Thursday, May 19, 2005
look at the mountains
Okay folks, Asia no more. Instead 5 days in rainy Vancouver.
Apparently, and despite being nowhere near Selhurst Park, Vancouver is consistently voted the most pleasant place to live in the world. So, in 5 days we've put this to the test.
For starters, being back in the Western world has been a welcome relief. Decent, if fattening, nosebag, sales staff that could understand when I wished to complain, and maximum temperatures of 18c rather than 38c meaning walking down the road doesn't turn you into a ball of sweat.
And Vancouver? Well the location is pretty unbeatable. You're always told that in LA you can ski in the morning and sunbath on the beach in the afternoon. But that ignores the 4 hour traffic jam in between. Though we've not put it to the test, I can't forsee similar traffic issues here. From almost every street corner you can see the mountains, sea and enough green forests to satisfy even the most ardent environmentalist. As, so she said, a 10 year old Ms Love was once told, just 'look at the mountains'..
Proximity to Seattle must surely explain why the ridiculous number of Starbucks throughout the city. Clearly it's de riguer for everyone to go anywhere with a huge cup of coffee in their hand. My one man boycott ('it's a waste of money Courtney and do you really need one'), was soon consigned to history and everyday seemed to involve a mintchipmochafrappucinoskinnydoubleventi (and that was what Pete was drinking - not me).
Anyway, back in the Western world we may have been, but tourists we still were. An aquarium, the world's biggest swimming pool (not the aquarium), Stanley Matthews Park, Granville Island, the beach on one side of Downtown, the beach on the other side of Downtown - we've ticked all them off. Plus the Museum of Anthropology which appeared to be the world's largest collection of spectacular (but utlimately rather dull) totem poles. It was in a nice building.
And Wreck Beach - the nudist beach. Which was fine and dandy when we were the only people on it (and fully clothed else Courtney would get cold). But when Mr Odd rocked up for his afternoon strip off it seemed time to leave....
Thanks, you're welcome and have a nice day.
Apparently, and despite being nowhere near Selhurst Park, Vancouver is consistently voted the most pleasant place to live in the world. So, in 5 days we've put this to the test.
For starters, being back in the Western world has been a welcome relief. Decent, if fattening, nosebag, sales staff that could understand when I wished to complain, and maximum temperatures of 18c rather than 38c meaning walking down the road doesn't turn you into a ball of sweat.
And Vancouver? Well the location is pretty unbeatable. You're always told that in LA you can ski in the morning and sunbath on the beach in the afternoon. But that ignores the 4 hour traffic jam in between. Though we've not put it to the test, I can't forsee similar traffic issues here. From almost every street corner you can see the mountains, sea and enough green forests to satisfy even the most ardent environmentalist. As, so she said, a 10 year old Ms Love was once told, just 'look at the mountains'..
Proximity to Seattle must surely explain why the ridiculous number of Starbucks throughout the city. Clearly it's de riguer for everyone to go anywhere with a huge cup of coffee in their hand. My one man boycott ('it's a waste of money Courtney and do you really need one'), was soon consigned to history and everyday seemed to involve a mintchipmochafrappucinoskinnydoubleventi (and that was what Pete was drinking - not me).
Anyway, back in the Western world we may have been, but tourists we still were. An aquarium, the world's biggest swimming pool (not the aquarium), Stanley Matthews Park, Granville Island, the beach on one side of Downtown, the beach on the other side of Downtown - we've ticked all them off. Plus the Museum of Anthropology which appeared to be the world's largest collection of spectacular (but utlimately rather dull) totem poles. It was in a nice building.
And Wreck Beach - the nudist beach. Which was fine and dandy when we were the only people on it (and fully clothed else Courtney would get cold). But when Mr Odd rocked up for his afternoon strip off it seemed time to leave....
Thanks, you're welcome and have a nice day.
Monday, May 16, 2005
we get knocked down..
...but we get up again, you ain't never gonna keep us down...
Alas, no happy ending. What will be will be. Well done to West Brom, a simply incredible achievement and they fully deserve it. Who didn't piss themselves laughing when they appointed Bryan Robson late last year? But he gets the last laugh...
Having arrived in Canada we had the bittersweet pleasure of watching the Norwich capitulation at Fulham, with text messages arriving by the truckload from the UK. No tears at the final whistle, in fact the only time I felt like crying was during the oh so wonderful 10 minutes when we were staying up.
So, 4 seasons in the Premiership and 4 relegations. A perfect record. Still, the manner of the latest failing is certainly better than 7 years ago. Goodbye to Wayne (Courtney's favourite) and probably AJ. 'If onlys' are just that, if only. But you can't help wondering what might have been with Tim Cahill and Dean Ashton in the side. 8 months on from Mr Jordan and his courageous stand against agents, the 10% for agents system still survives and Palace are back in Division 2.
Our season? Well, it wasn't quite watching Palace in 37 capitals whilst Courtney reads a book. We managed 10 games in about 8 different countries. And by the end of it Courtney (and family it seems!) was rooting for red and blue as much as the next man. It might seem, especially from recent posts, that we simply spent the whole year watching Crystal Palace. Sadly this wasn't the case... Still, it's provided a fantastic sub plot to the whole backpacker saga. Even if there is no happy ending... Such is life, such is Palace..
Crystal Palace. I wouldn't swap them for any other team. You say that you love me....
Alas, no happy ending. What will be will be. Well done to West Brom, a simply incredible achievement and they fully deserve it. Who didn't piss themselves laughing when they appointed Bryan Robson late last year? But he gets the last laugh...
Having arrived in Canada we had the bittersweet pleasure of watching the Norwich capitulation at Fulham, with text messages arriving by the truckload from the UK. No tears at the final whistle, in fact the only time I felt like crying was during the oh so wonderful 10 minutes when we were staying up.
So, 4 seasons in the Premiership and 4 relegations. A perfect record. Still, the manner of the latest failing is certainly better than 7 years ago. Goodbye to Wayne (Courtney's favourite) and probably AJ. 'If onlys' are just that, if only. But you can't help wondering what might have been with Tim Cahill and Dean Ashton in the side. 8 months on from Mr Jordan and his courageous stand against agents, the 10% for agents system still survives and Palace are back in Division 2.
Our season? Well, it wasn't quite watching Palace in 37 capitals whilst Courtney reads a book. We managed 10 games in about 8 different countries. And by the end of it Courtney (and family it seems!) was rooting for red and blue as much as the next man. It might seem, especially from recent posts, that we simply spent the whole year watching Crystal Palace. Sadly this wasn't the case... Still, it's provided a fantastic sub plot to the whole backpacker saga. Even if there is no happy ending... Such is life, such is Palace..
Crystal Palace. I wouldn't swap them for any other team. You say that you love me....
