Louise Graham Barcelona

It's not got quite the same ring to it.We watched Vicky Christina Barcelona one day when we were comatose in bed hungover and spent the next 2 days singing that really annoying, catchy "barcelooonaaa barcelooonaaaa" from the credits. 

Graham booked me flights to Barcelona to see him and 24 hours later I was on a plane. 

He met me at arrivals with a bottle of sangria and we continued back to his, sangria in hand. Cuz you can do that there folks. It was something of a Love Actually moment.

We ate pizza and drank a lot of cheap vodka, we danced and walked and sunbathed on the beach and ate some more. We curled up in bed and watched TV with stinking hangovers unable to talk let alone move and when we were able to walk again we walked and ate more.

We visited the Sagrada Familia which has been on my bucket list since I was 15 in art class. 

 We sat in parks beneath trees and on benches and had evening siestas and drank coffee and ate. 

We spent the last day on the beach before

I went home, with the biggest sad face, back to Scotland. 

I really needed this trip. Not just to see my best friend but because I was having a bit of trouble adjusting to reality back home, and I suppose Barcelona was some what of a half-way-house for me. 

There aren't many photos because I was using my iphone instead of my SLR because I knew with Graham I'd be drunk and not wanting to haul around lenses. And plus, he lives there so I have plenty time to take my camera over. I usually only like having my SLR when I'm on my own so I can take my time and not feel rushed. 

Louise x

Goodbyes

So I had this goodbye party before I left and I drank a lot and cried a lot and had the best time.

It started off at Cafe Crepe on Granville St, with our own room and as the night went on it slowly whittled down to my best friends.

It was my last Saturday and I couldn't go home without going to The Cambie one last time.

So we did.

We all know by now that I LOVE a good beard and a tattoo so naturally I needed one last night in my weekend home and first actual home when I first got to Van.  

The Cambie is popular every night of the week because of the hostel upstairs but also, in my opinion, because of the number of beards and tattooed men that frequent there for the cheapest beer every Friday and Saturday night. If you don't like Irish accents then don't go. 

And in the all-knowing words of the spice girls 

"No no no no 

You know it's time to say goodbye 

No no no no"

Louise x

everybody be...

Tofino...proof that we really did go!



Louise x

it's my party and i'll cry if i want to.

I did NOT start my 24th birthday with a vomit, a shower and a bagel. I did NOT cry last night. I did NOT shneck a tattooed stranger in a Slayer t-shirt. I did NOT get rejected by a moustached Glaswegian catholic Rangers supporter wearing a Rangers t-shirt because of a small miscommunication that started as "So, when you goin' home?". I did NOT let everyone at work believe I was a fresh 19.

wink wink. 

We took too many selfies in the bathrooms,

I got bought drinks all night at The Cambie...

...even ones I didn't want

I got presents and food at Warehouse and danced at The Met. What more could I ask for!

Somebody asked me on Sunday  what my best year to date has been and I honestly think it's been this one. Not because there's been less sadness  because there's been a lot of sadness this past year but because I have laughed uncontrollably, till I can't inhale anymore, on nearly a daily basis, I have experienced some crazy things, ticked soo many things off my bucket list, and made some genuinely incredible friends, I have zero regrets.

A REAL SUMMER (edited)

Vancouver still hasn't shaken off the last remnants of spring but everyone assures me summer is on its way whether it's now or a late summer in August, frankly I couldn't care less as long as I can go home not looking like I've just been hiding in Glasgow for 12 months.

taking creepy photos of my friends

posing with the poser of all posers on my birthday

Last night I sat with friends on the art gallery steps watching people breakdance on the ice rink below until there was just one guy left, just his silhouette dancing on his own with his spindly legs and wooly hat. We'd been shopping for my birthday outfit, had coffee, talked about beards and bald men at the waterfront at False Creek then had dinner at the veggie friendly Templeton restaurant come diner on Granville. And lemme tell ya...veggie hot dog with vegan chilli, melted cheese on a bun with fries is heaven on a plate. Did I mention I was vegetarian? 7 weeks on Monday. 2 dress sizes down I'm unsure whether it's the no-meat-diet or the work-drink-work lifestyle I've been living of late. Living up to the Scottish stereotype with a particular flare and very little finesse.

Perfect beginning...

If you're ever interested in having the funnest girls weekend of YOUR LIFE, then I highly recommend you book a ticket to the Highlands. In particular Lagganlia Lodges.

Say hello to drinking games, midnight jammy jogs, ghost stories and 4am bed chat.

I swear I've never laughed more.

I was laughing in my sleep.

 

 

 

Asides from my weekend away, I've had the best week! In between shopping, drunkness and general being out-ness, my family threw me a surprise party on Friday yeaauuh. Lucky bitch. I was too shaky to get any photos though :(

4 NIGHTS TO GO!
ho-lyyy mumma.

I'm crazy like that

I'm telling you right now packing for travelling is not fun. Take this as fact.

Packing for a  holiday is all like "Ooh how many pairs of heels can I fit in my suitcase? Will 6 bikinis be enough for a long weekend?".

Somebody tell me how I'm supposed to pack for 4 seasons in what I can only describe as a large schoolbag? I've spent the last week literally wrestling (and I'm not using that term loosely) with my rucksack. However, calm has decended and I have accepted that I will have to quarter my things.
Two pairs of denim shorts is overdoing it.

Asides from wrestling I've actually had an awesome weekend with some of my besties. I won't bore you with the details but I went out on Saturday. Like, out out, clubs and creepy men and getting in at 5am kinda out {HIGH 5!!!}.  Then I spent Sunday AND Monday with my 3 little possums eating and drinking ourselves into a food coma, in the sunshine, squished on a picnic blanket in pyjamas. Glorious. Still got a food baby.

Lx