Scottish Deep Thoughts

On Saturday our hockey team faced the toughest competition of the year...a team of 15 year old kids! This team was a last-minute replacement for the team we were supposed to play. We lost. It was humiliating and it made me feel very old. I can remember when I was that young and full of energy. It was nice to know I wouldn't be completely breathless and close to a heart attack after two minutes of hard skating. I think we took it too easy on them in the first period. ]

We decided to drown our sorrows and try to delete this painful memory by drinking. I went out with a few teammates and we drowned our sorrows. It was a good night. Ironically, a night out like that is probably the reason for our poor showingon the ice.

On Saturday our hockey team faced the toughest competition of the year...a team of 15 year old kids! This team was a last-minute replacement for the team we were supposed to play. We lost. It was humiliating and it made me feel very old. I can remember when I was that young and full of energy. It was nice to know I wouldn't be completely breathless and close to a heart attack after two minutes of hard skating. I think we took it too easy on them in the first period. ]

We decided to drown our sorrows and try to delete this painful memory by drinking. I went out with a few teammates and we drowned our sorrows. It was a good night. Ironically, a night out like that is probably the reason for our poor showingon the ice.

Went golfing last night. I go every Thursday now so starting to get my skills back. I had a pretty good round even though it poured a horribly cold rain on us. Afterward I went to the pub. When I left at midnight it was still just light out; it was weird.
Now it's Friday night and I have no plans for the weekend. yay!

I am enjoying my holiday in school. It's a bit complicated but we change timetable a couple of months before summer so the seniors have written their exams and left and there are no first years (grade 8). Thus, I have a whole bunch of free periods. Basically, I sit in my room and play solitaire on my laptop and occasionally teach a class or two. Actually I have been organising my class and lessons for next year.

I've been able to sort a few out at school as well. I've organised a "health day" - yoga, team building, softball and some guest speakers. It should be ok. Dugal and I painted some murals on the wall in our drab corridor. And lastly, I was able to get three half whisky barrels donated to the school. I'm gonna put some dirt and plants in 'em.

Still planning my trip. Flight has been booked. I'll be in Vancouver on July 3 and will be leaving August 10. Ian, a fellow teacher, is gonna come over for a few weeks as well so I'll be playing a bit of the tour guide as we make our way to the Rockies.

I planted flowers at the school today. I was getting tired of looking at the pathetic empty flower pots so I did something about it. I really enjoy being outside in teh evening and digging in dirt. Is that wrong? The bastard kids will probably pick all the flowers off. I tried.

So the past couple of weeks I have gradually unwound and have been able to catch my breath (sort of).

The weather has dramatically improved as if a metaphor for the easing of the past 2 months' deluge of papers and stresses. The sunny weather makes one realize just how beautiful this country is.

I took advantage of this fine weather last weekend and drove to Tomintoul (about 30 minutes away) and spent the day out there. Tomintoul is in the centre of the "whisky trail" and, therefore, has a very good whisky shop. I stopped in to buy birthday gifts for my dad and grandpa. I was a bit intimidated at first but my nerves were soon put to sleep by the free drams - 4 samples of good whisky in 5 minutes will make anyone more at ease with paying the somewhat expensive prices of the bottles of the good stuff. I ended up with a really good bottle of 18 year old local malt for my grandad and some miniatures and a whisky glass for my dad. I strode off from the shop satisfied with my purchase and kinda buzzed. I headed off for a nice walk in the surrounding area.

The next day I packaged the whisky and went to the post office after work with the confidence that it would arrive on time for their birthdays.

"oh. It's whisky? Sorry, but we can't send alcohol in the post to international destinations."

Dammit. I had no idea that this rule existed! It's not as though I am trying to start a small-scale overseas bootlegging operation! What a joke. oh well. It will have to be hand delivered, which brings me to my big announcement...

I'm coming to Canada for the summer! I have to go back to sort out some overly-complicated Visa/Work Permit arrangements so that I can still work here next year. My return should be fun (as long as I can get all the Work Permit sorted without any problems). I'll be over early July and leave early August. I think I should be in Vancouver for most of the time but, again, depends on Work Permit stuff. Should be hitting up the island and the Okanagan.

I think Rich should be back in Canada now. The reason I say "I think" is because I haven't heard anything from him since left. He has been talking to mum and his girlfriend...but no contact with the brothers. I am not happy with him at the moment - I think he really rushed his trip.

Another big announcement...I bought my tickets to Pearl Jam in Berlin! I am super excited. The show is on Saturday Sept. 23 so I am just going for the weekend. I have 2 tickets so if anyone is in Berlin (or can make it there) you have a ticket!

I went out to Nethy (10 minutes away) on Saturday for a walk. It is really beautiful out there. I need to go more often. I had a hockey game on Saturday night against Aberdeen. I hadn't played in about a month so I knew I was gonna be a bit out of shape. We won 8-6 and I scored 4 goals so I was happy.

I had another game on Sunday against RAF Lossie. They're really bad so we were able to run over them 24-3. I scored 5 goals. Now am I very sore and tired. I'm getting old.

There. I am up to date again.