we used to wait

On days like today I listen to Lux or O Magnum when I know they are doing auditions at Acadia. I think to myself “it’s ok, you had a good run”. That I did. I was a lucky bugger when it came to that ensemble, I got what I needed from it: friends, challenges, knowledge, confidence and so, so much more. I am looking forward to playing again with a group here in Bristol. I will have to wait until ensembles start back up in October but more than anything I’m glad I want to continue playing. My music degree nearly kicked the love I had for my instrument to the curb. My education degree changed all of that when I started to play for myself and not for grades. I am not the best oboe player in the world, I never claimed to be but I did improve over the past 2 years and I am thankful I have fallen in love again with playing.

Bristol news! Our shower has been leaking and it’s running down into the flat below. Needless to say they aren’t very happy with it and my father isn’t around to fix the problems BUT my landlord’s father is! They are also friend with a plumber so after three trips and different things to stop the leaking (from where we thought it was coming from) they sent the plumber. He tore off the panel on the front of the tub and is going to come back next week. That, my friends is one of the most interesting events that took place this week! AND someone other than myself was in the flat. Almost asked if he wanted to stay for tea but I thought that would be weird and he seemed busy. (Kidding... I wasn’t going to ask him in for tea)

Last night I went to a local pub with my friend Natalie! We had an amazing ice cream fudge thing and some cider! I’ll be going back there for sure!! It was so nice to spend time with her! We knew each other from Acadia but are just becoming good friends now. Timing is everything:)

I am preparing for a wonderful season of concerts!! Being in a city where people actually come is amazing and if they come to London I’m only a bus ride away. Let’s see what is on the agenda:
September 23: London Symphony Orchestra in Bristol! Malher 5! Eight pound for that ticket, baby.
October 7th: Dan Mangan in Bristol!
October 24th: Eric Whitacre with LSO in London.
November 16thThe Goo Goo Dolls (a band I have wanted to see since jr. high)
November 24th: The National in Bristol (or the end of the month in London)
December 1: Arcade Fire in London!
AND
December 16 or 17: Lady Gaga in London (Merry Christmas, Coombs <3)

Now I realize I will have to pick and choose but if I can manage most/all I surely will. AND those are just the ones I have come across so far.

There was an envelop on the floor outside of the main door that said “please read: from 19 Dundonald” It wasn’t addressed to anyone maybe everyone? I thought since I was the newest member of the building I shouldn’t open it. Now I wish I had cause I have been thinking about it all day.
So Morgan introduced this to me. It’s from the Arcade Fire and Google Chrome. You should do it. I tried to do it with my home in CB but there isn’t enough on Google Earth to support it so I used Wolfville (of course). I suggest you try it out!! It’s pretty amazing.
Instructions:
-put in your address
-let it load
-don’t touch anything, just watch.

thewildernessdowntown

Happy weekend everyone!!

xo

Coombs

i want your everything... as long as it's free.

I had a great day! I called my mom and got things sorted out. She is the greatest. After I called her I was in such a good mood I thought "I'm going on a hunt for a pumpkin spice latte"! Surely fancy-pants Starbucks would have one! They are all about the fancy stuff. Here's how my conversation with the worker in green went:

Me: Hi!! Do you have the pumpkin spiced latte?! (Need I mention that I had a smile on my face as big as Canada waiting for "of course we do silly, we're Starbucks!")

Him: No, we don't. You're the second person that asked about that today. It must be an American thing. Are you American?

Me: No, I'm Canadian

Him: Well it sounds Halloween-y and we don't really buy into Halloween here... (what was it he he said... I think he said it was silly or something)

Me: It's not Halloween-y at all! It's more Fallish (looks at me funny) Err... Autumn themed? Anyway, it's great and you should think about

getting it.

Needless to say I didn't get my favorite drink, for the 100th time someone thought I was American AND he basically pooped on Halloween. Lame. So I got a regular coffee and a blueberry muffin .

After I was done I headed down the road a little bit to one of my favorite stationary stores. I bought a nice black pen for school because I always go looking for a black pen for my paperwork but I only have blue or a funny colour. Problem solved! After that I thought I would go to Clifton Village which I always happen to find by chance or by bus. It's like a secret place I always stumble upon. Today, I wasn't so lucky and I couldn't find it for the life of me. Instead I found this walkway with a very old graveyard on either side. Brenna told me about it one day and I always kept my eyes open for it. So I walked for a while and chose left or right whenever I felt I should turn. Turns out I walked in a complete circle and ended up where I started, by the music building (which by the way looks like University Hall). I went in hoping someone would be at the main desk to tell me about their ensembles and when they start but I couldn't find anyone at the moment. I need to make it back to Clifton Village because there is a bag there... let's just say it was love at first sight and some day, if it's still there sitting lonely on the shelf and my wallet isn't empty I'm going to give it a good home.

So I decided to head to the grocery store to buy some food for lunches if I get work tomorrow and the rest of the week. 6am comes early... and I didn't practice getting up early like I planned. But that just means that I will end up going to bed earlier and I will get back into a routine soon!

Now I am off to read the last chapter of my book. I have been reading since 8:30 this evening and it's almost 11:30 now. This has been one of those books where I'm scared to finish it because I don't know what I could possibly read next that would hold my interest. I'll get over it soon but holy moly it's wonderful.

Cross your fingers for work tomorrow (at a good school...)

lovelovelove xo

with the hits and the misses

Tonight I took myself on a date to the movies. It was my first time going to a movie with myself and I very much enjoyed it. I saw Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky for £3.30 (woo Monday cheap nights!) and I bought popcorn for £1.90. I got there early as I usually like to do when I go to the movies, how else are you going to get the best seats!? Well, I had no problem because I was the only one there for about 15 mins. I sat thinking "it's ok you can do this, it's not weird going to the movies on your own". I heard this familiar song they were playing in the background... it was Hanson. Yes folks I am a Hanson fan! Even after the Mmmbop phase (did you know that mmmbop means faster than a millisecond?) It was one of their newer albums that I adore so I sat there becoming more comfortable with my surroundings and I new I made the right decision. People started filing into the theatre but it wasn't full at all which is kind of nice sometimes. I didn't have to awkwardly sit by anyone, bonus!

The movie was amazing. So amazing. Go see it! Err... rent it as the UK is usually behind the times here aka Never Let Me Go comes out in January I think. Womp. Anyway all I want to do is listen to Stravinsky, buy Chanel No.5, run off to Paris, and drink wine.

Truth be told I have been in somewhat of a rut. I think I am coming out of it though and work is just around the corner. I have been reading like mad which is really good for me!

I might have to take a break from the True Blood books as I have to sleep with the light on in the hall because I get spooked easily. Thankfully I finished that book the other day and Never Let Me Go is filling my days.

I may be a bit confused but I think that's part of the point. You discover things with Kathy (the main character) as she remembers her past. Sometimes I finding myself sighing at parts because they are so, so beautiful.

I think My rut might be brought on by missing the past a little bit. Silly things like pumpkin spice lattes from the Coffee Merchant on the way to wind lit., they way you go into Just Us and always know at least one person there, seeing people for the first time in a couple of months, the first music party of the year, f

iguring out what you should play for your audition and wishing you practiced more over the summer, Saturdays with your FH, the smell of the home away from home that I adore, and maybe more than anything those two little people (who aren't so little anymore) who bring me so much joy.

Please don't think I'm not enjoying myself. I just think too much and this might be the first time I am homesick. I think it's the mix of mom and dad being here and then in a blink of an eye they were gone then Brenna leaving the very next day.

Shake it off! Tonight was just the thing I needed. There are bike/walking trails that I discovered and I might pack a lunch and test some of them out. Although it looks like it is going to rain but this is England so I better get used to that.

Now off to bed I go!

Miss you all!

xo

happy sunday

New room!

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