Sayard's Birthday #2

Another night of partying, and all to celebrate me, woohoo!!!

Well it was actually our last day of history so the whole class went out to celebrate, my birthday was just icing on the cake. Here's Nicola and Carwyn happy to be done and on holiday.

Fiona and Scott, also from my History class.

Oh you sly dog you....

Gavin and Carrie swinging around at the jazz club.

Here is the most of the group from History. A fine looking bunch if I do say so myself.

Andrew and Carrie getting down on the dance floor. Carrie not only loves to smile, it also seems she loves to dance too.

Nicola and I out at another bar, the 4th one of the night. I don't know what happened to this picture, but it came out pretty cool.

We all had to make army helmets for our last class, Carwyn here is wearing the winner made by Fiona.

Me with the boys.

Excited to be out and done school.

Those girls can really bust a move!

It's my birthday and I'll dance all night if I want to!

Sayard's Birthday #1

Sayard, Neil and Katie at the pre party bash at rez.

Josh, the lone American, Alelxandra and Megan... the Canadians.

Katie, Carrie and Sayard at an Irish pub, called Finnigans Wake. Let the drinking begin.

Ben leading the chorus.

Rob and Ben, two wild and crazy guys...

Happy to be reunited after 6 weeks with the young'uns.

What did I say something wrong?

Carli and Neil.

The Ladies...other wise known as Bobbi, Carrie, Carli and Sayard.

The Couple.

Edinburgh Jaunt

A walk through Princes Street Gardens early in the morning as we hurried to go watch the Montreal Canadiens play at a pub in the Old Town.

Christmas time has arrived on Princes Street. The big ferris wheel beside the Scott Monument is part of a huge carnival that is held every holiday season.

A view of Calton cemetery, North Bridge and the Old Town.

Neil walking up Calton Hill, with the War monument in the foreground. It was built to resemble a Parthenon, but remained unfinished due to financial problems in 1822.

Sayard, with a lovely view of the city. You can see the castle in the distance.

Looking down Calton Hill you can see Holyrood Palace. We haven't been yet as Neil is not keen on supporting royalty, and Sayard's too cheap to pay 7 pounds, so this picture will have to do.
Note: in the background you can make out the ruins to the original Edinburgh Castle.

Walking through New Town we happened upon the home where Robert Louis Stevenson was born, author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island.

St-Andrews Day

Bag pippers playing on the Royal Mile.

Peatbog Faeries, a band from the Isle of Skye.

While St- Andrews day is not widely celebrated, this concert was part of the Scottish Government's attempt to revive it. Whatever the case may be, these two Canadians are enjoying it.

My night out with Martha

Last night I was lucky enough to get to see my all time favorite singer, Martha Wainwright. She's a fellow Montreal lady like myself.

She sang every song that I love, and others that were just as beautiful.

I even got to meet her at the end of the show. We shook hands and became the bestest of friends.....Ok not really, but she did sign my T-Shirt.

Halloween Haunt

This is the Rosely hotel in Arbroath in county Angus. I went up to this area on the 31st of October to complete my second teaching placement, this time in a p2 class (5 and 6 year olds). Driving up from Edinburgh with a fellow student named Moyra, we were more than a little taken aback by the sight of this place. An old Victorian mansion, this place has definitely seen better days. Used as a base for hunters that come over from other European countries (there were Italians and Germans at the time), this place would make a top ten spookiest spots in Scotland survey for sure.
The walls are covered in pelts and animal heads. Moyra and I had a hard time containing our laughter upon walking in.
Right outside my room.
I didn't notice this at first, but it appears to be a stairway leading to the turret. Scary, as it was right beside my door. If the hideous beast wanted to come down and get me, I was easy pickings.
I guess the cleaning lady wasn't tall enough to reach this. Good thing I only spent a week here.

Happy Halloween

Although Halloween is not as popular in Scotland, these Canadians would not be held back from celebrating.

Sayard was a teacher who couldn't handle the stress,

and Neil was an old time journalist.

Nicola, Sayard's Scottish pal.

This is Alexandra, a Canadian, who is in Primary with Neil.

"The Three Sistas", Sophia, Carli and Bobbie. These ladies are all in primary as well, and also hail from Canada.

Nicola, Annabell and "too cool for school" Andrew, from Sayard's History class.

Sayard and Carrie. As you can see she has quite the smile, which she carries around with her all the time.

The hosts with the most.

Sayard and Katy gettin' primitive.

Neil and Nicola, fast friends.

The history class at its finest. Not the cliched picture of historical academics.

I swear they weren't posing.