3 of my favourite boys, Lindsay, Ben & Bob
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Tuesday
Me & Sue
We went to Redcar
There were surfers at Saltburn
The Saltburn lift up the cliff & the pierLindsay wanted fish and chips for his lunch so we went to Redcar to enjoy them at the seaside. Then we decided to go for a drive down the coast to Saltburn. The pier at Saltburn is where we got engaged so it's kinda special. We went up the cliff lift then wandered down to the Smugglers museum which was really interesting.
That evening I had some people over to talk about YFC and what we're up to right now, I'm very annoyed with myself because I didn't take any photo's while people were here!
Thursday
Pete & MeThursday we went to see Peter, Jeni & Rebekah (& Freya the dog). Which was fun, we went for a walk on the beach, Pete showed us the church he is the Youth Pastor at and then we had a nice lunch.
Lindsay BBQ'd in the evening and then we sat up until nearly midnight teaching Mum & Sue how to play Skip-Bo..... it was great!
Friday
Us with Glen, Francesca & Miguel.We went to see Dad for lunch, did some grocery shopping, bought a bumper seat for Ben, hung out with Glen & co, then went to Borges (YUMMY) with Hannah, then came back to Mum to discuss the itinerary for Hannah's trip to CANADA!!!!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
The UK
I know I haven't written much, it's taken so long to put the pics on that I haven't been too bothered to write much, but I think the pictures speak for themselves.
We arrived in Manchester at 7.30am ish on Friday morning, Dad & Sue came to pick us up, which was nice, I have to admit to being fairly out of it the whole way home. We got a 2 hr nap then went to meet Mum in Yarm for lunch before doing some grocery shopping. Then we got home unpacked properly and ordered chinese takeaway then went to bed and slept for a good 12hrs!
Saturday was fun when we went to Fountains Abbey, I have posted a couple pictures below, which are a select few from the many beautiful sights you can see there, don't worry we took LOADS of pictures to show people. Then Saturday night we had another quiet night in.
Sunday was Church. I was very blessed to be able to speak in the 10.30am and 6.30pm services. It was really great to be able to share with this church family, that I miss so much, all the exciting things that God is doing in Saskatoon and our YFC office. In the middle of that Mum made a DELECTABLE PROPER english roast beef dinner with roasties and yorkshire puds with veg.... YUMMY DOES NOT DESCRIBE IT!!!!
Today we got to spend some time with Mary who is a family friend, we sat and chatted before she had to leave. Then we went to Stockton with Sue to do some shopping for Lindsay, then we came home and took Millie for a walk around Egglescliffe (pics below). Tonight we met up with some friends at our local The Pav (The Pavilion). Which was really fun, I have NEVER known a night go so fast (except our wedding reception). Pics will follow soon.
The next week will mainly be taken up by family and by best friend Hannah. I can't express how excited I am to have this time with Hannah, she truly is a woman wholeheartedly seeking God, and I love going through this journey with her, I am so bless that she is in my life.
My big brother is arriving from Ireland next Monday, and he's bringing my nephew! WOOHOO! On a sad note he has to leave my sister-in-law behind, which really is awful because she is the life and soul of ANY party, I love her so much, but she has to work. BUT I WILL HAVE 3 DAYS WITH MY NEPHEW BEN, and if someone offered me a billion £'s not to see him for those 3 days I would scoff at the piddling offer, the time I will spend with him is PRICELESS!!! He is SO ADORABLE! With his cute little irish accent, and his Daddy's eyes but his mummys body language, SO CUTE! Not that I am biased or anything. I CAN NOT WAIT!
For the first time ever I am feeling homesick here, and at the same time scared to leave this place. So a few 'I miss you's to: T, Allison & baby, Joy, Dawn & baby, Dawn R, Lisa, my MSN work buddy Melissa T, Kristin 'you are my sanity' and my other YFC work buddies... I hadn't realised how used I was to frequently having your input in my life until I had the prospect of 2 weeks without you, you are huge blessings that God has placed in my life. Sorry boys that you don't really get a mention but these ladies are the ones who keep me accountable and sane;-)
I promise to keep putting pics on so watch this space!
We arrived in Manchester at 7.30am ish on Friday morning, Dad & Sue came to pick us up, which was nice, I have to admit to being fairly out of it the whole way home. We got a 2 hr nap then went to meet Mum in Yarm for lunch before doing some grocery shopping. Then we got home unpacked properly and ordered chinese takeaway then went to bed and slept for a good 12hrs!
Saturday was fun when we went to Fountains Abbey, I have posted a couple pictures below, which are a select few from the many beautiful sights you can see there, don't worry we took LOADS of pictures to show people. Then Saturday night we had another quiet night in.
Sunday was Church. I was very blessed to be able to speak in the 10.30am and 6.30pm services. It was really great to be able to share with this church family, that I miss so much, all the exciting things that God is doing in Saskatoon and our YFC office. In the middle of that Mum made a DELECTABLE PROPER english roast beef dinner with roasties and yorkshire puds with veg.... YUMMY DOES NOT DESCRIBE IT!!!!
Today we got to spend some time with Mary who is a family friend, we sat and chatted before she had to leave. Then we went to Stockton with Sue to do some shopping for Lindsay, then we came home and took Millie for a walk around Egglescliffe (pics below). Tonight we met up with some friends at our local The Pav (The Pavilion). Which was really fun, I have NEVER known a night go so fast (except our wedding reception). Pics will follow soon.
The next week will mainly be taken up by family and by best friend Hannah. I can't express how excited I am to have this time with Hannah, she truly is a woman wholeheartedly seeking God, and I love going through this journey with her, I am so bless that she is in my life.
My big brother is arriving from Ireland next Monday, and he's bringing my nephew! WOOHOO! On a sad note he has to leave my sister-in-law behind, which really is awful because she is the life and soul of ANY party, I love her so much, but she has to work. BUT I WILL HAVE 3 DAYS WITH MY NEPHEW BEN, and if someone offered me a billion £'s not to see him for those 3 days I would scoff at the piddling offer, the time I will spend with him is PRICELESS!!! He is SO ADORABLE! With his cute little irish accent, and his Daddy's eyes but his mummys body language, SO CUTE! Not that I am biased or anything. I CAN NOT WAIT!
For the first time ever I am feeling homesick here, and at the same time scared to leave this place. So a few 'I miss you's to: T, Allison & baby, Joy, Dawn & baby, Dawn R, Lisa, my MSN work buddy Melissa T, Kristin 'you are my sanity' and my other YFC work buddies... I hadn't realised how used I was to frequently having your input in my life until I had the prospect of 2 weeks without you, you are huge blessings that God has placed in my life. Sorry boys that you don't really get a mention but these ladies are the ones who keep me accountable and sane;-)
I promise to keep putting pics on so watch this space!
Egglescliffe
St Johns
Path to the 11th century St Johns Church
The Pot & Glass pub in Egglescliffe village. 
Sunday, May 07, 2006
These are for Lisa
We drove by the James Herriot centre just to get these pic's for you Mrs Hrycan;-)
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Feels like home ... here and there ... wierd
I had a great weekend, although right now I can't even remember what we did Friday night.
But Saturday morning L's parents came over and helped us strip the nasty wallpaper in our living room off. It felt really good to peel it all off, plus it took us far less time than I thought it would we were done by lunch, so then I baked a loaf of bread ready for my girly night at Dawn R's. Lisa picked me up at 5.30pm and we dropped by Extra Foods to pick up cream cheese to go with my fresh warm loaf, and some drinks. When we got to Dawns we got down to the serious business of dinner, we were all so hungry! We had salad, fresh bread, bruschetta and cream cheese. Then the highlight came as we sat down to watch Memoirs of a Geisha, the Chocolate Fondue! YUMMY! We had a mountain of fruit, plain crisps (chips), bread and pretzels. The movie was great, then we sat and chatted until 1am, at which point L called my cell (mobile) asking where on earth I was, he hadn't expected me to stay out so long... LOL!
Sunday after church Jess Braun asked if I minded if she introduced me to a new lady who had just moved here 5 weeks ago from England.... what a silly question ;-) So I had a great time chatting with this really nice lady, and it made me realise how proud I am of Saskatchewan now. I really do like living here, I still miss home, and in an ideal world we would spend our lives hopping between the 2 countries frequently. But it was definately a good thing, I no longer feel guilty about liking living here, and I don't feel quite so homesick for home anymore, God has replaced old dreams with new ones, but I still miss my family and friends at home, that's never going to change or stop.
But Saturday morning L's parents came over and helped us strip the nasty wallpaper in our living room off. It felt really good to peel it all off, plus it took us far less time than I thought it would we were done by lunch, so then I baked a loaf of bread ready for my girly night at Dawn R's. Lisa picked me up at 5.30pm and we dropped by Extra Foods to pick up cream cheese to go with my fresh warm loaf, and some drinks. When we got to Dawns we got down to the serious business of dinner, we were all so hungry! We had salad, fresh bread, bruschetta and cream cheese. Then the highlight came as we sat down to watch Memoirs of a Geisha, the Chocolate Fondue! YUMMY! We had a mountain of fruit, plain crisps (chips), bread and pretzels. The movie was great, then we sat and chatted until 1am, at which point L called my cell (mobile) asking where on earth I was, he hadn't expected me to stay out so long... LOL!
Sunday after church Jess Braun asked if I minded if she introduced me to a new lady who had just moved here 5 weeks ago from England.... what a silly question ;-) So I had a great time chatting with this really nice lady, and it made me realise how proud I am of Saskatchewan now. I really do like living here, I still miss home, and in an ideal world we would spend our lives hopping between the 2 countries frequently. But it was definately a good thing, I no longer feel guilty about liking living here, and I don't feel quite so homesick for home anymore, God has replaced old dreams with new ones, but I still miss my family and friends at home, that's never going to change or stop.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Hidden talent
I just discovered a really good hidden talent that my good friend Matt has, check out his hidden talent website http://www.mattfalcus.com it's great, I never knew he was such a good photographer, this site sells his postcards, they are GREAT! All the North East England ones are of the area we grew up in. And Saltburn Pier is where Lindsay proposed so go look at the postcard to see how beautiful it is!
Another baby
Congratulations to Mark & Naomi Tuma on the birth of Daniel!!!! I hope Grace likes having a little brother, tell her brothers can have their uses!
Foil bag dinner
OK, since Helen requested it here's the recipe for the foil bag dinner, it really is one of my favourite summer meals (plus there' s less utensils used to clean up after!)
I don't use any measurements so you have to do some guess work, just think about how much you would normally do per person (2 sausages, 1 potato, and a spoonful of carrots per personish). Also bear in mind that this recipe normally calls for farmer sausage which is smoked, not sure what the equivalent is in the UK, but I guess good old Walls will do if nothing else!
Peel and cube potatoes in to bite size pieces (you need more than you think you would, so do a little extra).
Cut in half length ways baby carrots (the pre-peeled & washed ones).
Cut sausage in to 1/4 inch think rounds, also bite size.
Dice one onion or put a couple of handfuls of dehydrated onion in.
Season with plenty of salt and pepper.
Also scatter a couple of knobs of butter in as well.
I put all this in to a Reynolds foil heat bag that I buy at Safeway, alternatively use wide foil and make a pouch to put all this in.
You need to make sure that once it's all in the bag/pouch that you fold the end a couple of times and then to seal it well, fold down the sides a couple times as well (we have been known to have spillage mid cooking when flipping the pouch).
We have only ever done this on a propane BBQ, so not sure about how the coals will work so you will just have to experiment anyways...
Put the pouch on a just lit BBQ, so the grill is still cold, on a medium heat. It should just take 30mins to cook, so you close the lid and then come back and flip after 10 mins (using oven mitts... to state the obvious), then you need to flip it every 5 minutes until it is cooked. It is also a good idea to check it 5 mins before the 30mins is done to see how it is, it may be cooked and browned already or you may need to leave it to cook for another 10 - 15mins still checking and flipping at regular 5mins breaks. Alternatively I'm pretty sure that you could do the pouch thing then cook it in the oven as well on medium heat, flipping in the same way.
I'm sorry, I'm not that great at giving instructions, but please believe me when I say that once you've done it once you'll realise how quick and easy it is.
I don't use any measurements so you have to do some guess work, just think about how much you would normally do per person (2 sausages, 1 potato, and a spoonful of carrots per personish). Also bear in mind that this recipe normally calls for farmer sausage which is smoked, not sure what the equivalent is in the UK, but I guess good old Walls will do if nothing else!
Peel and cube potatoes in to bite size pieces (you need more than you think you would, so do a little extra).
Cut in half length ways baby carrots (the pre-peeled & washed ones).
Cut sausage in to 1/4 inch think rounds, also bite size.
Dice one onion or put a couple of handfuls of dehydrated onion in.
Season with plenty of salt and pepper.
Also scatter a couple of knobs of butter in as well.
I put all this in to a Reynolds foil heat bag that I buy at Safeway, alternatively use wide foil and make a pouch to put all this in.
You need to make sure that once it's all in the bag/pouch that you fold the end a couple of times and then to seal it well, fold down the sides a couple times as well (we have been known to have spillage mid cooking when flipping the pouch).
We have only ever done this on a propane BBQ, so not sure about how the coals will work so you will just have to experiment anyways...
Put the pouch on a just lit BBQ, so the grill is still cold, on a medium heat. It should just take 30mins to cook, so you close the lid and then come back and flip after 10 mins (using oven mitts... to state the obvious), then you need to flip it every 5 minutes until it is cooked. It is also a good idea to check it 5 mins before the 30mins is done to see how it is, it may be cooked and browned already or you may need to leave it to cook for another 10 - 15mins still checking and flipping at regular 5mins breaks. Alternatively I'm pretty sure that you could do the pouch thing then cook it in the oven as well on medium heat, flipping in the same way.
I'm sorry, I'm not that great at giving instructions, but please believe me when I say that once you've done it once you'll realise how quick and easy it is.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Green leaves
YAY, our tree almost has it's leaves all out, they're past the budding stage and are looking nice and green!
It is definately starting to feel more like summer, especially since we have our Air Conditioning on at work. And we are having a foil bag dinner tonight, which we only ever have in the summer. For those of you who have no idea what that is, it is sausage, potato and carrots cooked on the BBQ in a foil bag, it is SO GOOD!
I'm getting pretty excited about our visit home, I was pretty hyper this morning when I was MSNing with friends.
It is definately starting to feel more like summer, especially since we have our Air Conditioning on at work. And we are having a foil bag dinner tonight, which we only ever have in the summer. For those of you who have no idea what that is, it is sausage, potato and carrots cooked on the BBQ in a foil bag, it is SO GOOD!
I'm getting pretty excited about our visit home, I was pretty hyper this morning when I was MSNing with friends.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Condo Association
We went to our first Condo Association AGM last night. It definately helped us understand more of what the heck is going on.
As I did not grow up with condo's, and had no idea of the whole concept, moving in to one and living with the whole condo idea has been a learning curve.
Back home if you buy a house, you buy a house, it's yours, and that is it. I'm not used to it being my house but someone else can tell me what to do with it and how to live in it. OK not totally how to live in it but to some degree. If we want a pet we have to ask permission, we're not allowed to put a cloths line on our deck or in our garden, we have to ask permission if we want a satellite dish, that kinda thing.
Anyways, something that has been bothering us is that we were told about 6 weeks ago that we had to cease using our woodburning fireplace immediately. Me & L were a little put out by this, why, since when was there a problem? Last night answered our questions, other units have been having water leakage and when investigated it showed that our chimneys are actually unsafely close to the wood structure, so that is obvious why we can't use our fireplace. Apparently our units were shoddily made, 1982 was not the best year to build homes. Other complexes built around the same time, by the same contracter are having similiar issues. I'm kinda gutted about it though, I loved having a fireplace, now it looks like we're gonna have to go gas or electrical cos we just CANNOT afford the $10,000 it would cost us to re-do our woodburning fireplace, SUCKS! As it is we're gonna have to save like mad to do the other options, but what can you do...
As I did not grow up with condo's, and had no idea of the whole concept, moving in to one and living with the whole condo idea has been a learning curve.
Back home if you buy a house, you buy a house, it's yours, and that is it. I'm not used to it being my house but someone else can tell me what to do with it and how to live in it. OK not totally how to live in it but to some degree. If we want a pet we have to ask permission, we're not allowed to put a cloths line on our deck or in our garden, we have to ask permission if we want a satellite dish, that kinda thing.
Anyways, something that has been bothering us is that we were told about 6 weeks ago that we had to cease using our woodburning fireplace immediately. Me & L were a little put out by this, why, since when was there a problem? Last night answered our questions, other units have been having water leakage and when investigated it showed that our chimneys are actually unsafely close to the wood structure, so that is obvious why we can't use our fireplace. Apparently our units were shoddily made, 1982 was not the best year to build homes. Other complexes built around the same time, by the same contracter are having similiar issues. I'm kinda gutted about it though, I loved having a fireplace, now it looks like we're gonna have to go gas or electrical cos we just CANNOT afford the $10,000 it would cost us to re-do our woodburning fireplace, SUCKS! As it is we're gonna have to save like mad to do the other options, but what can you do...
Shauns wedding revisited.
Shaun & Karen looked so good, and just had these HUGE grins on their faces all day, it was awesome!
Shauns wedding revisited.
Don't Allison & Ryan look GREAT!!! We're all praying that the baby arrives REALLY SOON!
Continuing.....
So yeah, Mum is moving. What was I saying.... oh yeah sad & scarey. A lot of my memories of David are in that house, and I miss him very much. And the thought of going home but not to that house also is scarey, it won't feel as much like my home. BUT I am very excited for my Mum, that house is WAY too big for just her and Sue. And hopefully my sister won't live with her forever, so it's good she's looking for somewhere smaller.
I just wanted to put some pics of the house on here for all of you Canadian friends that I desperately want to take home with me and share this with you.
So the house below was my home for 11years, and Lindsay's home for 2 years. I'm gonna miss it!
I just wanted to put some pics of the house on here for all of you Canadian friends that I desperately want to take home with me and share this with you.
So the house below was my home for 11years, and Lindsay's home for 2 years. I'm gonna miss it!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Moving on.
My mum is selling our house. This leaves me feeling a little sad and also a little nervous. We moved in to Brookwood Way when mum married David in 1992, when I was just 12. So all my memories of David are kinda tied in to that house.
More to say but Bob is on the phone so I'll say more later.
More to say but Bob is on the phone so I'll say more later.
Friday, April 21, 2006
FYI
I just re-read my last post, and felt that the last line could be misleading, because I had already mentioned John and then mentioned his glo in the dark sweater, it sounds like there was just the 2 of us for those bonfires and midnight walks, which is not true at all, there was like 20 of us that used to do all that, John and I were not romantically involved at all.... although I am not embarassed at all to admit to having a huge crush on him at the time. I mentioned Johns sweater because that's what we all followed when it was pitch black and trying to make it back up the cliff to the hotel;-)
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Embarassing old pictures
So I think I am 15 on the left and 13 on the right. Put ish on the end of both those ages.These are both holiday pictures, and I believe that the talented John Benton took them (I think I filched them from his Treloyhan site). Kinda makes me nostalgic about those holidays, they were fun. They were at Christian (AKA Methodist Guild) Guild holidays, there were 10 hotels all over the UK when I was younger. My favourite hotels were; Sidholme, Sidmouth, Devon and Treloyhan Manor, St Ives, Cornwall. I have fond memories of bonfires on the beach, John's glo in the dark sweater, and midnight walks...
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Babies, babies and even more babies.
Well congratulations to both sides of the pond. Here in Canada Tim & Michelle have 2 week old Ty, and in good old Blighty Pete & Jeni have 2 day old Rebekah.
Soon to come at a Saskatoon near you will be a new Longueil and a new Grunau, all very exciting. And both mother-to-be's are hoping the little sprogs will come sooner rather than later. Me too, before I travel to distant shores!
Soon to come at a Saskatoon near you will be a new Longueil and a new Grunau, all very exciting. And both mother-to-be's are hoping the little sprogs will come sooner rather than later. Me too, before I travel to distant shores!
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