So January has begun. I spent Christmas 2019 at home with my family in the small village I grew up in, in South Gloucestershire.
My previous two Christmas’s had been spent in Whistler BC, Canada 2017 and Banff Alberta, Canada 2018. I must admit, I definitely prefer a snowy white Christmas. The way I had always imagined Christmas would be growing up but never really experienced. Waking up to a blanket of snow and silence. In 2018 I was lucky enough to be able to ski on Christmas Day. A memory and experience I intend to repeat for many Christmas’s to come – as long as my legs allow me.
December 1st 2019 I flew from Calgary to Gatwick airport, I hadn’t seen my 3 year old niece for 7 months so I was super excited to see her, my sister, Mum, dad and friends. Edie, my niece, has grown so much since I last saw her. Talking in proper sentences now and gaining a real attitude and personality, very strong willed. Haha.
Christmas Day was lovely to spend with a child again, someone full of anticipation for Santa to arrive, giving and receiving gifts and playing games. My family were in good spirits and the usual arguments about christmas stress and the commercial nature of it all were largely avoided.
I cooked the Turkey with all the trimmings and was most impressed with my homemade pigs in blankets. I would actually have rather had 5 of those instead of the turkey which wasn’t much of a show stopper this year but SUCH IS LIFE. Maybe it was a bland turkey, maybe a bland cook.
New Year’s Eve was spent at Nicola and Kerry’s new apartment in Brislington, just down the road from my house. We gathered with friends, old and new, played beer pong and articulate, drank and sung along to Queen, journey and all the other classics we grew up with before heading to boca bar for a funk n soul party. By the time midnight hit, drink had been flowing for a good 4 hrs and we were all fairly “merry.” So much so that I vaguely recall the countdown to midnight and thought we had gone home shortly after. Turns out it was more like 2.45am when we actually retreated to our respective beds for the night. (I took the sofa.)
Woke up with a pounding headache and desert like dehydration – a sure sign of a heavy but knowingly excellent night out. We all crawled out to daylight feeling similar and hungry for a hangover remedy, McDonald’s. Nicola and I took everyone’s order and headed for the drive thru. £45 of burgers and fries later, we all felt worse.
Later the same day I met with a friend I had met online but never in person for coffee, Stu. We had both chatted through Facebook prior to going to Canada on separate two year visas. We went to different parts of Canada (which is huge might I add) so we never crossed paths until now. Conveniently he also lived in Bristol. It was refreshing and fun to catch up with someone I knew little about but could relate to in so many ways. Similar jokes about the Canadian and Bristolian ways and our differences in experience.
Meeting new people has been a big part of my Canadian getaway. I have forced myself to get out there, be vulnerable and exposed to the unknown and I feel it has been good for me to do that. Pushing outside of what is comfortable leads to change and understanding of mental and physical abilities. I intend to progress in this manner in 2020.
My aims therefore for the year ahead are to push forward to with my application for Canadian residency. In principle I should get it but it is not certain, if I do not, I will return to the U.K. and assess whether I want to settle here or consider a visa in New Zealand or Australia. (Sunnier continents.)
I also want to continue being outdoorsy. I love the mountains and skiing (hence the initial move to Canada,) hiking, running, cycling, swimming and generally exploring nature, its contours, climate and wildlife.
For my physical well-being I also intend to eat better and am considering vegetarianism. I don’t eat a lot of meat but I love fish so this could prove a challenge but I have heard a plant based diet can have massive beneficial effects on sleep, energy and mood.
I want this year to be another full of friends, family, good memories and mountains climbed, emotionally, physically and literally. It’s started off really well. Now I just need a job to help pay my way through this year of ambition….watch this space.
From U.K. to Canada 