….3,2,1 …..I’m back on the blog. I thought I would give everyone time to calm down after the truly entertaining, high-octane, roller coaster of a last post about tax hence my absence for some time. Thanks for those who told me that it was dull. I never said these things would be funny or interesting. It is just about my life. Can I help it that my tax return took over my life for 2 weeks? Maybe – I probably could have avoided a mad rush and the stress if I had submitted it in January. Enough I hear you say!
So I have been off the blog. Is it down to a lack of interesting things going on in my life? Possibly. Or that I have been a bit busy? Yeah I guess so. Or that I am just a bit unorganised and lazy? No comment. What has happened then in the weeks (months) since my last post? I’ll get the boring thing out the way first. Some of you will know I have been battling with a distance learning course for the last few years. With the move over here I put it on hold for a bit but recently had to finish it before the deadline. Well, I done that now. So that’s that. Told you that was boring. (See – its not all funny.) But that goes somewhat to explaining my absence and lack of adventures as I have been cooped up in front of a computer for a while.
I was also had the pleasure of the parents’ company. They were here for a week and I was ready to show them around town. We hadn’t even left the airport for the comedy gold to appear (apologies in advance here to my Dad). After our embrace at arrivals the obligatory trip to the bathroom ensued. Dad headed straight for the washrooms but clearly didn’t notice the sign above saying “Family”. As Mum and I were watching intently, a few moments passed and Dad was seen coming back out (as obviously those were locked) and went to look for the Mens unaware that we were sniggering to ourselves whilst watching his antics (I guess you had to be there).
I shouldn’t be too harsh on him. On the second day with a full itinerary planned we were about to leave to head into NYC when Dad “did his back in” getting up off the sofa. Unfortunately that was him laid up for the week and hardly left the apartment and didn’t manage to step on the New York soil. However, that allowed some quality mother and son time. I took my Mum out to dinner and a Broadway show where she “got the low down on the Canadian girlfriend”. All those questions she wanted to ask but doesn’t on skype. It was a great week (apart from the whole Dad back-thing). A chance for them to check I wasn’t living in squalor and to see my new home town and meet some of my new friends.
I’ve also been back and forth to a place called Canada. The last time I crossed the border I had a bit of a shock. Canadian immigration officers are a lovely bunch (unlike their North American neighbours, sometimes). So whenever I enter into Canada we have some usual banter:
Canadian Immigration officer: What is the purpose of your trip?
Me: I am here to visit my girlfriend.
CIO: Have you bought any gifts?
Me: Er….no. (Which always makes my think that I should have)
CIO: You are not a good boyfriend then……
Me and CIO: *laugh*
See – that’s a very enjoyable experience compared to some people I know who have tried to enter the US and got the third degree.
What happened this time was a serious line of questioning
CIO: (Usual opener) What is the purpose of your trip?
Me: (Usual response) I am here to visit my girlfriend.
[Then followed a number of questions and I have omitted my responses for brevity’s sake]
CIO: Is she Canadian? Where does she live? Are you looking for jobs this weekend? Are you considering relocating to Canada?
I mean – woah. Where did that all come from? Interestingly enough Heather got the same line of questioning next time she came to see me by US customs. We concluded that we must be flagged as potential immigration concerns due the amount of border crossing we are doing. Which very nicely leads me on to our day in Brooklyn a few weeks ago.
Brooklyn is a borough of New York City (There are 5 in all, although I like to think Hoboken is an unofficial sixth). It is only a hop, skip and a jump away from me – hop on the PATH train from Hoboken to Manhattan; skip down the road to a subway station and then jump on the L train to Brooklyn. It probably only takes about 45 mins in total which makes getting around in London look bad. (Oh yeah it is pretty bad, especially with replacement bus services – don’t miss them that’s for sure).
We headed into Williamsburg, a trendy hipster place with a bustling main street and made our way to Brooklyn Brewery. On the weekends they do tours and have a bar open to taste all their brews.
Tiara, our tour guide, explained the finer details of brewing the good stuff. I was a big fan of matching T-shirt and presentation materials. (Not sure you can make it out clearly on this photo)
Who said romance is dead in this modern era? A trip to a brewery is every girl's dream....right?
Good to see they don't leave stuff just lying about.........
Just in case you forgot where we were. (*whisper* we were in Brooklyn)
Look - actual Beer Tokens!! Tokens you can exchange for beer. Best idea ever.
After tasting some distinctly revolting beers (I should not have the special cask ale – it was stored in an old bourbon cask. Yes I like beer. Yes I like bourbon. No I don’t like them together) we wandered towards the waterfront and stumbled across a flea market. Apparently “cool” people are wearing spectacles without any frames in them although it did allow to bring out an old impression…..
"Hello, my name is Michael Caine" - not a lot of people know that
When Heather stopped laughing at me (that’s AT me, not with me), we followed our noses towards the food stalls. I felt very much like Homer Simpson as I think I actually uttered the word’s “hmmm, donuts” as we came across a delicious looking donut stall by a company called “Dough”.
We moved on to a bar in Brooklyn called Barcade. This is a bar which has a number of old school arcade games which allowed me to suitably impress Heather with my joystick capabilities. The bar has great beer too and we spent many a quarter playing the likes of Ms PacMan and other classic arcade games.
Heather in action on Ms PacMan
Barcade - where a mispent youth comes back to haunt you