I'm Blessed In Life

Well all, you will be pleased to know that my spark is back. I attribute this to, firstly, the support I've received over the last week or so (from friends here, family, and mates back home) and secondly, using all of the skills I've learnt over the past few years to deal with times when I am feeling "ill".... including looking forward to things ahead. And that is CANADA!

Oh, and its not a fake tan, I promise. I may have tampered with the photo digitally, but there's no fake tan! :)

Westlife at Edinburgh Castle

Who said Westlife cant dance?!!?!?












My new favourite Westlifer - Nicky. Was the star of the night. Darn he's hot.
















I once wanted to marry Mark.. until i found out he was gay.
















A stadium full of screaming women.













Cheesy Shane... great voice... just cheesy.

















Kian... bless him. He's just so perfect... not a hair out of place.

Biarritz France - July 2006

I noticed that in the flurry and hurry that has been the last two or so weeks, I didnt really speak much of my time in France. So I thought I would post some photos and tell you about the wonderful Biarritz (with a little help from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biarritz - for factual information)

"The town lies in Basque territory, and Basque flags and symbols are prevalent throughout Biarritz.Biarritz's casino (opened August 10, 1901) and beaches make the town a notable tourist centre for Europeans.

As well as the not-insignificant number of high ranking surfers who have made their home in Biarritz, Karl Lagerfeld is one of the town's better known residents.

That is a really good description of Biarittz. Put aside St. Tropez (France) and St. Barts (Carribean), I think this place is probably the glitziest sea side resorts in the world. This place ooozes "uber-cool" with its desginer stores and men with their designer girlfriends. Rich families bring their little rich kids and sit on the sand, toast themselves till they are a disgusting European brown and then go and sip cocktails at dusk while the babysitters mind the kids. People are only in Biarittz for one thing in summer - the surf.



Biarritz is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département, in the Aquitaine région. It is adjacent to Bayonne and Anglet and 11 miles (18 kilometres) from the border with Spain. It has very strong spanish influences but retains its French culture, in its food, wine, fashion and music. Its Paris but without high blood pressure!

I spent most of my time on the beach and for a white Australian who has been in Scotland for awhile, i actually got myself a tan. One thing I must say though, it was very very hot. It probably rained only one or twice in the entire six days I was there and temperature averaged out at about 35 degrees celcius. Although I am used to the heat from Australia, France severally lacks air conditioning in their homes, so sleeping at night was very difficult. Still, it added to the holiday feeling and so many Europeans now have even more of a tan than they usually would do as a result.

Biarittz - Continued

What is most funny? That I have a tan or that I am eating SNAILS?












The sun setting on another hot day on the beach

















Some prime Biarritz real estate...



















Russian Orthadox Church, Biarritz


















Six Days of Biarriz, Six Days of Eating Icecream

The Last Week Or So Has Been Rough...

Well, i must admit, I've struggled over the last week to be that happy girl that you saw in the photos that I posted.

My health unfortunately took quite a turn for the worst earlier this week and for the first time in a long while, I felt ready to book the first plane ticket back to Australia. But looking back now, I think that the very fact that I stuck it out, asked for help from the people around me, kept in contact with my family (who were wonderful as always), and took action when I did, that I managed to deal with the unexpected "speed bump" in the best way I could. I dont want to go into too much detail, because my family already thinks I give away too much information on this darn site, but lets just say that I am now feeling a lot stronger (physically and mentally) and have been able to make some important decisions that will mean that a lapse in health wont happen again (well, not if I can help it!!!).

In order to get better, I've had to make some hard decisions. The first being that the boy and I have had to take a break - at my requst. In summary, in between dealing with my health, and dealing with some of his stuff at the moment, things just simply got too hard for me to cope with. I feel terribly guilty and sad that I have deliberately turned my back on someone I care very much about simply because I dont have the mechanisms to deal right now. But, with the wise words of my sister, I need to take action right now to make sure that I am well in the long term. I think I'll leave my comments about that there, me thinks. I will update everyone should the situation change.

More importantly, I've now had to make some health decisions - no more coffee/caffeine drinks (eeek!), very limited alcohol, and back to the gym. Again, the distraction of the boy has meant my attending the gym has been lax. Its time to get back.

Despite all of that, I do have some really good news (and I suppose, given I have been unwell lately, i've realised just how good this news is).

I begin as an employee of Whistler Blackcomb, Canada, as a Ski School Sales Attendant on 13 November 2006. My contract here ends on 2 November 2006 and while it is sad that I am leaving Edinburgh, it is another phase in my adventure. From Canada, who knows. I will definately want to go back to Australia to see Mum and Dad, and of course, Annie, Al and Charlotte. I may talk to a few law firms while I am there to see what the market is like, but I feel like I haven't done all of what i wanted in Europe yet. So, there's a good chance I will be back in the Northern Hemisphere travelling again... but lets not look that far ahead just yet.

The pay will be shite, but the experience will be amazing.

Anyway, rest assured, I am much stronger and my health is doing okay now that I've gotten a bit of control back. Thanks to everyone who have been so supportive over the last week - even though some may have been excited that I may return home as a result - but no, its not the case this time.

:)

K

Disorientated

Looking for a different space
Searching for my inner place
Out of patience out of balance out of time
Out of breath out of focus these shapes in my mind

Who is this face I see
Why is this happening to me
Out of patience out of balance out of time
Out of breath out of focus these shapes in my mind

Things are changing
So much arranging of my life
I must take hold
I'll keep on spinning until I find myself again

So I woke up and there's the moon
Seems to have risen just a little soon
But who's calling out my name anyway?

I'm disorientated
I'm trying not to be jaded
When it's all so complicated
'cause I'm a little disorientated

Walking in a different space
Looking back just incase
Out of patience out of balance out of time
Out of breath out of focus these shapes in my mind

Love is forever
hate was in the never
Out of patience out of balance out of time
Out of breath out of focus these shapes in my mind

Things are changing
so much arranging of my life
I must take hold
I'll keep on spinning until I find myself again

So I woke up and there's the clock
it was ticking backwards had I forgot
But what day is it anyway

I'm disorientated
I'm trying not to be jaded
When it's all so complicated
'Cause I'm a little disorientated

Things are changing
so much arranging of my life
I must take hold
I'll keep on spinning until I find myself again

So I woke up and saw the sun
Seems like my life has just begun
How 'bout I start it today anyway

Delta Goodrem

Its Good To Be Back Home

Well I have my feet back on Scottish soil and I am glad to be back home. I thoroughly enjoyed my time away, but its nice to be back in my own bed, getting back into a routine. The time at home is short lived however, as I am taking Owen down to see Maureen and Andrew down in Dumfries. It will be a nice weekend away.

Last night i went to see Westlife at Edinbugrgh Castle. For all that know who they are, yes they are a corny boy band but anyone who knows me knows that i have loved westlife since I was about fourteen. I finally got a chance to see them and had a FAB time. I had really good seats, ended up with great photos and some awesome memories.

Annie, the setlist was as follows:

1. Opened with Flying Without Wings (in gorgeous white suits)
2. The Real Thing (high tempo song from new album)
3. When You're Looking Like That
4. Amazing (new album)
5. When You Say You Love Me (new album)
6. She's Back Again (new album, mixed it in with Billie Jean)
7. Uptown Girl (in top hats and canes!)
8. Cover Songs - Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer), Senorita (Justin!), Dont Cha (Pussy Cat Dolls - fab!)
9. Colour My World (new album)
10. Hey Whatever
11. Seasons in the Sun
12. World of Our Own
13. Mandy (was the best out of the entire concert - was brilliant)
14. Queen of My Heart (THEY CAME OUT IN KILTS - the crowd when NUTS!)
15. You Raise Me Up.

The concert seemed to go really quickly, and I feel like it was a little short compared to concerts i have been to before like Robbie Williams who plays for what seems like HOURS, but fabulous nonetheless.

What a night!

k

I had no idea

I simply had no idea of the war in the Middle East. Hmmmm it just shows how isolated the rich and famous are. Actually, it is for the fact that i cant speak a word of french and would not have been able to read the papers. It is very worrying.

Rip Curl, Billabong, Quicksilver.... Biarritz

I am living in surfing paradise. This place is sun, sand and surfing. Biarritz is the place where all surfers descend to find their Surfing Shangri-La. Im yet to find it, but i am taking a surf board out this afternoon to go looking for it. They love Australia, Australians and everything Australia here because they see Australia as a surfing Mecca and there are all of the big surfing brands here, at not so Australian prices!!! i may wait until i get home to buy that new set of rip curl board shorts me thinks.

Thanks for the birthday messages and of course the guest post! very funny.

this keyboard is all wrong so i am going to go now.

au bientot

k

Guest Post In Honour of Kate's Birthday!

Hi Everybody,

It's Annie here, Kate's sister. She has kindly invited me to Guest Post on her Blog, as she is off sunning herself with the rich and famous in Sangria-soaked Biarritz in celebration of her birthday!

So here I am, dropping in to say "Happy Birthday Sis!" and offer up a good 'ol bite size portion of birthday humiliation in the form of this old school picture! While we sit here and freeze in rainy Sydney, Kate is enjoying her holiday and seeing how the other half (the rich, tanned mob with the bottomless credit card limits and one piece bikinis) live.

I can't believe I have this great forum at my fingertips and nothing to say! I should really be dishing the dirt on Kate or raging on about Middle Eastern Politics but instead I'm sitting here fiddling with fonts and listening to Charlotte saying her first word "Bub bub bub bub" over and over again.

Anyway, this hasn't exactly been an auspicious First Guest Post ... perhaps if/when Kate has forgiven me for posting her grubby little 6 year old face all over this blog, she may just invite me back again, you never do know with that girl!

Happy Birthday Feral, hope you have a great 26th Birthday!!

Annie xxx

Be Grateful in the Good Times, and Graceful in the Bad

Well, what a ride I have had. I cant really afford to go into too much detail at such expensive internet rates, but lets just say it involves the following:

- missed flight to France
- new flight lands me at the opposite end of France
- ten extra hours driving
- a speeding fine which is going to cost me GOD knows what

Anyway, this is me being graceful during bad times (okay, i wasnt so graceful to the Ryan Air staff who wouldnt let me check in ONE minute late). I am now in San Sebastian, Spain and this place SERIOUSLY is stunning. Think glitz, glamour, beautiful people and lots of Sangria. I am here only on a day trip, as I am staying with Adam in Biarritz. Biarritz is another beautiful, glamourous french beachside town for the extremely rich. It has been good to see Adam after so long and I cant wait to spend the next five days with him, soaking up the sun and (hopefully) some Sangria.

Today is Bastille Day in France so I will probably hit the town of Biarritz with some of Adam´s friends (which Adam works). One thing I must say, in this area, not many people really know english, which is a pleasant change from places in the world like Paris or Venice but socially, it makes it very difficult. One of Adam's friends knows english fairly well, so I shall just stick by her tonight.

Anyhoo, after the few hiccups I have had over the past 48 hours, i must say, I am happier and much more settled. Things werent looking too good yesterday but now that I have had the sun and seen a familiar face, all is much better.

Until next time, from Spain and France

Au Revoir!

k

Shout Out!

This is a random shout out to Mamma Dawgie - I love you mamma :)

k

Another Journey Begins

This afternoon, immediately after work, I head on down to Nottingham where I will get an early morning flight to France tomorrow. Three days of Tour De France and another five (including Bastille Day/My Birthday) with my dear friend Adam in Biarritz, which is on the border of France and Spain.

Mum and Annie say I look tired in my picture. I guess I am. Its been a tough week or so for various reasons and I am feeling a little emotionally tired. Owen and I have "cooled things off" given the decision I have made to go to Canada. Its a decision i think (hope) he understands as being sensible... hmm.. who knows.

So France has come at a good time. I am so darn lucky!

Self Portrait

Photos

The beautiful village, Lower Largo, Fife, where Owen has his beach house.















Janine and I sharing a pre-match hot god at her local pub. Afterwards, Janine was eating humble pie! he he

Independance Day

Today I am celebrating Independance Day. Not American Independance Day, but my own Independance Day! Heck, I'm in a completely different country to my family, my entire network of support, and I am actually coping okay.

The trip to London went well but the trip down on the bus absolutely terrible. I wont find out just how successful my trip to London was until around about 14th July, but i've been given a bit of a "headsup" from the people I was speaking to that there will be no problems with the arrangements. Sorry to talk in cryptic but soon, all will be revealed. I also got to see Janine, one of my best friends from University. She is doing so well, apart from suffering along with the rest of England as a result of their World Cup loss to Portugal. Being in London for the game was an experience I certainly wont forget for a long time. I've never seen so many English flags, and so many devastated people in my life. The streets were empty during the game, and very empty after the game, as english supporters drowned their sorrows with beer. Oh well, couldnt have happened to a better team, I say (he he he, i've become so scottish!).

Owen and I are progressing along nicely as well. I cant believe that we have only known each other for a couple of weeks, because everything between us is so easy and so well settled. That said, as part of my Independance Day celebrations, I've decided to put a limit on us hanging out twice a week, as opposed to the five times a week we've hung out recently. It was suffocating, particularly seeing I have come from a period where I was so free and happy doing my own thing.

He meets the Queen today, and he will be all kitted out in his traditional kilt. I wont get to see him in it, sadly. I do hope he doesnt say anything to offend the Queen.

There's only a week to go before I leave for France where I will see the Tour as well as get to see Adam. I cant wait. Biarritz is right on the border of France and Spain and is known for its glitz and celebrity glamour. I am going to have to purchase big celebrity sunglasses, me thinks. I am going to have to buy some fake tan too.

Checkya later!