 degrees overnight. This morning it was cold, windy and raining. This afternoon it was cold and windy. This evening it's cold, windy and snowing diagonally. And settling on cars, although not the roads or pavements or car parks. The bright side is that tomorrow I only have to go out to get money, then go to Toronto. According to the weather forecast it'll get warmer again. *crosses fingers*

Although, of course now I've got used to my way around this city and getting buses, I have to get used to a new one. Although Toronto has trams, which are quite exciting in themselves, so I intend to get trams a lot, instead of walking. The soles of my feet might drop off otherwise, and that's through expensive walking boots too.

I do have some interesting photos. First of all, a nightclub called Zaphod Beeblebrox. It's interesting that the signs above it talk about hot and cold buffet in English, but hot or cold buffet in French. Also, there's The Brig Pub. They're next door to each other as well!

I'm very glad I have my laptop with me, it's been very useful, not just for paying my phone and electric bill (even if the website didn't work for the latter and I had to borrow Sel's computer). Although it still has the time in BST, so I wonder if it gets a signal from somewhere that tells it the clocks have changed. I don't know, I've never taken a computer out of the country before.

However, I had planned to answer emails & lj comments etc (and I have stuff marked as read in Thunderbird and my RSS Reader). But the trouble is that after walking around and learning things all day I'm too tired in the evenings to do anything much. I am looking forward to having Wednesday off, as I'll be spending the morning lazing around in Ottawa, the afternoon on a train and the evening lazing around in Toronto. Or at least that's the plan. I planned to laze around in Montreal a bit too and that never really happened.

So far I like Ottawa, it's much smaller to walk in, it has impressive buildings and people indicate (it's weird how the French in Canada are exactly like the French in France in that respect - except that here people don't try to run you over). And it has a And some gluten free bread that tastes quite nice. And I do mean nice, rather than "not disgusting". But so far I haven't tried to take it anywhere, and I've been taking good care of it, so it hasn't fallen apart yet. It will when I get to Toronto, I'm sure. Otherwise I'll be buying it in bulk and shipping it home.

I have finally got over my jet lag and can now sleep till 8am. Usually I'm complaining about waking up that early, but it's a big improvement on 6.30am... And since I end up falling asleep about 11am, that's a reasonable amount of sleep anyway. I just dread to think how tired I'll be in the mornings when I get home. The good thing is that they don't change the clocks in Canada till next weekend, and as I have to get up early the Monday after it basically won't affect me and means I'll end up being 4 hours out at home. She says hopefully...

I am now in Ottawa. I've been here since last night and have so far seen it in the dark and the rain. Which looks rather different from how it looks in pictures with bright sunshine...

The hostel I was staying at was basically a big house. On my floor were four bedrooms and two bathrooms - each bathroom had a toilet, sink and shower in it. So you can imagine the queues given that my room have eight people in it... It was very nice and friendly, but the room was boiling, the mattress was the softest thing ever, the bunk beds moved with the slightest movement. And I just couldn't take the sharing a room with seven people - especially as it was a smaller room than I shared with three people in Montreal.

Since they didn't take credit cards I'd only given them a bit of cash, so I decided to look into self catering hotels instead (which I didn't know existed until quite recently). I booked myself in one that was quite central and when I got here I got up to the room and it stank of smoke, even though I'd asked for a non-smoking room. The only way they could get me a non smoking room with a kitchen was to upgrade me to an executive room. I'll take photos of it tomorrow in the light because it's massive - it's bigger than my flat.

For some reason flickr decided to put my photos in a stupid order, so it's best to follow the numbers at the end of the names of the photos, rather than the order they're on the page/RSS feed, because they won't make any sense otherwise.

The sleeper train was very exciting, but now I'm so tired. I already hadn't got over my jet lag, then I didn't get much sleep last night and changed time zones so now it's even earlier than I think it is. My computer think it's 1.35am and although it's actually only 7.35pm, I feel more like it's the former, rather than the latter. So I might well do more catching up with the internet from Ottawa and just watch videos because that's pretty much all I'm capable of.

So far I like Montreal. I have tried out bits of French, but mostly I only have to say 'Bonjour' and people speak back to me in English. So having a terrible French accent is actually a good thing. I've been walking everywhere rather than using the metro, only partly because it's a lovely sunny day that's mostly been warm enough not to need a hat (but I have needed both jumpers).

I have found a supermarket, so I have more snacks. Not the really nice wafers they had in Atlantic, but I do now have bourbons and custard creams. My potato bread fell apart on the journey in my suitcase, so I started on the Italian bread, but it's so dry it's horrible. I have found there is a health food shop on the same road the hostel is (if at the opposite end), so I will see what bread they have tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'll go to a museum, I think, and after I'll be back to the English speaking world in Ottawa, and also more getting lost.

I am in Canada - in Halifax to be specific. The first day I was here I was just tired from lack of sleep and travel sickness pills. Now I am tired from lack of sleep and jet lag. It doesn't help that my computer clock tells me it's gone 10pm when it's actually nearly dinner time.

Sel's kittens are very sweet, if crazy. It's been really cold here, except today which was really nice weather. I'd be happy if it stays like that.

So far I really like Canada and unlike America, don't feel a desperate need to go home. The accents aren't as bad and they do acknowledge the existence of the metric system, which helps a lot.

Even though I'd been warned, all the people are amazingly friendly and people in shops and restaurants can't do enough for you. Except tell you how to pay by plastic. And I had to have help getting money out of a cash machine because it asked me a question that was non-sensical (which account I wanted to get money from - the answer was the account that belonged to the card - but Sel explained why it asked that question - crazy system).

Tomorrow I go to Montreal on a sleeper train, which is quite exciting. Then I should be on the internet more because I won't have anyone I know with me - except when I meet livii, Hilary and maybe Manda. And to think I thought I didn't know anyone in Canada and it wouldn't be quite like my Australian trip.

If you want to see them, I have put 44 photos (mostly of kittens) at my flickr page - link down the side.

I feel like I've watched a lot of medical programmes recently. I watched a random episode of House last night and got about halfway through before I considered leaving the room. Generally speaking, I found it was like a whodunnit without any way of knowing whodunnit without a medical degree. With added horribleness that could lead me to leave the room. But I got through the whole thing, which is more than I've done with Casualty, where I left the room and locked myself into the bathroom before it occurred to me that I could just turn the telly off.

I watched a couple of episodes of Scrubs. I didn't think much of the first one, but I warmed to the characters by the second. And thanks to E4 I've now seen all of season 6 and thanks you youtube I've seen all of season 5. There's hardly anything medical in it, so I like it.

Then there was Doctors from Monday with Sylvester McCoy in, where they were clearly having a dig at Doctor Who. Nevertheless I enjoyed it, apart from the soapy bits where I had no idea what was going on. Although what accent Sylvester McCoy was trying to do, I don't know.

Now I've set the video for all the stuff I want to tape while I'm away. Which only comes to seven different programmes, one of which finishes next Thursday anyway. Typically, Spooks starts a week on Monday, while I'm away. When I went to Belfast it started while I was away - although I could watch it there, if only on BBC1.

I'll have to find time to watch it all when I get back... (along with Atlantis, Chuck and Pushing Daisies)

I've just posted a rare friends locked post. If I am reading your LJ then you can read it on LJ. If not, then you can read it on my blog, you just have to join it. Sadly, I can't open membership up because it attracts spammers, but if you reply to this or email me I'll set you up one and make it so you can see the post.

I'm not going to be adding people on LJ until after I get back from Canada, so it's no use asking that.

I've only locked it from the general public - if I know you, I'll happily let you see it. Honestly, I will. This is ironic given the subject of the previous entry.

(The tag and category on this entry reflect those of the locked one, so you can decide whether you want to see it or not)

I have now packed for Canada. Everything fits in my suitcase fine, which must mean I've forgotten something. But I started throwing things in there a week ago so I ought to have remembered everything by now. Even though I only have six days worth of clothes (one day of which are on a chair for me to wear on Saturday) it still feels like a suitcase full of clothes. But then my backpack will be full of food.

Last week I saw three houses. The first was just down from where I live now - three blocks away (and by blocks I mean of flats). It's more than I pay now, but was smaller - the kitchen was tiny, but the bathroom was massive. All the rooms came off the lounge as well, which is a pain for having people over to stay.

Then I saw one in a former foundry. It's also more than I'm paying now and very quirky. The lounge would be big except there's a step separating the lounge and dining room. The bedroom doesn't go right to the far wall and you can look over the rail down to the lounge below. The bathroom doesn't have a window and all the things in it (bath, toilet, sink) are all dark blue. The walls are also dark blue. So you can imagine how dark that room is, especially as it's only small. I loved it to bits, but it's just not practical to live in (there's a good reason why I haven't looked at any of the places with a spiral staircase in).

Then I saw one in the next town (that would mean I'd have to drive to work from). It's less than I'm paying now and about the same size ish. But I liked it. It's first floor, so no neighbours above and it had red carpets. You can only get to the kitchen from the lounge, but the rest of the rooms are off the hall, so it's not too bad for having people staying.

So I told them I wanted it and it's all approved. After I get back I have to give them large amounts of money and work out what date I'm moving in. Then pack and try to get rid of some of my crap and work through my list of people/companies I have to tell I'm moving. And change my doctors, which I'm not looking forward to. But at least it's all sorted and I don't have to worry about it while I'm away or when I get back.

I know I promised something real, but I've been meaning to re-do this meme for ages - and a look through my blog tells me that the last time was April last year. So I reckon it's about time.

We all have things about our friends that make us slightly envious.

Not in a bad way, but in a ‘Wow! I wish I had that person’s hair/eyes/money/relationship/toenails/whatever.’

So tell me what about me makes you envy me… then post this in your blog and see what makes me envious of you.

(I promise some proper posts this week, in between packing)

The problem with blogging: we all think we are so close, but really, we know nothing about each other. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away.

The biggest, most exciting part of this episode that's also non-spoilery is that it had George Garfield in! Well, I can't remember the actor's name and he was only in the first half, so I couldn't read his credit, but that was very exciting. I really hope he's in more episodes.

Also I managed not to laugh at Mr Smith. Maybe I was just tired.

And now for the spoilery bit: Read more...

It's gone up 1% since last time!

23.19 / 50kg (46%)

I went swimming on Friday night. It was nice and quiet at 9pm - I had a lane to myself. However, on the way I went over the bridge into the town and realised what looked like a big cloud in front of me was actually smoke and there were firemen around. I'd forgotten about it until I went home and found the police had blocked the bridge off. It turns out it was a fire in a restaurant that they think started in a chip pan and involved four fire crews to put it out.

Thankfully, I knew an alternative way home, but that did involve going on a dual carriageway. I haven't been on them that often in the dark, so it was scary just going up the sliproad, that was up a hill, and I could see nothing at all in front of me. It was also the first time I'd gone on a dual carriageway/motorway without my sat nav so I had nothing to tell me when to get off, except I was fairly sure I only had to go one junction. I alternated between watching the traffic, the road, looking out for road signs and panic with a bit of fear.

I then got completely confused coming off it because I was on the other side of the roundabout to when I'm used to coming off that road, as I'm usually coming up it from the south. It was slightly surreal being able to go my own way and not having to ignore the sat nav, which doesn't pick the best way home.

Then I went swimming again last night, forgetting that the carnival was in town. Once I got over the bridge I was then off around the town following diversion signs, and ones for the town centre when there were no diversion signs. Most of the time I had no idea where I was or where I was going. So that was scary too. Fortunately, I had noticed on the way in that I could go the usual way home.

Yesterday, when I left work, I discovered my wallet wasn't in my bag of drugs and money*. I have a complicated system of storing money, but this is the wallet that contains my keycard to get into the main office at work, the photo part of my driving licence, £15 emergency taxi money and an emergency £5 note. And some other stuff that can't be important because I can't remember what they are.

I couldn't remember when I'd last seen/used it either. For reasons that will become ironic later, I was worried that I was driving around without my driving licence. But searching my bag of drugs and money revealed the paper part, so in fact, I was only without my only form of ID apart from my passport. Not that I've been IDed recently, but that's not the point.

I searched every bag and coat pocket, but it wasn't in any of those. I searched a couple of drawers where I would be most likely to keep that sort of thing. I even searched the pockets of my jeans, but all I found was a hard tissue.

I did look up replacing my driving licence because I thought that would be bound to make me find it, but that cost £17.50, so I wasn't quite that desperate yet.

The thing you have to know about me is that I often put things in really strange places that subsequently mean I can't find them. This usually them means requiring the services of my sister to look through all the strange places it can't possibly be, and then find it. At which point I can remember putting it there. So I wasn't that worried because I felt sure this would be the case with my wallet.

I can also make needles and pens disappear into thin air without moving, but not usually anything bigger. Usually.

Before I took the house apart, I thought I'd look in the car. And it was in the glove compartment. At the end of August we went to the donkey sanctuary and because I didn't need much and I was driving, I carried out a load of stuff and put it in the car door, the shelf by the door where the kitchen towel and torch live, and some in the glove compartment. Since there is a fair bit of crap in my glove compartment and the wallet is dark blue, it's not that much of a surprise that I didn't spot it.

Then I was just glad my car hadn't been nicked. Yes, really, I am an idiot.

*The bag is because I had a tendency to put my money all over the place and managed to lose my wallet on the train moving it from one place to another. So now I have a bag that all of it goes in. The bag goes in another bag if I'm carrying more than just that (eg lunch). Except when I put some of it in my pockets or other random places...