Merry Xmas and Farewell 2014

Well the holiday season is almost done and it's soon time to go back to work. It was a green Xmas here in Newfoundland which was especially welcomed because last year, winter was very very long, very very cold and there was A LOT of snow. A green Xmas means we can hope that winter will be more kind this year. I did put up a Xmas tree to conform to social conventions but its down now and I instantly felt better when it came down. I did decorate it with zombie gingerbread people that I made :D I woke up early Xmas morning and drove to my sisters house so that I could watch my 1 year old nephew open his presents. He's still very young and didn't really understand it all. He's fascinated with the vacuum so Santa brought him a kid version. That was the first thing he opened so nothing else really mattered to him! I'm glad I only bought him a couple shirts. How can I compete with a vacuum! The snow finally has decided to arrive. If it had arrived earlier, I would have tried to learn how to snowboard but alas, I'll have to wait until February. Tonight is New Year's Eve. I don't have big plans. Once again, I'll be headed to my sisters place and hang out with my nephew (who really needs to stop giving me colds BTW) and drink and eat and then fall asleep on the couch. I have no idea what 2015 will bring. I suppose that's part of the fun. I've enjoyed my 2014 adventure and I look forward to my next adventures. I love seeing that my little blog still receives visitors. Thank you for reading my ramblings and looking at my pictures (I think I like groceries more than the average traveller!) If anyone has ideas for new adventures. Let me know. Happy holidays and a prosperous & healthy 2015 Leann

The 3rd Week Crazies Has Set In!

It is officially the no-mores. What are 'no-mores'? You ask. No-mores are that exciting last week of work. It is when single digits just isn't enough of a countdown. No-more Tuesdays, no-more Wednesdays, etcetera becomes the countdown of the day. Sadly to get to no-mores you must pass through week three which is also when people start to get a little loopy. Since I'm probably a little more loopy than most even on a good day, it's slightly harder to tell that my crazies have started. Fortunately, it's a good ship and a good crew so even at it's craziest, it's mostly entertaining! This third and fourth week has been relatively mild on the crazy scale (but again, I'm high on the scale!). The weather hasn't been the greatest but spirits have been high (no not the metaphysical or liquid kind of spirits). Random rumors have started right on cue. Hard to believe that on a ship with 22 crew, rumors can start but they do. Most rumors involve the same theme: crew change day! You were expecting something salacious weren't you. Sorry, it's not a soap opera ship. Everybody has insider information that they've heard indirectly from an un-named important source, as to exactly when we can get to port for crew change. Mostly, it's wishful thinking and pure entertainment to see if you can get someone to believe you. Hey, if you say it enough, maybe crew change WILL be yesterday! Nope. I'm still here. The only thing that is certain, is that crew change day will arrive and it will be four weeks after we joined. We will be the mostly tired but smiling faces, standing by the gangway, eager for our reliefs to arrive. They will be the refreshed and slightly frowning faces walking up the gangway as we walk down. The themes for this trip has been wind and water. It's November/December in the North Atlantic after all so there is no getting away from the wind. But as far as winds go, I've been in worst and I'm sure I will again. Water was the engine room theme. If a pipe had water in it, it found a way to drip, leak, break, gurgle, burp or sputter. And in each case I'm sure I learned a little something new about each drip and leak. And water was a much better theme than my last trip, which had an oil theme! Topics at coffee break included: the latest rumor and everyone's two cents on such rumor; each two cent opinion more valuable and important than the last, random crazy conspiracy theories and most importantly, what was for lunch/supper! The conspiracy theory was that aliens are google, run google, use google or some variation thereof. I must say, this theory was no thought of by me (so please don't hurt me google aliens) but it was probably triggered by me. I like that this blog shows me stats on where people are viewing from. No, not in your underwear, on the couch in your parents basement (I don't think the google aliens are that good....yet!). But it does tell you from which country and city. When Santa Clara started be a frequent city, I started to get excited that I might actually have someone that looks at my blog regularly whose name wasn't "Mom"! I was then promptly told that Santa Clara is where google headquarters is located. I was then sad that I didn't in fact have a real person intrigued by my random blogs but instead, google was stalking me. OK. Most likely a google bot pinging the blog. But this lead to the whole, google-alien conspiracy theories. Me, again being slightly more crazy (let's say imaginative), was not bothered by a google-alien partnership. My thoughts went to, zombies are a head-shot, werewolves are silver bullets, vampires are a stake through the heart but how the hell do you kill a google-alien??!! No one else seemed as concerned as I was and the less imaginative just said "Unplug the internet". I fear for her life in a zombie, werewolf, vampire apocalypse because she might cover her eyes and say "If I can't see them, they can't see me!" And I'm concerned that my house has far too many big windows to be zombie proof! See, the third week crazies have set in! Waiting for crew change day and crushing rumors, Leann

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me! Well not today, but a few days ago. I'm at work but it was still okay. I work a 6 and 6 shift. 6 hours on, 6 hours off, around the clock for 28 days. I work the 12-6 shift. Don't worry, its my favourite shift and I actually like the 6 and 6. So my birthday started at midnight. The weather was fine and there wasn't too many jobs for me to do. I had breakfast when I got off shift because French toast was on the menu. I had my 5 hour nap and got up for lunch, which was salmon with hollandaise sauce. The cooks also had a chocolate birthday cake with pink icing and star sprinkles. Definitely nothing wrong with that. I even got a present. A vampire fang lollipop. I'll have to get a picture.

The day after that the weather wasn't so nice. There were high winds so not a lot of work got done because most people were hanging on. The engine room is the best place to be in bad weather. We're low in the ship so we don't roll and pitch as aggressively but there were a couple times I flew across the control room in my chair.

Not the best pics but it wasn't nice. Trust me.

Successful Hunt

Finally I have been victorious! No more moose hunting for me, for another three years. Yesterday mornings hunt started very early. We (my hunting buddy and I) left the house at 5:30, drove 10km on a dirt road and then used the quad to go even farther so we could be in a spot where the moose would be at sun up.

The sun was up and it was bright, very early. It had been a clear night when we left with the sky full of stars and the moon. So there were no clouds to get in the suns way come morning. So we started searching. We came down a little hill with a small bog on the right and there were 2 moose. A cow (female) and a calf (baby). My licence is for either sex so I could shoot the cow....but I didn't. I have a hard enough time killing animals to begin with. So there was no way I was going to kill a mom with her kid standing next to her.

But on the edge of the bog, hiding, was the bull (male) moose. There was no guessing. There was a rack of antlers on his big ol' head. I didnt have as much of a problem shooting the bull. Don't worry, it wasn't the kids dad. That's not how moose roll! He took a couple steps out, turned, bang, down. He was dead. One shot. No suffering. Which makes me feel better. I said sorry to the moose and thanked him.

So now the work begins. Get to the moose in the bog. Gut moose. Get moose out of bog. Get moose home. Skin moose. Bring moose to butcher. An all day chore. And I went to bed very early last night.

Today I have to bake a cake for my birthday supper on Saturday. It's not my birthday then but I'll be away at work, somewhere on the Grand Banks or off the coast of Labrador I suppose, on my birthday. I asked friends what I should make. They have complete faith in my baking/crafting abilities so the combined suggestion is something like a red velvet, drunken gummy, skittle umbre cake. I think there was a suggestion for a stout cake too. Maybe I'll need layers. 2 cakes even. One mostly full of liquor and one for the kids (ie my nephew).

I should probably also clean. Step 1, get out of bed!

Also there are no moose pics because well I don't like posting that kind of stuff. Yes I took his picture but you won't see it here or fb or twitter. And can the girls that work with my mom smack her. She keeps looking at pics from the SPCA.

Leann

Long time, No post!

It has been awhile since my last post. I wish I could say it's been because I am just sooooo busy but that is not true. Actually, anytime anyone tells you they've been just soooo busy or toooo busy, it's an excuse for it wasn't important to them.

Example: I wanted to call/text/write you but I've just been soooo busy! Yes, it is true. They didn't want to call/text/write. Busy is their excuse so don't bother ask, "Busy doing what?". Suddenly every life chore/event/task that everyone does, becomes the 'busy' thing.

I have not been busy. I've been lazy and unmotivated :)

I hosted two German couch surfers for two weeks. Which was fine for awhile but then it gets tiring. It's fun to learn about other cultures and places and I like that I get to share my culture. When it gets to the point that it feels like there is not much left to share and it seems like freeloading, that's the tiring point. Especially because I'm not that kind of traveller myself. And I live alone so I do like having my house to myself.  Sure it's a big house with plenty of space but I like my space and my mess :) I'm sure it would be different if I was living with a friend but couch surfers aren't friends. So that was two weeks. We cooked some good meals and I brought them to the family cabin for a night.

One of those meals: pumpkin soup and red lentil curry

I've also been crafting. Okay, crafting my be the loose interpretation of the word. I painted my stairs going down to the basement. The tread got painted brown and the risers were painted with a grass butterfly theme. I saw the idea on Pinterest.

My stairs

Most of the paint I had in the basement so it didn't cost me anything to give it a try. I think it makes my trips to the wood stove a little nicer.

I also made a pallet headboard for my bed. Again, a Pinterest induced craft. I took apart the pallets using a jigsaw to cut the nails which makes the process so much faster and easier. I then arranged the pieces in my basement and gave them a good sanding. I gave them a quick paint and trimmed them to length, added back supports and legs to take the weight (it was super heavy), added a sharpie dandelion and quote and installed. It looks pretty good.

Half painted

Sharpie work done

My new headboard :)

I like that I can sand off the design or quote whenever I want and sharpie on another one whenever I want. And it is very big but it fits the room.

I also made a craft for my friends husband. Don't worry I have a craft planned for her too! He likes star wars and coffee so I found a design I thought he'd like and put it on a canvas. I had considered painting it but I found sharpies in the colours I needed so I used them instead of paint.

There is a method to my madness

Ta da! Now I want one too!

My crafting has slowed or shifted to slightly quieter. I started a winter themed cross stitch and I fixed my embroidery machine but haven't tested if my fix worked :)

In sadder news, my cat Buffy had to be put down :'( She was old and her health has started to deteriorate. She had even become I'll before I left for the Netherlands but she pulled through so I went on my trip. Basically, she was starting to become paralysed.  The first time it happened I told myself that she had just pulled a muscle and she rested for a few days not moving much but she pulled through. She then had a slight limp for the next month and was basically a little old lady. On her last day the paralyse returned but it was worst. Much worst. So I made the decision to put her down. She is now buried at the cabin. And my house is empty without her and I miss my old lady.

 One of her last pics. Having a nap.

I also tried out my pasta maker. I turned out pretty good. I'll have to try it again.

It was also Halloween. My nephew was going to dress up as a pirate so I had to as well!

Arrrrrgggg

The slightly less beardy Aaarrrrgggg

Back to work next week. Oh well I can't complain. I've had three months off!

Leann

Here Moosey Moosey

I went to the cabin with Dad and the bro-in-law on Friday. Dad and I did not see any moose on the way in. So the rest of the evening was spent drinking beer and having an alcohol stove build off with the bro-in-law. I think mine won.

Dad was up early (as he usually is) and eventually woke me up too to go hunting. Our luck (OK lack of luck) held out from the previous evening and we didn't see any moose. We didn't even see any signs of moose. I had mentioned to dad that I had only ever seen 1 owl since we've been going to the cabin (20 years). On our way back to the cabin, we saw an owl! I quickly said, I haven't seen many moose :p no moose popped out!

Dad started to cook our late breakfast. I made a coffee and went to read. All of that was cut short because bro-in-law cut his leg so we packed up and headed to the hospital, leaving dad at the cabin. I took my breakfast to go. Eggs and bologna, basically the typical newfie cabin breakfast!

Headed to the cabin

Old Mans Pond

Clearly the winning mini stove!

Sun starting to rise

Still no moose

Can you see the owl? Dad didn't right away

See him now! He stayed there sunning himself for awhile.

Leann

Man in the Mountain

I'm back home and trying to keep busy. The nephew had his 1st birthday and I've registered him for swimming lessons (now I just have to pry him away from my sister!). I've been giving the house a thorough cleaning and trying to finish up some projects (but a few more would be okay too).

Yesterday seemed like a great day to take a break from the projects and go for a hike.  It was cool but the sun was warm and the hike is literally 5 minutes away. The Man in the Mountain hike is part of the International Appalachian Trail and is about 2.5km with an ascent of 985ft.

Start of trail

In true Leann style, I didnt find the trail on my first try! And the beginning of the trail is mostly on an incline. But nothing that isn't too hard.

I had wanted to do the hike earlier in the week but it had rained several times overnight. It was probably wise to have waited since there were a couple spots that would have rather muddy.

You can see where the water has washed some of the trail out.

Eventually you come to the first of 3 ponds.

The hike gets steeper and you start snaking your way up the side of the mountain and the view starts to get better.

And then you can see Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands.

You can even have a little break.

Another pond

Evidence of the locals.

Another pond!

Every hike in NF includes a bog!

Me

3 hours later and I was back at my car... Which had a flat tire! Thankfully I'm kind of used to flat tires and have a pump in the car. I pumped it up and I was pretty sure it was just leaking through the valve so I headed to the mechanic. 

Tire fixed and shopping was called for :) Pasta maker, coffee and beer.

Hunting this weekend and swimming with the nephew on Sunday.

Leann

Back to Canada

I'm writing this post from Canada in my living room and I'm not entirely sure what to say. My trip was 1 week shorter than the original plan but I think it was still a success. It was my first time travelling outside of Canada and my first time having a biking/camping adventure. As far as risky adventures go, I'm sure it wasn't even super adventurous, but it was a start. On my first night camping, after my first day on the bike, I think I had a holy crap moment and attempted to rebook my plane ticket back to canada. Hence my 3 week trip.

I discovered that travelling solo is a blessing and a curse. It meant that I could stop after 35km at 1pm instead of biking 70km everyday and stopping at 5. If I had someone with me, the longer rides would have been enjoyable too but I was always wanting to be sure of my site early in case I had to bike further to find my next site. Camping wasn't hard, even in my tiny tent. A second person would have just meant someone to laugh about the day with. I have described it as the difference between laughing with someone about the two cows I saw, leaning butt to butt as they ate, and just telling people about those cows. It would have also meant that someone else could have planned the journey.

By the last few days I had figured out the subway (metro), trains, biking and grocery shopping. I think I could totally live in the Netherlands. I actually really loved both the cities and the countryside. I'd get a bike with gears, but I would love to live there.

I was less nervous about my flights travelling home than I was travelling there. I don't think I would ever book a flight with a 1 hour connection at Frankfurt! Even after landing it takes 10-15 minutes to get to a terminal. If you are on one of the planes that even gets to the terminal. Some get lined up on the tarmac and a bus brings you to/from the terminal. Inside you are pretty much garunteed a passport and/or security check!

Sculpture in Amsterdam airport

I hadn't told my family I was coming home early so it was somewhat a surprise. I pleasant one I think. My dad said he can finally sleep again! He was even happy enough to find me a chassis to build my replica pink trailer on!

I don't know where my next adventure will take me but I'm a little more sure I can handle it whatever it is. 

I've had requests to keep blogging so I'm thinking of continuing the blog but making it for my solo adventures in corner brook and my random musings (today those musings would have included people inability to push grocery carts!). So keep checking in. Next week I could be on an adventure!

Leann

Derby and more wandering

Block Around the Clock 2, was in Amsterdam this weekend. 24 hours of non-stop (mostly) derby scrimmages for charity (Women Win) and fun! I went before the event to volunteer to set up, which was mostly setting up tables, decorating, and chaulking a fitness route to the venue from the metro station. The 24 hours started at 2pm Saturday with a full length sanctioned bout between Amsterdam and Paris. Amsterdam won! Which was made even more nicer because it is their 5 year anniversary. After their bout it was non stop 30 minute scrimmages on 2 tracks.

Later in the day my volunteering consisted of sitting outside the skater VIP area as a kind of security. But I could see the games from there so, s'all good. I left in the last 10 minutes of the last bout. Its kinda what I do :p and I had been awake a very long time so I wanted a shower and food and beer and a bed. I wasn't tired until I laid down and then I mostly went into a coma.

This morning I was slow to get out of bed. Mostly because I know stores are later to open on Mondays usually. Then I got up and headed downtown. I think I've finally figured out the trains! So there are fancier, nicer, faster trains and country trains and the subway (smellier, more stops)! I even managed to find the 24 hour ticket I wanted! So much nicer even though once I'm done wandering around in the city, I still don't have the urge to go back.

Today I picked a different direction, more south east but I still avoided the red light district. It was very touristy. So I didn't like it as much as my first few days.

I just liked the look of those buildings.

The royal palace (don't worry, there is a better pic. I think the pockets of tourist and hotdog stand are funny!)

See much more Palacey

And what does the palace have for a neighbour...Madame Tussauds wax museum! Classy

Always a canal pic

Another house I liked

I like house boats but my dreams were crushed one day as to their house boat-iness.

I turn down non popular streets and I found this. The garbage gives it a lived in feel :p

I likes this subway car as it went by so I got in it.

Hello discount wine aisle!

Time to plan tomorrows fun!

Leann

Toilets & toilet paper

Yes, you read that right. This blog post is dedicated to toilets and toilet paper! Because everyone wants to know, how you go.

Firstly let me start by saying that I, like most, love a good flushing toilet. A solid one flush and its gone. No one wants to have to flush two or even three times (unless they are curtisy flushes!). Well let me tell you, its nothing but one flushes all over the Netherlands! And it is a very aggressive flush. Imagine a scaled down Niagara falls type flush.

Now where all flushes are mostly created equal, all flushing mechanisms are not. The standard north american toilet toggle is no where to be found. There have been start/stop (yes you eco friendly people, you can stop the falls) flappers above the toilet, there have been buttons on the wall or toilet and yes, one even had, what I image to be a more old British style, an overhead waterbox and pull cord!

And the toilets! They are shaped differently somehow. Some just seem very deep with the hole, for lack of a better word, in the front. And some have a ledge. Yup a ledge. But don't worry. The Niagara flush gets it all in one go ;)

But what about the toilet paper?! Superp. I bought cheap toilet paper at a corner store and it was still thicker than most 2-ply! Not to mention the sites and places that had their own. I cant imagine people buying fancy toilet paper at a hostel and its like 4-ply so what is expensive paper like. And while you're sitting there, I've noticed all the toilet paper has cute designs. I've seen ghosts (cute ones with hats) and ships and flowers and other random non bathroom specific prints.

So there you have it. Toilets and toilet paper!

Leann

Pics from the last few days!

Now that I'm back in Amsterdam and back at the hostel, both tablet and phone should work.

A cat at one of the campsites. Described as a monster. But he was totally nice.

These rocks were outside a small town. Perhaps rocks are rare. Not where I'm from :p

Campsite that night. The pics are all starting to look the same!

Found a grocery store. And a beer with a hobbit/smurf/elf/gnome/something on it.

Perhaps the theme of my bike trip!

Afternoon lounging!

For Derek: Yes, you can just have wine and cheese!

This tree has sea urchins growing on it! Its the only way to describe them. I wouldn't want to step on one.

Went through a town that had pictures made out of flowers.

Had to take a pic of the flower dragon too!

I think most of my pictures look like this.

Stopped for pub grub: bitterballen and frinkedel.

What's a campsite without some pets!

There was a neat air trampoline type thing in the ground to for kids.

Last site!

Trail was a little off road this morning so granny had seen better days!

Back at the hostel.

€3.35 for this and the grocery bag and...

A beer!

Derby tomorrow for two days! Better make room on my phone for pics!

Leann