AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE

I finally found a place to watch the world cup (had I known about it before this week, I would have been there regularly while the WC was on.

Anyway I was up at 6 am this morning about to get out of bed to go down to the Indian place to watch it, when I noticed that it was being delayed by rain, so I stayed in bed for another hour before finally getting up and getting ready to go down to the place. Got down there and had to wait another 1.5 hours until it finally started. Man I have never seen Gilly in such good form to produce such a brilliant innings. And I have never been so happy to be watching the Cricket, having gone all winter without seeing on game, and only being able to read it via the cricinfo website. But I digress, it was a great atmosphere, as there were a few Aussies, a lot of Sri Lankans and some Indians/Pakistanis. Had a few beers and some good lunch provided by the proprietor's of the restaurant. - Will have to go back there to enjoy some of their other food sometime.

But in the end AUSTRALIA won ... a deserved winner of a weird tornie ... but I must say that the two best sides from the whole WC did make it to the finals, and there was at least pasts of a competition happening during the match.

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!!!!!

Calgary Roadtrip

I finally got out of Vancouver and BC last weekend and went on a road trip with Georgie (my roommate) and Monique (a friend) to Calgary. We left Friday afternoon and drove 11 hours to get there through the Rockies at night (with rain and fog - probably not the greatest idea but worthwhile none the less). Didn't get to see much of the Rockies on the way over, and I was given the task of driving the last 3 hours or so through the last bit of the Rockies into Calgary - Monique drove the first 7.5 hours (the driving machine she is).

It was definitely worth the trip, even though Calgary is very brown this time of year, and we have a whirlwind tour of the city. Went to the actual city centre, then the Calgary zoo, then back into the city again for a few drinks at a pub (was a good day and night).

Then on Sunday we left at about 11am for the trip home. On the way home we got to finally see the Rockies in daylight - they are something well worth seeing if you ever get the chance. On the way home we called into Banff then Lake Louis - all worthwhile a visit and very touristie - it was what we were there for anyhow, so figured we might aswell be tourists. Lake Louis was still well and truly frozen over, but looked absolutely fantastic and will have to go back during the summer to see it unfrozen aswell.

For dinner we called into a small coal mining town (sorry don't remember the name of it) and have a really nice meal - after we left I was driving again and unfortunately we ended up getting stuck between 4 trucks at one point in time for about 1/2-3/4 of an hour. It was't until we were gifted a nice long straight stretch of road without any on-coming traffic that we were able to finally pass (I gunned it straight pass both of trucks in front of me). After that it was fairly plain sailing with a lot of overspeed happening to put distance between us and the trucks so that if we had to stop again we wouldn't get stuck behind them again.

Eventually we got back into Vancouver and home again at about 11pm. It was a great trip and worthwhile, albeit a very whirlwind visit (22hours driving for about 31 hours in Calgary). So now goes the planning of the next one somewhere else - most likely down to Seattle this time (maybe) will keep you posted.

Flowers for Food

On Friday while I was walking home from town (the skytrain was having issues so I got off at the Stadium Station and walked the rest of the way home), anyway along the way I came across this homeless guy panhandling cars for cash to be able to buy some food to eat. Anyway I asked if he wanted something to eat which he did and we went to Macca's for a meal. Along the way as we were chatting he was telling me about this deal he and another lady had arranged with florists to take all their discarded flowers and he is allow to hand them out in return for donations - hence the "Flowers for Food" website and program was started. Have a look at the website and read about the foundation of the actual idea behind this - and how one lady saw his approach and decided to help in arranging better flowers etc for him to hand out in exchange for change.

I have to go back sometime as well and have another chat to him again as I promised him (he was a really great guy and very generous, even though he had little as he is at the same time looking after a young fella who is a drug addict and trying to help him realise the reality of living on the streets and issues and problems which arise due to that.

EASTER

HAPPY EASTER

To those who celebrate Easter - Happy Easter and God Bless.
To those who don't but get to enjoy the holiday have a great long weekend.
To those who aren't in countries who celebrate Easter or believe other things that I just hope that you have/had a nice weekend.

Fun but Sore

So I finally got up Cypress mountain again today from the second time to go snowboarding. It was fun and I am getting better each run. I signed up to have my second lesson and paid the normal rate for a private lesson as I was the only one in the class (bonus for me). But of cause I fell a bit, completely wipeout on my last run of the bad and wacked my head on the hardish snow which was not a good thing to do.

So this weekend has been fun with snowboarding and all, and there is the second Open House public gathering tomorrow which should be good, and interesting to see how it goes. I'll try and give a bit of a run down on here afterwards if I remember.

I am also heading over to Calgary next weekend for just the weekend and a road trip to get there - its about a 10hr drive to get there from Vancouver. But we get free accomodation once we get there so it should be all good.

Currently I am in the End Cafe where Georgie (my second roommate) works - tis Cuban night so there someloud Cuban music and a lotta salsa dancing going on, quite interesting and fun to watch.