Life is back to normalish after a rather crazy/disturbing week. I suppose I was being a bit naive in my expectation that the G8 Summit would happen without any outbreak of violence. Oh how wrong I was - unfortunately. The trouble started on Monday with riots breaking out on the Princes street - crowds of angry people throwing projectiles at the lines of fully armed riot police blocking their path of destruction. Oh, it was a messy one - but no one was injured and teh police did an impressive job of managing the angry mobs. I woudl call them protesters but they weren't - these were just persons looking for an excuse to have a good ol punch out. You know the kind of people - they can be foudn at sports games, bars, concerts and generally anywhere where there may be achance to cause a bit of trouble. Anyways, it all ended without great incident.

Wednesday was teh beginning of the G8 Summit and there was aplanned march on Glenegles,w here teh 8 men were staying. I went to work withouta hitch, but jsut after lunchw e ahd a tema huddle and were told we were being sent home for fear that smoe of teh protesters may march out to the business park I work ni. Kudos to them if tehy did - its a heck of a commute from anywhere...Anyways, i didn't really feel right just going home so I joined my co-worker for one glass of wine at a pub in teh grass Market. Somehow one glass turned into two bottles and by the time I staggered home I am sure I could have been arrested for public lunacy.....

Thursday was, well, I suppose it was indescribable. I was genuinely shocked, as was everyone. These are sad times are they not? No more noble fights between two armed knights or even two armies who know the consequences of walking into battle. No, now it is commuters and tourists, children, mothers and fathers who find themselves victims of a faceless belief that will never prevail.

On that note, I believe I should finish. I will write a weekend report next time I am on the Interne.

Oh my - funny how a moment can change one's mood so much eh? I mean twenty minutes ago I was chirpy (well, for a Monday anyway) and looking forward to my lunch break so I could blog the weekend details to you all. And then, a super short conversation with my SM at work turn my mood completely sour. It is confirmed - I am not suited to this job and this job is not suited to me and I am so tired of feeling incompetent and slow. It is draining me of all my spark and enthusiasm to be here day in and day out with absolutely no confidence that I am answering queries correctly or processing efficiently. Basically I suck at this job and hate knowing that. A failure at my first 'real' job. Ahem.

Right, so enough of the dreariness and self pity I suppose....

Weekend Review

Friday Evening = Canada Day celebrations!!! The result of last-minute planning became rather evident when our 'party' numbers didn't even reach the double digits. But, as they say, quality is more important than in quality and in the company of Beth, Anne, BRandon, Ailbhe and John, plus us Islanders, much fun was had.

I decided my ensemble for the night should be my flag. This decision came about after much deliberation and many outfits were tried on. Basically the flag hid my (big) flaws and reinforced my partiotism and lack of white articles of clothing.

We eventually made our way to The Globe, a backpackers bar where last year the whole place was a mass of red & white. Not so much this year - possibly because it was a Friday night, possibly because it was teh eve of the March for Poverty. In any case, there were some Canucks there and some wanna be canucks. The night was enjoyed thoroughly by all, although for some it was cut rather short due to excessive amount ofalcohol intake/ lack of tolerance.

Saturday

Following on a mid-morning jog around the deserted streets of Stockbridge, Jen & I finally ade our way up towards the Meadows, which is a huge park where lots of events were planned ot coincide with the Live8 and March for Poverty events. When we reached Princes Street we were greeted by the sight of a sea of people in white walking slowly and peacefully down the street, Marching to Make Poverty History. Jen & I deduced that it would take longer and be moer frustrating to try to go against the flow of people to get ot hte MEadows, so we merged into the march and eventually foound ourselves at the Meadows. We enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment and checked out some of the booths set up for the day. Ironically, we were able to land some free food, bottled water and, er, protection. Ironic eh? I mean, we are the ones that can afford all this stuff and we were supposed to be there to encourage fair trade and all that jazz, but still we were able to get more free food than most Africans probably consume in any given day. Certainly they wouldn't have access to the juicy oranges being provided.

Saturday evening we all sat in and watched the Live8 concert on tv. It was amazing! Then Jen mentioned she wouldn't mind going to the Walk About (I think this is because we heard a Scissor Sisters song that reminded her of teh Walk About). So the two of us headed up to the Aussie bar and proceeded to dance the night away.

Sunday

Sunday was pretty tame - I went for a jog with Beth, then did a bit of window shopping. Eventually met up with Sean and checked out War of the Worlds, which is just out here. Pretty good, but not great. Tom Cruise really is short eh?

Well, back I go to my meh job - am now dreading it :(

Happy Canada Day!!!!! I'm already decked out in my reds & whites - somehow managed to squeeze into my red pants, not so sure its a pretty sight. Reaffirm commitment to healhy eating and plentyof exercise starting...tomorrow! Oh, come on now, I already bought treats for work including a chocolate fudge cake, jelly babies and yummy white choc chip cookies. Plus I HAD to make chocolate muffins with choclate icing for our Canada Day bash at the flat tongiht. Then I had to make peanut butter cookies ot spread the joy of PB amongst as many Canucks as possible. So, um, yeah - healthy eating starts tomorrow :)

Anyways, I brought in my huge Canadian flag (compliments of, funnily enough, Irish & Scottish flatmates from Dublin days) . One of my coworkers hung it up on the wall. Given that this is an open office it is 'kind of' noticeable. Oh well! What can I say? I'm love being Canadian.

I've been educating the coworkers on Canadian history all morning - apparently I know a lot because I can recall that our Constitution came into effect on July 1, 1867. All those years of Canadian history classes really paid off - I am able to impress SCottish people.

ONe of the women I work with asked if Canada Day ahd anything to do with the Boston Tea Party. I confirmed that, in fac,t it did not have anything ot do with Canada Day and that the Boston Bruins suck. (OK I didn't tell her that - that was more just a dig at ma:) .

A woman from another tema came over on behalf of her colleageuse- initially they thought I was American(you know, because Americans like to hang up Maple Leafs) and was wondering if it was Independence Day. Nope, sorry - that is Monday.

Incidentally, there are already Anti-American protests planned for July 4, namely because the G8 (or Gate as Jen likes to call it) is here and people are looking for any and all reasons to protest. Tomorrow is the big day though - the March to Make Poverty History - estimates of over 200,000 protesters marching the streets. I think I will have to be there. Of course, teh Live8 concerts are also being held tomorrow - I wish I could go. The one in Edinburgh is actually on Wednesday, the day the G8 Summit kicks off.

Anywho, we are having a Canada party tonight then heading out to the Globe, where Canadian karaoke reigned last year and many renditions of Summer of 69 and If I had A Million Dollars were attempted with absolutely no success but plenty of drunken enthusiasm. Ah -red & white.

Not a whole lot else planned for the weekend - hoping it will be nice weather but forecasts are not good. May have to force myself to go on shopping spree and veg in front of the telly.

Next week's planned events will include celebrating Independence day with Emily, hostessing Emily's leaving do and GET THIS - going to a medieval festival where we can watch jousting and all sorts of other knightly things!!!

Um - I guess that's it for now! Congrats to Jen on getting a job at the C Bar. Opportuntiy to hang out with Grand, serve drinks and check out hot guys/patrons..dream job!!!

O Canada - I stand on guard for thee. Bisous.