my un-thanksgiving

I had a great weekend despite the fact that instead of having a three day thanksgiving weekend like I would have in Canada, I actually only had a one day weekend because I worked all day on Saturday. The Museum was hosting a thank you day with guest speakers and lectures for the supporters and friends of the Museum, and so all the staff have to work that one Saturday a year so that the supporters can meet the people who run the museum. It was actually a really fun day because I spent it with my co-workers but in a not-so formal atmosphere, and also nice because I got to work with a lot of museum staff who work in completely opposite parts of the building from me, who I rarely run into in the offices.

A few people from the staff went out afterwards including Liz and Hannah from the education department. My night didn’t exactly go as planned and it ended up being a bit of a mish-mash of events, but it was fun all the same. We had big plans to go to a pub called “the Coronation Tap” which is apparently the best place to get cider in Bristol, but we got there an hour earlier than it opened (I guess we were just a bit too eager) and ended up getting some food at another pub called The Mall until 7:00 when the Coronation opened. Note – contrary to what one might think, “Mall” as in the pub or a shopping centre is not pronounced the way we pronounce it in Canada. Here they say “Mahlle” with the “a” sound like the “ah” in “apple”.

Once the pub opened we headed over and I was given my inaugural half pint of exhibition cider…sold in a half pint because it is too strong to be served in a full pint – but quite deceiving because it actually tastes quite sweet – so that you think you aren’t having anything less innocent than fizzy apple juice. It was ok to try, but I actually prefer the ciders that are a little more bitter and less bubbly – there is a flat cider called Ashleigh Press which has quickly become my favourite.

I didn’t stay at the Coronation long because Hannah was leaving early and I wanted someone to walk home with in the dark, since it was on the other side of town and I was clueless to what route to take to avoid walking all the way into town and then back to my house… but on the way home we stopped at yet another pub called The Hare on the Hill and randomly met some other people from work who were not at the first place we went. Hannah and I had stuffed our bags with leftover cake and cookies from Friends day, so we snacked on those and chatted with friends there.

Finally we left the pub and bum boarded down the hill back down to the main road. Bum boarded means sitting on Hannah’s skateboard and rolling down the hill… (don’t worry there are no cars on the route we were on). And just as we thought our night was over we walked past the Here Shop only to find that it was still open for an exhibition that was being put on in their gallery… The exhibition, called 24 Frames, was being put on in celebration of their 2 year anniversary and featured 24 small photo frames that displayed all kind of art from knitting to collage, all made by Here shop customers and friends. The idea is that each piece of art can be bought for £20, and as soon as someone buys it another goes up in its place… so they literally have hundreds of little frames designed by artists and the exhibition is constantly changing and featuring new art… All the proceeds go to the shop and its galleries.

Hannah made a frame of her own for the exhibit while I browsed the shop. It was a fun way to end the night.

Not much else is going on here… It totally slipped my mind that it was thanksgiving until it was too late to plan anything very festive, though I did make my first phone call home to Canada while the family was all at the cottage making dinner.

I’ve really been enjoying the new Metric album, which I downloaded and have been listening to because it’s not yet available in the U.K. … Its nice to hear some new Canadian music, and I’m a bit intrigued by the fact that they are going to be touring France at the end of November/early December. I’ve talked to my housemates about doing a trip to see them but I don’t know how feasible it would be – depending on affordability we are thinking of planning a trip to the Eden Project, which is only a few hours away if the Metric concert trip won’t work out – so either way, I’ve got a weekend trip to look forward later on.

This should be a good week at the Museum… I’m taking Wednesday off with my lieu day from Saturday to get some errands done and have a bit of a break. It’s impossible to get anything done here because nothing is open after work and everything is chaotic on Saturdays when everyone goes to the shops at the same time – so it will be nice to have a free business day to get things done.

That’s all for now

Happy thanksgiving!
- Chris