i am not lonely i swear to god i'm just alone

I had a nice conversation with the neighbour yesterday while I was checking the mail. Her name is Monica! No, I don't see us turning into the series Friends, besides my name isn't Rachel or Phoebe. She was very kind! We talked about our summers. She went to Austrailia and New Zealand to visit her daughters and I told them about the visit my parents had. She recommended some places I MUST see. Everyone says Cornwall and I am not surprised. Remember my vacation to Newquay? Cornwall. "Best beaches around" she says and little did she know she was talking to someone who loves the ocean no matter what side of it I am is on! I collected my junk mail and stuff for the former tenant I went back upstairs to my book.

I remember when we were getting used to being here and Brenna said that the mornings were sometimes the hardest. It's the time change. Right now it's almost 8am at home, 7am further west, and in BC it's almost 3am!! Not to mention it is Saturday so unless I want to talk to my aunt Valerie who wakes up at 5am every morning or go-getters in Ontario, or people arriving home from a night out on the west coast I'm outta luck.

I think my lack of human contact is starting to get to me. My budget plan until I get paid next: stay inside and you can't spend money. Not really working out. But I put aside enough money to go to the cute little theatre in Henleaze to see the Igor & Coco movie! This love affair was not in my wind lit course... shocked it wasn't? No. Haha. Anyway, I'm a sucker for a forbidden romance so I will go see that on cheap night and who knows, maybe I will meet a friend!

I think some window shopping is in order for this afternoon! I think I will stop by the library first and pick up Never Let Me Go just. I want to read the book before I see the movie.

I hope you all have a great day!

Miss you all.

xo

So you ain't living 'til you're living it

It's September.

I'm not in Wolfville for the first time in 6 years and I feel... ok with it. Actually, I'm more than ok with it. Oh I do love that place something fierce but it belongs in my memory for now. It's amazing how things can change so fast right before your eyes.

To my friends in Canada who are dying of heat, maybe the hurricane will shake things up. To my friend in Paris who is putting her sandals away, you'd look so cool in a wooly sweater in a french coffee shop. To myself in Bristol, enjoy

your sun... it will rain soon enough.

Tomorrow, I am going to find a nice spot in the park and write a letter to a loved one. Or maybe an email since it's free and free is in the budget until school starts.

School! I'm on the other side of the desk!! I've been waiting a long time to say that. I may not be changing the world, making lasting impressions or getting to these people. If they only knew that I am exactly where I want to be... a classroom. Maybe they would give me a chance. If not... I'll fly to Ireland for 12 pounds and thank God I'm doin

g crowd control.

Happy September.

For those experiencing change of any kind... embrace it! It might be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

xo

New day!

So last night I started cleaning which means I am coming out of my hibernation/hide away mode. I was great while it lasted but thankfully I am getting restless again and I'm ready to face the world! I guess it just part of my personality where I need mega down time after a month of being around people constantly. I'm not talking about walking down the road and seeing people I mean visits, large cities, etc. I just needed a break.

I talked to mom the other day and she had something exciting to ask!! So, my father is a barber in Cape Breton. He now owns my grandfathers shop and has been there for almost 25 years! He started when I was born so there is so much of it that has been part of my life. Next door to the shop is the beauty parlor where Ursula works! Ursula moved to Canada when she was 16 and started working in hair dressing places and then got a job next to the barber shop. She moved here from Poland leaving all of her family behind and she still visits on a very regular basis. She is going this September and mom was going to see if it would be possible for me to go visit four a couple of days!! It would be amazing. It's still very much up in the air but imagine... Poland! Holy moly. I'm getting around!!

Today is dedicated to writing post cards to family and friends back home. It should have been done 2 months ago as a thank you for coming to my grad party... but my middle name is procrastinator. I have a lot of things to return to the library as well. Moving away and knowing you can't buy too many things because you have to eventually pack them up leads to to the library. I used to go to the library 3-4 days out of the week when I was a little girl so I have always loved them. It's nice rekindling that love :)

It's a beautiful sunny day so I think I am going to find a nice coffee shop with my post cards, book, and really nice new pen from London. If you are interested in receiving mail from England let me know!!

Miss you all!!

xoxo

conversations with myself

Me: tell me i'm not selfish.

My inner voice: you're not selfish, coombs. maybe acting like a hermit... but not selfish.

Me: thanks.

i do believe i have been changed for the better

I feel like I have just woken up and I can't remember where I am.

The past two weeks have been so amazing and unbelievable. My parents came, I showed them around Bristol, we ate amazing food, we went to Rome, I fell in love with Rome, I went to the Vatican, I wrote postcards outside of the Colosseum, and I had gelato every day. I have been thinking about what to say and how to say it when it comes to Rome. There are no words to describe it so I will let you experience it for yourself and you will understand.

I was able to celebrate Brenna's birthday with her! It was low key and we had amazing Indian food from around the corner. It was nice to spend time with her! It felt like I haven't seen her in 3ish weeks... probably because I really didn't.

Nicole arrived the next day! She stayed for a fews nights and it is really nice having her on this side of the pond. I am happy she is close to Morgan, hopefully they can hang out.

Off to London with mom and dad on Monday morning! I don't know what it is but I was having a hard time falling for London the way I did over Bristol and Rome. I think it is because I was exhausted when I went the both times. And it's overwhelming. There was SO much to see and take in. I really need to plan when I want to see the big things next time... or do it in stages.

Then, I saw Wicked. Oh my good god. If you don't know this about me already I am a HUGE Wizard of OZ fan. I watched it once a week when I was little! The story line is amazing and I love everything that has to do with it. Naturally, I knew I would like it. Like it... I loved it. If you have a chance to go see it world, do it. Gah.

My mom and dad left on Wednesday. They walked me to Morgan's and once the door closed I cried and cried. I'm a sucker when it comes to see you laters. Morgan and Brenna were very good and hugged me. We stayed in and watched Sex and the City 2 and made amazing nachos.

The next morning Brenna went off to buy her ticket for Wicked! Morgan and I had a slow (and needed) morning! We walked around London... parts the tour didn't show! I went to a 6 floor toy store and my inner child couldn't help but burst out. There was a Harry Potter section and I was in Heaven. We found Brenna after a St. Paul's meeting spot misunderstanding and we quickly took the underground to King's Cross Station! We got our picture taken at platform 9 3/4! It was amazing! After that thrill we went to Harrods. Google it. I saw a woman trying to decided between two 4000 pound Hermes bags. I could only afford one chocolate truffle for 1 pound. My oh my it was good.

Brenna went off to her musical and Morgan and I talked ourselves out of going out for supper and ordering in from Wagamamas. It was amazing but then again that was the theme for the past couple of months. Brenna was done her musical and we went to get her and showered her with Wicked hugs. After packing and some laughs we went to bed. 6am comes early you know.

On Thursday morning my Brenna packed up her stuff and we shared hugs and I love yous and off she went for her last tube ride (for now).

I made my way back to Bristol without a tear shed. Then I started listening to For Good from the Wicked soundtrack and I found all my tears.

Now, I am going to have some Taratime until Hilary arrives!!

To Brenna, thank you for more than you know.

What a summer.

Rome update soon! I am off to London with mom and dad for a last hurrah! They leave on the 25th, Brenna leaves on the 26th... Sad. BUT! Natalie comes on the 27th and the rest of the month with fly by.

Life is good and my heart is happy.

xo

Talk soon!

Bucket List

"I think I deserve something beautiful."
— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

I've started a bucket list. Not because I'm dying or anything tragic but I want to keep track of things I want to do. Some of those things are:

-Go skydiving

-Spend time volunteering/visiting Africa

-Go to the Vatican

-Buy a DSLR camera

-Bake a pie

-Get Married

-Build a little cabin in Benacadie

-Drive across Canada

On Wednesday I'll be scratching "Go to the Vatican" off my list.