Only the English could have invented this language….
I am in the middle of my essay hell still, so I though I would merely post this poem which I found whilst procrastinating. I have finished one essay, and will be finishing another today, before starting another on Friday! Roll on June 1st! In other news, the airspace has reopened in the UK and Ireland after a somewhat crazy 5 days, but flights will take about a week to get back to normal. I have an interview in London on Thursday, so wish me luck!! 
************************************************************************************
I came accross this poem the other day and thought it was quite interesting:)
We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Then shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth?
Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in a plural would never be hose.
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine prounouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!
Let’s face it – English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren’t invented in England…
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,
We find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing,
grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham?
Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?
If you have a bunch of odds and ends
And get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English
should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.
In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
While a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
In which you house can burn up as it burns down,
In which you FILL IN a form by FILLING IT OUT,
And in which an alarm goes off by going on.
And in closing if a Father is Pop,
How come mother’s not Mop?
Well hello again!
It’s certainly been a while since I last updated my blog, but I have recently started reading (and commenting) on a few blogs and thought I should at least show my face over here! It’s obvious it is exam time – procrastination has always been my strong point!
I’m going to start with the “Sparknotes” update of my life…. Excuse the bullet points!
- I am in the middle of essay hell – 3 essays due next week, my final papers of my undergrad! Wow!
- Exams start mid May
- Graduation is July, God willing
- Job front is still unsure… Applications are in all over the show, I’m interviewing for pastoral care positions in English boarding schools, as well as anything and everything in N.Ireland.
- I’ve been accepted to a Masters course in QUB, and am waiting to hear back from another course I have applied to, both are part time, and would depend on me having a job to fund it!
- Big horse is L*A*M*E, and on box rest for 6 months… She managed to wreck a tendon in the field! It’s a bum, but such is life.
- Little Pony is doing marvelously well, although I’m flat out with school etc so he hasn’t actually done any work in about 3 months! He is just enjoying life in his field, and being adorable as ever.
- I have found a housemate for after graduation, and provided I have a job, I will be living with an old friend from school, and I’m over the moon about it! I think we will be really great housemates, and I can’t wait to live with Claire!
- My luck with men is still the same: I really need to get my “A$$hole Magnet” removed. I still maintain that there has got to be *one* nice, smart, funny, genuine guy out there, and I’m still living in hope that he’s 6 foot something, with big muscled up shoulders and a cheeky grin… haha! That will never change!
Erm, I think that’s it – like I said, I am in the middle of essay-hell, but I’m hoping I will start to update my v
Buh-Bye Bebo
I’m deleting an old social networking site, which was sadly replaced by Facebook, and in an attempt to salvage some old high school memories from my final days in Victoria College, I will try to post a video here.
I love that place.. <3
ps – I just saw that my top search is “fiesty redhead” ooooherrr!
Summer Update:
Ok, so my updating of this blog has been terrible, but I promise, there’s a really good reason for that!! Nah there’s not actually, I just worked so much this summer that I had very little to blog about!
Being “home” from Canada is weird. I’m back at college now, going to classes, and keep seeing old friends from Kingston everywhere I go…. then I realise it isn’t them… I miss Kingston a lot, mainly I miss my friends, as I seem to have more friends on that side of the Atlantic than this right now! Classes started last week, and already I am snowed under with work. I’m also applying for graduate schools, and taking 2 non-credit language courses, something which is required of me for my PhD applications.
This summer has been a mixed bag to be honest, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, and quite a few accidents. My allergies have driven me bonkers most of the summer, but appear to be settling down, I had a wonderful, if slightly tedious summer job, working in an HR/Admin company, and I currently am working for my friend’s taxi depot, as well as temping for a recruitment agency, and trying to fit in a shift or two in the hotel as well!
I had a great summer horse wise too, even though I ended up not competing for various reasons. Trudi is her wonderful, quirky, sometimes annoying self, and Morgan, the new little stallion is just wonderful. That little pony has so much attitude that it just radiates out of him…. Sometimes he uses it for good ends, and works like a SUPERSTAR, and sometimes he uses it for bad – such as last weekend, when we were out driving and he planted his feet after 2.5miles and WOULD.NOT.MOVE.
He just had that look of “Neh-neh-neh-neh-neh-neh! You can’t make me! I will not move. I will NOT.”
I’m just going to go and attach a bunch of pictures from this summer now… Holidays, 21st Birthday, ponies, and of course “The Accident”….
Oh yuh… I had a BIG ONE this year… an “I should have died” accident… It was a fluke, I wasn’t wearing my hat, and even if I had have been, it wouldn’t have mattered… It was a hospital job, that’s for sure!
So; I was helping Christine handle the foals, and we were trying to get the halters on them. The little filly gave up the chase after about 2 minute, stood in the corner, and let us put her halter on… so we went to the colt’s stable. Colt ran around, and ran some more, and crashed into his mum, and ran some more. I DID get my hands on him, but he balked, and got away… We decided to give him a breather, and leave the stable. I was walking along the back wall, keeping VERY close to his butt, (which is what you’re meant to do, that way, if they kick, you only get a little bit of force, rather than the full extension) and the next thing, I see something coming out of the corner of my eye, turn to look, and get landed, square between the eyes, by the foals hoof. He’d “double barreled” me, meaning had kicked me with both feet, but only one of them hit me… I banged the back of my head on the stable wall, and fell to the ground. Christine let the horses out, and got me out of the stable, taking me to the ER/A&E… She really should have called the ambulance, but apparently I protested! I have very little memory, but from what I’m told, I was on cloud 9 that day! haha! In an attempt to keep me awake/conscious, Christine told me to phone my mum, to phone Conor, to phone Christopher on 40min journey to the hospital. When we got there, I got seen immediately, the blood gushing out of your face is usually a good one. They did some tests and scans, apparently I *do* have a brain, and kept me in for 12 hours to “observe” me… They let me out once they saw me scoff a whole Big Mac meal, and not vomit it! I walked out of the ER with a broken nose and a fractured skull! It’s ok though, I was back at the barn 2 days later! 
There’s no lasting damage, my nose is a normal shape, and my skull is healing… I was lucky though, had the kick been to the side of the head, I most probably wouldn’t be writing this…. :-S Scary, but sure… If I didn’t ride, I’d be insane, so I guess it’s worth the risk!
Right… It’s PICTURE TIME! (Scroll over the pictures for the titles!!)
-
- (yes, that IS horse shit above my left eyebrow)
-
- It got WORSE.
-
- Wanna Kiss???
-
- My Beffers! lol!
-
- Also known as: Love of my Life!
-
- He WAS clean 2 min before!
-
- Buddies or Brawling partners?
-
- Morgan’s first day in the field
-
- I love living so close to the sea!
-
- I am SO wearing HER dress!
Life in Northern Ireland….
I’ve been home in Northern Ireland for a few months now, and in some ways, I love it… I’m settled into quite the routine now, I have my job, I have my horses, and I have my ever so lovely boyfriend, who is pretty much awesome. I have some of my friends here, I talk to others all the time, and I am just falling back into a routine, something I thought I craved….
I guess I’ve been seeing Conor for a good 6 weeks or so now, maybe longer, and it’s all going well… I have a lot of fun with him, and he teaches me a lot… about everything! My new pony arrived this weekend, and he is amazing. He’s 13.1, he’s 8 years old, and he’s a coloured stallion, called Morgan. He’s such a chilled out little dude, I can’t wait to get him driving and out and about! Trudi, the floozy that she is, is in her element now that she has a “real man” around the yard! She’s constantly calling and prancing round – the concept of game playing is alien to her! (Just like her owner there then! haha!)
I started a new job a few weeks ago, working for the company who manages the HR services for the N.Ireland Civil Service… It’s deathly boring, but it’s right up my ally - there’s rules, and procedures, and best of all – LISTS! I’ve become so “type A” since living abroad it is ridiculous!
Other than that, I guess not too much is new, I’ve just been working, playing with ponies, and hanging out with Conor… It’s hard to believe it’s been a month since I last blogged!! I guess I’m just out of good blog fodder!!
xxx
An Update….on the life of Lauren.. :)
Ok, so it’s been far too long since I last posted, but hey, I’ve been back in Ireland, and I’ve been a little bit busy….
Here’s what’s been going on:
- I went to England, and found a pony…. His name is Morgan, he’s a 13.2 “traditional” cob stallion, with beautiful markings, and a cheeky little attitude. I adore him already, and although I am trying not to get TOO excited in case it doesn’t work out, I am BEYOND excitement about bringing him over, to his new home!! Fingers crossed he will be here within a month!!
- I quit my job in Clarks… NOT perhaps my best economic move, but most definately best for my sanity levels…They are reassessing the situation now, and hopefully I can be transferred to a different store, with a better management system. Again, this is all up in the air!
- Trudi, my horse, was diagnosed with mild arthritis… it’s not serious yet, it’s just in her neck and one hock, so hopefully with stretching and supplements for her joints, she’ll be ok…
- My beautiful friend Margarita died, 3 weeks and a day ago…31 March 1989 – 4 June 2009… Margo was an inspiration to everyone who ever met her, she was a true friend to everyone, and never uttered a bad word about anyone.. She fought her battle so bravely, so courageously, and with unbelievably few tears.. I am so proud of her, I miss her, but I am not sad… Margo, I called up to chat to you…was lovely to see your mum and Kate there, and Louise and Eleanor too called up!! Ride your ponies, be free… I’ll see you on the other side pet!
- I totalled my car… Again. I was overtaking, and somebody pulled out of a junction in front of me… We hit head on, and although not badly hurt, I have some pretty funky muscle damage to my neck and shoulders, and some delightful tummy pain where my seat-belt dug in.. Ah well, could have been worse, and cars can be replaced. Kelsey is clearing subliminally linked to me, and didn’t want me to suffer alone… So she fell off her horse the same day, and broke a few ribs… Way to go KPC!!
- I had a three and a half hour coffee date… Ashleigh came home… I reckon the only reason we left was because I had to pick my younger brother up from school!
- I have met a guy… and I sort of like him. It’s still insanely new, and I’ve seen almost a bit much of him this week, but that’ll settle down I’m sure… He’s 21, he lives about an hour away, he’s smart, funny, handsome, sweet, he makes me laugh and I enjoy spending time with him… As I said, I’ve probably seen him too much this week – 5 times in 4 days – but to be honest, that is NOT ENTIRELY my fault… It should have been 3 times… but he spontaneously drove down to see me on Wednesday night, despite our spontaneous lunch on Wednesday! :p We had a lovely date night last night… He even let me beat him at pool!! (Silly fella potted the black!
- I finally caved in and got a Crackberry style phone… The Samsung Tocco… I can email.. I can facebook… I most likely will lose it or kill it… I love it and hate it in equal measure!
- Oh yeah, and I got my exam grades back… I did really well! I finished up second year, and will be starting final/senior year on a 2.1, which for my American friends, is one step down from the top! I’m really chuffed, coz I’m very close to a First Class honours, so with just a touch more effort, I could definitely get that!!
So there you… 6 weeks in a nutshell!
Oh Mrs…
I miss you so much…I drove past your house last night – your front light was on, and my heart broke… I was walking the dog on Monday, and almost called in for a cuppa… it’s like there’s an invisible “reality check” at the top of your street though, I can see your house, I turn in to call by, and then I bounce back, when reality sets in, and I realise you’re no longer there…
I saw Nic today… she misses you… she’s doing well though, she looks really well, and David and Charlotte are looking after her nicely for you! Murphy hadn’t forgotten me – he was all over me with his “stories” and kisses – I’m pretty sure he took off all my makeup!! He’s been scrapping again though – he just got 10 staples taken out a few weeks ago! Nightmare pup!
It was really strange being just Nic and I… there’s a chair in that office that just has your name all over it, and really, I missed you so much today… It’s going to get easier, but I’m struggling to deal with it now that I am home.. I think that being away meant I could almost not process the fact that you were gone, and only now, as I go about day to day life, is it really hitting me…
I miss you lots… I want to show you my new ponies, and get your advice on stallions for Trudi – YES – we’re breeding her!! Looking at a wee Connemara, Nic thinks I’m mad! Anyway chick, I miss you.. it’s really tough, but I know that I’ll see you again on the other side… and the thought of seeing you looking all flipping gorgeous again, and that beautiful smile, keeps my chin up… I can’t wait to see you again… Keep singing Mrs… as always!
xxxxx
Game On!
Return to Ireland!
Well, it has most certainly been an interesting return to N.Ireland. I suppose I have been home for just over 2 weeks now, and although I am enjoying being home again, with my dog and my pony, I’m ready to go back to Canada… haha!
When I came home, I was supposed to pick up Teddy…. we then discovered that Teddy was only 3, and therefore, too young to compete, and he has no paper trail proving otherwise… At this stage, I was offered Topper, by the same people – a lovely, 14.2 Welsh Cob, 5 yo, Bay, 3 white socks, white blaze, absolute cutie. I drove him, and loved him, and he’s such a wee cuddler in the stables, a real wee man. I was supposed to pick Topper up this previous Tuesday, after his injections, and move him to the new yard. It was at this stage that his owners decided to hold on to him, and back out of the loan agreement we had. Fair do’s, he’s their pony after all…
This just leaves me in kind of a muddle… I now have two driving ponies, neither of which are competition fit, in either training or fitness, and two unbroken, potential driving ponies, ready and waiting for me… Basically, I have to suck up missing this season, and focus on bringing the youngsters on… It’ll be worth it next year… On the same note, I am looking into my “next horse”… I am intending on breeding Trudi, my bay Connemara X TB to a little Connemara stallion “Song of Freedom”, who is a 13.2 grey guy, who just oozes “look at me” presence… My hope is to produce a lovely moving driving pony, of about 14-14.2 hh, small enough to be driven in ponies, yet big enough for me to hack, and Christine to do ridden affiliated dressage with…
Since being home, I’ve also got my old job back in Clarks, which is fine, and in this economic climate I’m just really lucky to have a job! I don’t think I am going to be getting very many hours to be honest though, so I am also applying to do some bar work in a local hotel, just to boost funds a bit!!
I got my new (to me) car yesterday, so I will have to post pictures soon!!
xx
Words to live by…
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
I need to remember this more often, as when I am learning a new skill, or a new technique, I often get so mad when I can’t pick it up perfectly the very first time…
On Thursday, I had a driving lesson, and spent some time trying to get to grips with driving “Coachman’s Style” – or with both my reins in one hand. It was difficult, yeh, and I have the fine motor skills of a baby chimpanzee, but I’m getting there… I “got it,” however briefly my success lasted.
It’s almost time to go back to Ireland – 5 days now!
On the Road Again…
I’ve packed my bags, and said goodbye to the ponies… this is it, I’m moving again…
For the second time in just under a year, I find all my belongings in a suitcase, my life packed into a rolling vessel… I’ve said goodbye to my house mates, I’ve said goodbye to some of the best friends a girl could ever wish for… Some people I have said goodbye to, probably for good, some I know without a doubt I will see again. I don’t know when I will next get to visit Ontario, but this place has become another home to me, somewhere I feel completely at ease, and I love being.
I have great friends, great housemates, and great horses.
Tomorrow I get on a bus, and head to Boston, another place I call home… Although my love for Boston will never die, it is no longer the only place I want to be, nor does it hold the only people I want to see… I will be spending a week in MA, before jumping on a plane, bound for Ireland, and more importantly, bound for everything I hold dear – my ponies, my pup and my family.
I don’t want to leave Kingston, but man, I’m ready to go home. I’m ready to stay home for a while, set down some roots, and just relax and get reacquainted with the country I grew up in… It feels like I have been away for an age…
I guess I have – I’m certainly not the same young woman who left Ireland in 2007… or even the same one who left in 2008… I’ve changed, I’ve matured, and the experiences I have had, I wouldn’t change one of them for the world….
Goodbye Kingston, Goodbye Queen’s, and Goodbye Canada… You’ve been wonderful, and I’m so glad to call myself a Queen’s Girl… so glad to consider this town a second home, and so grateful for the welcome you’ve given me.
xxx
