Farming Isn't a Metaphor for Watching TV

Well, this post is long overdue.
I finished my first day working at Trinity Farm just outside of Nottingham today. Maybe I misunderstood when I signed on for this but I thought farming meant that I sat around a hotel room and watched satellite television all day. I guess I was wrong. I moved "black cherry" tomato sprouts from sprouting containers to larger pots then I planted 624 (48*13) leek seeds (I'm nowhere done that task; it continues tomorrow).
I have a caravan (trailer for us Canadians) all to myself. It includes a shower and kitchen but the toilet is just outside. I didn't stock the wood stove enough before I went to bed, so at 5:30am I was quite cold. I figured there wasn't any point going back to bed because it would have taken an hour to warm the place again, so I waited for a bit more light and went out taking pictures.

The previous four days since landing in Heathrow on Thursday morning have been spent touring London. I was in quite a posh area, which confused me a first because I thought that maybe it was a requirement that all girls in London wear Ugg boots. The hostel I stayed at, Holland Park YHA was set right in the middle of Holland Park and the only way of getting to the building was by foot; no motor traffic. One portion of the hostel is a former wing of 1600s mansion. It was very scenic and peaceful.
I checked many museums while I was in London but would have to say that my favourite was the Wellcome Museum. The namesake, Henry Wellcome, collected historical medical related material and much of it is on display at the museum. I saw for the first time a chastity belt and antimasturbation ring.
On my Mother's suggestion, I checked out Harrods, "the Queen's department store"; I left five minutes later. It would have been sooner but the crowd of elite consumerists swallowed me too quickly.
The best time I had in London was meeting up with Jason and Nicole who happened to be on their London portion of their year long Northern Hemisphere tour. They were staying at Nicole's cousins place, so we had pizza there on Friday night and then went to a friend of the cousin's 31st birthday party (she had rented the top portion of a pub; guess she was popular).

I hope to post once a week probably on Sundays or as often as I can get to an Internet Cafe. I had planned to bring my laptop but realized that carrying it as well as my camera was going to be a hassle.
By my next post I should have gotten to know my hosts better, so I can tell you all about the organic farmers.

Peace,
Kasza

Last Visit to Toronto for a Year

Whew, what a trip to Toronto this past weekend. Very fun. I got to hang out with mostly everybody one last time.

I had dinner at Terroni on Saturday and Kalendar on Sunday. It was my first time at both places and each meal was excellent.

The Fresh staff party at the Beaver on Sunday night was pretty funny and definitely made more enjoyable by the drink tickets that were being handed out.

I've got one last night in Uxbridge to spend with friends and parents and then it's down to Toronto tomorrow to write the exams for my Athabasca correspondence courses. And then off to Pearson for a lovely eight or so hour flight.

I'll be waking up in London Thursday morning. Joy.

I wonder if London will have anything fun to do. Probably not; I hear not much ever goes on there.

- Kasza

Two Weeks of Uxbridge

I've been in Uxbridge for the last two weeks and I'm starting to miss the comforts of the city. It's been good hanging out with Ken though; I rarely got see that guy for last two years. I got to play hockey with him and Heath and some Newmarket skaters which was slightly embarrassing/frustrating. Years of working at a desk have not maintained a body that can handle skating quickly for more than thirty seconds. It was fun to be out on skates and shooting a puck again though.

I, Ken, Heath, Mandy and whoever else happens to be at O'Grady's tonight will be celebrating St. Patty's Day early this year; should be a good time. They better have green beer.

Kurt and James are coming up to enjoy the awesomeness of Uxbridge next Thursday and then I'll head back to the city with them on Saturday for the last goodbyes and the Fresh party on Sunday. I've also got to grab a few things from MEC for the trip.

Departure is eleven days away.

-Kasza