Air Canada, body odour and 80GBP of excess luggage

Back in Mississauga now and preparing for my trip to Ottawa this Friday, I guess I should reflect on the last 48hrs of my trek to 'the homeland'.

I was initially thinking about composing a song or writing a musical about it, but I felt that it would be two time consuming and, ultimately, very boring and off key. So, instead, I'll write about it :)

Consola and Helena made a wonderful breakfast to get us to (and them from) the airport on Monday, following a weekend of fun and debauchery in Leeds. I tried to pack early so as to ensure that I didn't spend the few hours before I go to bed fretting and throwing stuff into my bags. I should have realized that when I try to do things to avoid a negative result, it's going to happen anyway! So as I tried to fit a couple shoes and shirts into my already over full luggage I came to grips with the fact that I was going to be paying charges for my overweight luggage. Only 35GBP, it's a small price to pay to bring back my London life from my adoptive home. Oh...if only that were true...

Bringing my luggage to the airport with Consola and Helena (which, without them I would have not been able to do) was an effort and a half. My two pieces of checked luggage, which turned out to weigh 44kg and 27kg, was awkward, heavy and a workout to drag along. After trying to get an upgrade, Sheila, from Air Canada, informed me that my 44kg luggage was too heavy to get on the flight. So my options included either shipping it home from the 'excess luggage' counter, which would have cost 250GBP, or buying an extra bag and paying the excess baggage fee, which cost me 100GBP with the bag. Still a small price to pay to bring back my London life!? I shall now be known as Excess Luggage Man, ELM for short.

Well, 100GBP poorer, a new alter ego and a flight waiting for me, I said bye to Consola and Helena and made my way through Heathrow Terminal 3 to gate 26 for my 7hr trip to Canadian soil. After trying a second time for an upgrade at the gate, I made my way onto Air Canada's newly renovated Boeing 767-300 and seat 19D - right behind the galley with loads of legroom! The Boeing 767-300 was equipped with touch screen video on demand, comfy seats, power outlets and the nicest Air Canada captain and crew ever! I can normally get really ticked off on a flight when the crew tries to be perky, happy and overly nice, but this group had just the right amount. The service manager kept the passengers constantly abreast of what was going on around us - where we were flying over, what we should expect next in on our on flight service, etc. He even played some Celine Dion 'I believe I can fly' when we touched down, it was quite fitting. I lucked out on this trip as there were no screaming babies onboard, however the flight had its fair share of nuns, ONEX employees, retirees and one smelly individual (sitting two rows behind me), which kept my flight interesting and odour filled.

The flight came and went no problem, I was able to occupy myself with writing an essay for Carleton, watching the History Boys (great film) and listening to XM Satellite radio. Seeing my family was probably the best end to this trip, I didn't think I would miss them that much, but it was clear when I saw my mum and dad there waiting for me.

I'm excited (yet a little weirded out) to be home, but I am really looking forward to going back up to Ottawa at the end of this week and seeing more people there...whoo hoo! As for the rest of this week, it will consist of sleeping, some friend seeing, maybe a trip to the States for some cheap shopping tomorrow and/or Thursday.

On another note, my phone should be back in full force on Saturday, so please pass on your mobile numbers so I can replenish my Rogers SIM Card. Hope to connect and see everyone soon.

Cheers.

Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

It's funny how there are moments in everyone's life where one finally understands the meaning of that saying. Most of the time it doesn't take an actual life or death situation to help you understand it, sometimes random small things that you come across in your daily interactions help it along! A random start to my entry, I know, I just felt like it needed to be said.

Since my last entry, I have continued my travels around Europe and made a (carbon) footprint in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Oslo, Norway. Amsterdam was an amazing trip as it was really relaxing and laid back - and not for the reasons that you're thinking! The hostel we stayed in was absolute shit, for many reasons that I don't even want to mention, but we ploughed on! The city is very beautiful and we got to see loads of the old architecture and structure when we took a boat cruise down its many canals. We visited the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museums and a few other places. I also had an epiphany and decided that I needed to go into the business of making canned preserve. Yes folks, Darran wants to sell jam and Mateusz is going to help with the marketing "Hooooomemade Jaaaaaaaam" anyone? Rachelle Mac - summer roomie and great friend - came to London for a visit and I dragged her along to Holland with us all...I'm pretty sure she appreciated it! It was great to see her again and exciting to think of all the fun we're going to have this summer in our sexy flat on Gilmour St...whoo!

I jetted off to Oslo a few days later, and although I was really tired from Amsterdam and work, I am very happy I made the trip! Oslo was one of those places I wanted to go and visit from day one, it could be because of my odd love of speed skating or because I enjoy the name of the city, I don't really know. When I was booking my trip I couldn't find any reasonable accommodation as the city was all booked up for some massive relay race, a miscalculation on my part. I decided to couch surf instead and found reasonable accommodation with some guy named Terje - it worked. I spent my day and a half roaming the small city, taking in great artwork at the National Gallery and Contemporary Art Museum, soaking up the Nordic culture at the Viking and Historical Museum and being a 'local' - as much of a local as a brown man can be in a Scandinavian country - by taking in the local (very pricey) cafes, shops and pubs. I highly recommend Oslo and will come back to visit some day to do a proper tour and visit of the entire country, and maybe make a hop over to the other Scandinavian countries as well. We'll see how things go.

This week was a little battle in itself. Friday was supposed to be a big day for myself and my flatmates, it was supposed to be our court date for nonpayment of our council tax, similar to property tax at home. The reason for our nonpayment is clear, we're students, which gives us an exemption, however the council authority did not believe us or Leeds University of our student status, even after documentation was submitted supporting our claim. As a result we all received a summons. Mike was on the case in connecting Leeds and the Council and I made a small gesture in putting our MP into the mix as well. We (well, mainly Mike) successfully got the court date postponed to the middle of August with a reassessment of our case occurring in the interim. Whoo hoo!

With work over, our court case on hold, my travels done and with only a few more pages to go on my last paper, it's evermore clear that I'm going to be shipping off back to Canada quite soon. Hmm...I think I'm going to need to start packing tomorrow...ugh!