OK, well I wish this were a 'woohoo I'm in the UK and starting my wonderful adventure' post, but it's not. This is one of those posts I truly don't want to write, but I feel compelled to publicise this before everyone hears it through the grapevine. As I simply don't have the time or energy to write a bunch of individual emails, explaining what's going on and I'm not sure who will really care...I'm simply going to tell y'all here.

I am in the UK, in Edinburgh specifically, however it has not been a smooth ride. I was detained, interrogated and my luggage searched upon arrival at Glasgow Airport. Immigration officials asked me numerous questions, poked through my papers and personal belongings, held me in a detainment room for three hours and then proceeded to tell me they were denying my entry to teh country because thye did not believe I was here merely as a visitor. I can't go into all the details, but basically they had their 'suspicions' based on circumstantial evidence that I might be planning to stay longer than three months and find employment. It was a horrible, horrible experience and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else. I told the whole truth and they twisted it all around to make it seem like I was lying...when in fact I volunteered more information than they would have readily been able to access.

I've been trying to sort it all out and called on the help of the local Citizens Advice Bureau and my former employer back in Canada, but it seems I am in a corner. The immigration authorities have absolute power and there is nothing I can do about it. I have to return to Glasgow airport on Saturday for a formal determination of whether I will be granted entry into the country, but it is just a formality and it looks like I will be flying home via Zoom on Saturday at 3.00 pm GMT.

So, yeah. I am blown away by this and not so happy about it. As you can probably understand...

So, it's my last full day on PEI for a long while. Tomorrow I take off into the great known...well, kind of. So I'm landing in the familiarity of my home away form home, Edinburgh, and couch surfing at Ailbhe's for the first few days, but after that I am heading down to Berwick-Upon-Tweed, where, if all goes well, I will be setting up residence for the summer. I haven't been there before but Jen & Kelly assured me it's a lovely little town and I've checked it out abit - there's a gym, leisure centre, organic store and farmer's market, so I think I'm set! It's also on the coast, so there are apparently some really nice coastal walking/cycling paths. Me thinks I should train fora triatholon. Except, wait does that involve swimming? Because I quite swimming lessons back when I was five years old - the instructors were way too patronizing for my taste....

Yesterday I opted not to go see my nutritionist and instead I ate a number of sinful foods. I also did some productive things, like go for a jog, clean my room and pack my luggage. I learned that :

a) I'm NOT allergic to dust, or I would have suffocated in my sleep, my room was just that bad
b) I've picked up some travelling tricks ove the years that will benefit me greatly - my carry-on is 24 lbs..I put everything heavy in it and when I go to check in I'l have my sister watch over it, so they can't weigh it and charge me for extra poundage
c) I am addicted to chocolate - no big surprise there but even I was impressed by how I polished off the pan of Chewy Gooey Looies that I had made. (recipe to follow at bottom of this post)

Right, so today I have to finish packing, cleaning and burning Cds for my personal MP3/CD player. I should have just broken down and bought an iPod. Maybe once I start making bigger bucks..or any bucks for that matter. As it is I already spent A LOT of money this week on gym clothes, Asics sneakers (Go to Hasheem's Convenience on Fitzroy St..way cheaper than Sports Chek!), a BritRail Pass, books (The Stroy fo B and The Time Traeller's Wife) and other stuff I can't recall..mostly toiletries I guess.

This week I've been saying a lot of goodbyes. I'm not grat at goodbyes, which is to say it doesn't usually sink in that I am leaving and won't be seeing these familiar faces for a long long time. That being said, it was difficult to say goodbye to my dad and then to follow that up with farewellls to Keri, Patrick, Jen & JOan, and to think I've already said goodbye to Adama and Tash. Tomorrow till be the most goodbyes though - Mom, JIm, Sahra, Henry and, if she shows up at step class, Rana. Bah I say to goodbyes.

I also discovered afew great things this week:

1. A yummy Thai take-out on Pownal Street - same block as the Legion. I highly recommend it for quality of food, prtion size, friendliness, selection and because you are helping a local family.
2. Amos Lee - a brilliant singer/songwriter. He only had one CD out, but I recommend you get it if you like music.
3. People will surprise you every once in awhile. And that's a good thing.


Chewy Gooey Looies

1/2 C. Corn Syrup
1/4 C. Honey
1/4 C. Margarine

Heat ina saucepan, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil and is bubbling throug. Take off heat when bubbling and immediately add the following:

1/2 C. smooth peanut butter
1 C. graham wafer crumbs
1/4 C. cocoa
1 1/2 Cs. Rice Krispies or Just Right or other small-flake, low sugar cereal

Stir well and pour into greased 8 x 8 or 9 x9 pan. Refrigerate until cooled. Cut in squares and devour.

OK, I have to admit that I am getting just a wee bit excited about my trip to Scotland now that it is imminent!! I've been throwing out phrases like 'Cheers' and 'Brilliant' on a regular basis and, well, I've been dreaming about British Pounds. No, not simply day dreaming about them - I've actually had dreams where I'm out and about spending British pounds! Oh how I am looking forward to the simplicity of tax-included shopping and seeing ten pounds cover my bill on a grocery shop!

This week I had a catch up session with my roomies from Scotland Summer '05, Lindsay & Kelly. Wow, there was quite a bit of news to catch up on! We shared stories and a Boost bar ( I had refrained from eating it since September '05 - a point of pride for this chocoholic!) Of course, seeing them here reminded me yet again that Scotland will not be the same upon my return - most of our friends from the first round are no longer there..they are back in Canada. This is, of course, with the exception of Mr Lucky to Have an Ancestry Visa (Brandon)! Nonetheless, a few of my European friends remain includingAilbhe, Gary, Helene, Margaret and Derek and me thinks the greatest part of anyu adventure is in meeting new and wonderful people, so I"m scouting out ways to go aboot that (Canadian phrasing toatlly intended there!)

This is my last weekend on PEI . So far it's gone wonderfully. Kicked off Friday night by watching the Da Vinci Code with Keri and catching up with here. The movie was good - not amazing or astounding, but v. good as movies go and it was true to the book. T be honest, I think I may have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read the bok and didn't know anything about the story because it's supposed to be intrigue, but, well if you know what's going to happen...it kind of isn't intriguing! I had no problem getting past the fact that Tom Hanks was playing the lead role - he seemed a natural for it and I don't think his stardom took away from the character.

Sahra & Henry showed up late on Friday night and when I got home from the flick we had a brief chance to chat and the such, then it was time to hit the sack. I could not resist reading a few more pages of Long Way Round -this is a book narrated by Ewan McGregor and Charley Booreman about their motorcycle adventure, which began in London and ended in New York, crossing through Siberia and a few other areas along the way! It's brilliant !!!

Saturday AM was regular step class, then I went home and jogged 4 k, then lifted weights for 40 minutes. Some might say I am overdoing it. Oops. Anyways - Saturday afternoon was extremely productive because I SOLD MY CAR :) ! The lucky new owners are a youngish couple - he's from the States, she's from England. Her father happened to be visiting and came to check my Echo out too. We had a bit of a chat - he seemed suprised that I actually liked living in Scotland! Anyways - happy, happy, joy, joy - my only commitment has now been dispersed of!

Saturday night was fab! I called up my newly discovered neighbour (and hairdresser to boot), Patti, and followed her and her boyfriend into Ch'town. We were heading the Renee's wedding dance. We ended up doing a bit of pre-drinking at the Inn on the Hill then caught up with the wedding party et al at the Charlottetown Hotel for some grooving and moving. There were quite a few nice looking men..of course they were all Serge's friends, and none were from PEI (big surprise there! I guesss Quebec is the place to go!). Anyways- there also happened to be a lovely veggiee plater and TWO kinds of wedding cake just sitting out there waiting to be eaten. . .

Today I paid for last night's sins by doing two hours of working out at the gym. Now I am home and eating my breakfast at 2.12 pm.