Drumroll please...

Congratulations!  You are currently witnessing a rare historical event.  Pay close attention. Are you ready for it? Are you excited? 

This, ladies and gentlemen, is my 100^th post.

Let the bells ring, let the choirs sing, and collect your monies from bets placed long ago. I’ve made it; I’ve held on. And I must say, I’m quite impressed with myself.  I feel as though I should give myself a trophy or deliver a speech or something (don’t worry, I won’t actually give a speech - I can hear your moans from here…). I mean really, how often is it that I follow through on big projects like this? Usually I get bored or lazy or apathetic about things that require extended time and effort.  It just goes to show how much I love you guys.

It seems fitting, then, being such a milestone post, that it’s coming to you from Aberdeen airport, on my way back home (although, I’m too cheap to pay for internet, so it probably won’t actually be posted until later today when I’m in Canada). 

In the cab on the way here, BBC decided to pull at my heartstrings and played this song on the way to the airport. (Not the song you were expecting to be the one to get to me, eh?)

Campus (sorry not the best photo!)

I just found out that I’ll have to collect my luggage in London and then switch terminals and check in again and everything once I’m there. I have less than 2 hours to connect, so I hope we get there on time, or early, so that I won’t have to be rushing. The connection between terminals 5 and 3 (where I need to go) is 10 or 15 minutes on its own, nevermind fetching luggage, checking in, and getting through security again….eek!

I was worried again about luggage weight, but I must have either smiled larger than I thought or buttered up the desk worker with my -*ahem* - Canadian charm. I’m sure it must have been over the weight restriction, but he didn’t say a thing.  I probably would have been alright because I left behind a bunch of heavy things like shampoo, magazines, body lotion, etc but Adele had a long-forgotten gift for me that weighs a good 5 or 8 pounds. When I was here 2 years ago, and a member of the photography society, I won one of our monthly competitions.  As a prize, I won a pair of photo frames – lovely, but hefty.  I never had a chance to pick them up, and Adele kept them for me for 2 whole years (regrettably but understandably mentioning that she had to eat the rest of the prize: wine gums).

As I was packing, I kept taking the frames out of my suitcase and into my carry-on, then back again, undecided about which bag should carry the weight. I eventually settled on the suitcase, and packed them so that it would be easy to remove if need-be. But it was alright! WOOHOO! (small victories, right?) Now for Air Canada regulations…

My last days in Aberdeen were lovely.  I visited with Heather again, got to see Sima for a bit, and even ran into Rob, another member of the photo soc from long ago. That was pretty funny, actually: Alex, Bethany (her housemate) and their friend Andrew took me out to a bar in the city centre. As Alex and I are at the bar ordering a round, I look over and see Rob, but I’m not 100% sure if it’s him or not. He gave me a kind of funny look, so I gave him a really funny look back.

Something like this, I'm sure

But when his reaction to my funny look was, if anything, more frightened and confused than pleasantly surprised, I really second guessed myself. Little did I think that maybe the reason he was confused was that I’m supposed to be in Canada. He eventually came over and cautiously said hello, and I felt only a bit less awkward for giving him my idiot face.

Oh – some back story on that one. The reason we went to that bar was that THE BLUE LAMP WAS A BUST! I guess I’d only ever been in the side that’s reserved for functions – celidhs, music shows, etc – and never actually into the ‘bar’ side. We walked in, saw about 5 people aged 50+ at the bar, and not even one occupied table. We pretty much booted it out of there. Ah, well. Can’t win ‘em all. Plus, I ended up discovering a new delicious cocktail at the other place, so I’m not complaining.

Heather and I had lunch at the Bobbin, the pub that’s basically on campus, for old time’s sake. It was just like I remembered it – although I must say it’s a miracle I remember much at all from that place, based on the state I was most nights upon leaving.  After my British lunch of fish & chips (complete with numerous dagger fishbones, might I add), we went back to her flat, watched Ace of Cakes, and had a nice long laugh at, well, pretty much everything.  I’ll miss that girl, that’s for sure. 

The Bobbin - just how I remember it!

And Alex. Where do I begin? She’s gone so far out of her way to welcome me back! She’s given me a place to stay and food to eat, and she’s put a smile on my face. The best thing about being back is the little things, like nights singing Caledonia, the endless cups of tea, and the funny little sayings like “see you in the morrrrning”. 

I must admit that I’m not quite as sad to leave this time.  I think it’s just that I know deep down that I’ll be back someday.  Back to the cobblestone streets; back to the misty rain; back to the think-as-pudding accents; back to grass so green I don’t even have to use the ‘vivid colours’ setting on my camera; back to being just a few minutes drive from castle ruins; back to all the wonderful people, friendly faces, and fond memories of Aberdeen.

Until Next Time,

B.