Well, it's the first proper day of my holiday, I've been up since 6 and I'm hungover. It's also chosen today to rain, which is a bit of an arse, as it's been totally stunning and hot the last week, and I'm meant to be going kayaking tonight, off granville island.
Still, a full month off work......can't really complain I guess, apart from the lack of money it will mean. 3 1/2 weeks of this will be spent in London, really, really looking forward to seeing all my friends and family over there, going to be weird and wonderful at the same time. Only been away for 5 months so far, had some rough times, and some absolutely amazing times here in Vancouver so far, and, truth be told, I'm already sort of looking forward to coming back after the holiday, so many fun things to to right now, learning to play roller hockey, which is great fun, not being helped by the fact I've only roller bladed twice, but nothing like throwing yourself in at the deep end.
Here we are at the end of the first game

Apart from the hockey, there's just still so much I want to do over here, I'm just a little torn still. I do miss my close friends and family a lot, but it's been getting easier the longer I'm away, I'm a little worried that seeing them all again is going to make it harder when I get back here. There's also the matter of the lady friend. I'm so looking forward to seeing her, we're texting/e-mailing pretty much every day right now, but the reality is, that she's going to be staying in London till at least the new year, maybe coming out for a few weeks on holiday before then, but that's a long time away. We've very briefly spoken about long term plans, and I get the feeling that, as much as we love each other, she doesn't want to leave London, and right now, I really don't want to move back there. So, therein lies the rub.
Ah, things were never going to be easy, so I guess I've just got to carry on, and eventually things will sort themselves out, meanwhile, I've just got to keep doing the things that make me happy. And I am happy right now, very happy. Things are going ace right now, I'm cooking more, well, in fact I've got a new kind of bbq chicken fajita thing that I've been making that is totally brilliant, should probably expand the repertoire....
I'm also finding myself in the happy situation that the more I live with my housemate, the more I'm getting to like him. He was already a friend from work, but it didn't start out brilliantly, some rather silly miscommuncation, and I was worried it might develop into just not liking each other, but he's really good at being honest, and all has been cleared up. Anyone that gets me out of bed, and out of the house by playing really bad guitar at me and making up a silly song gets my 'thumbs-up-of-approval'.
I think, today, due to the rather inclement weather, I shall start the day off with a hopefully greasy sandwich of sorts, or maybe some eggs Benedict. I shall probably go back to laying in bed, where I now have access to many, many tv channels, due to me hooking up a cable box this weekend (epic win, setanta sports from the luxury of my large, very comfy bed), hopefully watch some sci fi film, or the outer limits, then set off to the cinema to catch the 12.30 showing of Terminator. After that, well, I guess it's weather dependent, but it'll probably either involve walking around, or playing video games.
God, today is sounding good so far, I should go and get working on that sandwich/breakfast thing. Loving life, loving holidays, need to go get some books from the library to read and figure out if my credit card will work abroad due to it not having a chip and pin thingy.
And, for my final note, GLORY, GLORY MAN UNITED!!! Come on the lads, let's give it the all tomorrow, and walk away European champions for the second year in a row, a feat that no club has previously managed. Still, as long as it's not the bore feast last years final was, I think I'll be happy,
peace,
Dan