Kissmas Day!!

What a lovely day in Orkney!

Lots of presents, a few bubbles and a walk to watch the Ba - which is a bit mental but fun to watch.

The Ba - a big rugby game, no rules, played in the main street

Must be hot in the middle

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Home

I'm Home, 'nuff said.

Flight Delayed

I am watching the huge tractors and snow blowing machines speed up and down the runway at Edinburgh airport.  In the 30 mins I have been sitting here they have almost cleared the entire part of the runway that I can see.


I would like to hug all of the people out there clearing the runway as I now have a fighting chance of getting back to Kirkwall today.


So far my flight is delayed by about 30 mins.... will keep you all posted.

A lesson from Amina

Amina has been Little Miss Positive for the whole of our time at Babson.  When anyone felt a little low, tired or overwhelmed she was there to pick us up and of course provided chocolate.

The journey continues....

So after my successful negotiating to get myself on a plane yesterday, Heathrow decided to close and mass turmoil ensued.   No flights at all and LOTS of very unhappy travellers, and even more unhappy ground staff. After further negotiation, searching several levels at 2 terminals, a brief encounter with the other Fellows (also searching for bags)  I managed to find my suitcase, but alas no bike. 

So at 6pm I decided to leave Heathrow and head for central London.  My fab hubby dealt with me in various states of stress and exhaustion yesterday and managed to get me a train ticket to Edinburgh on Sunday (today- currently I am on the train), and a flight from Edinburgh to Kirkwall tomorrow, Monday.

Every cloud has a silver lining so I got to spend the evening catching up with Derm and Joanne and their friend Ben.  After they rescued me from Manor House tube station I was whisked back to theirs to eat a fab dinner, have a hot shower, sip champagne, eat chocolate and sleep. PERFECT.

They even took me to the train station this morning and I am now snug in my first class seat, with power for my laptop and free wifi to occupy my time.

I thought of Amina throughout my adventures and managed to stay (relatively) positive.  So I remain hopeful that Virgin, BMI and the Heathrow ground staff will care enough to return my bike to me when they have found it.  I also remain hopeful that the predicted blizzard in Edinburgh will not eventuate and I will be in Kirkwall by lunch time tomorrow!

So close yet so far

Last day at Babson yesterday and it was a sad to say goodbye to all the professors.  Of course we were glad to be heading for the holidays and for a few weeks off the case studies.


Unfortunately, our plane was late taking off from Boston - and then late getting into Heathrow.  I have decided Heathrow is on my least favourite places list.  After running off the plane, getting on a shuttle to another terminal, going thru security - I missed my flight to Glasgow.  Which in itself would have been fine, but of course the ticket desk where I was couldn't put me on another flight.  


So back out of the terminal, onto a shuttle bus to another terminal, thru security and line up at the ticket desk.  I was then told to try and get a train.  After much persuasion, and a few tricks from Prof Marken's class I managed to get myself onto a later flight, with a connection tomorrow to Kirkwall.  Fingers crossed my flight today won't be cancelled like all the other flights seem to be... watch this space.


Everything in moderation is the key - including SNOW!!!!

LAST DAY!!!

BYE BABSON

MacD, MacHazel, Claire Bear, Roomie!

Last Day, Last Fellow. Claire.

Fast Facts


1) Multitasking extraordinaire.  She can watch 1 sport on TV and another sport on her laptop whilst having an intelligent conversation on another topic. (If the conversation is with me, the topic is NOT sport - Rondo maybe, but not sport)
2) She selflessly volunteers to join me in endless tastings in search for the perfect red wine - smooth, velvety, non hang over inducing, and well... cheap.  What can I say - we are students.
3) She has da' moves on da' dance floor.  The handstand type move she pulled last Friday at the party was simply stunning.


hugs to Claire bear

Fellow of the Day - The lovely Fahd

Let me introduce Fahd, today's Fellow of the Day (or night as the case may be)

Fast Facts:
1) Fahd is an awesome cook.  We have all enjoyed his curries over the past 12 weeks - my favourite has been the mutton and spinach curry. 
2) He is the PERFECT chaperone.  He kindly drives us home after a night out even with our singing, giggling and demanding of junk food for the whole journey.
3) The man can dance!  Put on some Bangra and he is out on the dance floor like a flash.


Claire Bear and I will miss you SOOOO much Fahd! The Natick crew is officially disbanded.

Fellow of the day - Toy Boy

This is David.  He wasn't fond of the name Toy Boy so we changed it to TB instead.

Fast Facts -


1) He carries a manbag (the brand is actually man bag).  It is much larger than my handbag and always seems to be full.  None of us have been brave enough to dive in to see what it contains.
2) Techno Nibbles and Jojo convinced him to buy a pair of jeans.  After much shopping, debating and persuasion, he now also owns a hoodie. The transformation to street David is now complete.
3)  He has the most eclectic taste in music on his ipod. If it's a long journey home, make sure he doesn't play the rain soundtrack.  After a few beers it's really not what you want to hear.

Madhu - with a silent H

Fellow of the day! Madhushka, Madman or Madhu [please note the H is silent]

1) He has salsa danced with the Fellows, some of the professors and even a GlobalScot or two!  (But couldn't quite eclipse Sandy Pandy and her Booty Poppin' as the 'official' dance)
2) Looks right at home behind the wheel of the muscle car, as he spins it round corners at top speed. 
3) Is looking forward to see his wife of 3 and half months in just a few short days. Yep that's right, he married Tanya then came to Boston a few weeks later.  Lucky they had their honeymoon first, shame about the hurricane season!  Will they renew their vows in Vegas at Christmas????

Presenting... the amazing Jojo

Let's start the week off with the power house that is Joanne (to me she will always be the amazing Jojo).

Fast Facts

1) Jojo has inspired a squirrel and chipmunk obsession.  I'm not sure why she loves them so, but they do make her smile therefore we all love them as well.  

2) Google is her servant.  The girl can whip up analytics faster than anyone I know and manage to explain the results in normal human terms!

3) She has a WICKED sense of humour .  She can deliver a sharp one liner in that lovely accent of hers that will floor you, while she continues to smile away. I wish my brain moved that fast!

We love you Jojo.

Anirudh's House

We were invited to Anirudh & Bea's House yesterday afternoon on the promise of seeing the little twins.  Mission accomplished!

It was pointed out - there is a lack of food on this blog, but I think that is because I get so excited about the food I just eat it before I remember to take the pics.  This behaviour was repeated at Anirudh's house so yet again, no pics of the wonderful table spread that was put on, and especially none of the Kulfi - that was gone in a second!!

Party

As it is the weekend, there is no fellow of the day :(.  But here are some pics of the past few days....


Party at the house of wedlock (Fri Night)

Don't worry Daddy - the drinks are for everyone not just me!

Techno Nibbles - Fellow of the Day

An early posting for Fellow of the day.  We (actually the house of wedlock) is hosting a little party for professors, sponsors and friends - drinking is expected so best I blog before the whisky.


Fellow of the Day - Amina otherwise known as Techno Nibbles

Fast Facts


1) She is a sweetie pusher.  It starts off so innocently, have a biscuit, have a cookie, have a pink starburst then escalates into piles of biscuits, cookies and pink starbursts.  Her smile and 'but I got this for you' makes the toughest dieter crumble. (Hence the name Nibbles)
2) Amina is an expert negotiator. She turned her extra compact car into a Grand Jeep Cherokee at the hire car company.  The hire car staff didn't stand a chance against the charm, wit and focussed determination.
3) Designated driver - she will drive anywhere, at anytime, and feels that the rules are for guidance only.  She rocks. :)

Steve, Stevedore, Spiller

Here is Steve - my Fellow of the day.

Fast Facts

1) Steve is going to be a daddy!!

2) He is the messiest eater in the world - either that or he likes to start food fights.  Be careful to avoid sitting with him when he is eating soup, ice cream or coffee

3) He drinks lite beer (but we all still like him)

DaddyO is Fellow of the Day

So another day, another Fellow - and the obligatory pic of me and my dead animal which will be my dinner.


So DaddyO (otherwise known as Mark) is... well... the daddy.

Fast facts about DaddyO
1) He is the actual Daddy of Robbie, Charlotte and Olivia, so that must be the most rockin' occupation in the world.  Sal is his super fab wife (whom we all hope to meet soon in person rather than on skype) is even more rockin' for  managing the Simmers clan and menagerie - Boston, Leddy (hope I spelt that correctly) and the new puppy (name forgotten). Hands in the air for Sal!!
2) He (Mark) enjoys Lobster almost as much as I do (pictorial evidence above)
3) Even through he made me cycle up a hill to find him in a random part of Boston, he is a great cycle buddy and can navigate the traffic lights and low bridges like a pro.


So a pic for my mum and dad - me and the lobster I ate (and yes it is a bad hair day)

Fellow of the Day

My time at Babson is coming to a close. I will be saying bye to most of my Fellows next week and the fun we've had here in Boston as we head off to our externships in January.  So I decided to have a Fellow of the Day starting today.  9 school days, 9 Fellows..


The first Fellow is Sandrine or as I like to call her Sandy Pandy (which might not be Sandrine's favourite name)

Fast Facts about Sandy Pandy -
1) She has made 'Booty Popping' the official dance of the Fellows
2) Her birthday is the same as mine - woop woop birthday buddy
3) She is resistant to techno nibbles sweetie pushing

Helen

This post has nothing to do with me, it's all about my friend Helen!  She is traveling the states at the moment and her adventures can be followed at:

http://helenj.me/

And best news is that Helen is coming to visit me in Raleigh NC. Woo Hoo!

Jean and Bob

Jean is fab.  She looks after us all week at school and she invited us round to her  (amazing) home for a friday night home cooked meal.  Her equally fab hubby Bob welcomed us into the house and as the night proceeded, we ate and drank everything!!!  


Jean's home made Blueberry pie was apparently amazing - but as I find blueberries slightly evil I can't comment on the taste.  It does look super!

Pie

Bob & the girls

Jean & the boys

The videos of the evening's dancing can be purchased from me - equally I can be paid off to misplace them. 

Lunch, bowling, shopping and SNOW!

Am shaking off this horrid cold that MacD gave me, and we set off into Boston.  We lunched on Newbury Street then headed for a game of bowling. MacD won (obviously), I got a strike and Fahd had a great time sliding down the alley.

Kings Bowling Boston

After bowling we hit Filene's Basement for a spot of shopping.  There was so much stuff in there it was hard to move around.  I purchased a hat with the gift voucher from the Fellows, and Fahd got some cosy jumpers & a hat.

Luckily we did shop for the winter woollies as tiny snow flakes started to fall as we headed home for a power nap prior to Toad tonight. We even heard Wham Last Christmas on the radio.  Such a kissmassy day! It's almost like being back in Scotland!

College Football

So catching up on my blogs...


Last Saturday it was freezing.  I was driving and I followed the sat nav and sadly it took us on a rather indirect route.  Once I finally found the football ground I then found out there was no parking.  A little more stress and a ride on a school bus from one campus to the football ground I made it! About an hour after kick off but the game is so long it doesn't matter.

The best bit about football - half time entertainment

Football is not my game - 
1) It's outside and in November in Boston that is not so great
2) The seats are very uncomfortable, they are cold metal benches.  The seasoned football goers had cushions and padded seats to make it more comfy.  No one told me in advance 
3) It goes on forever, the game that keeps stopping, the ball doesn't go anywhere and I have no idea what is going on.  I think I like rugby better.


But the cheerleaders being thrown in the air was entertaining as was the Boston College students throwing each other in the air - I think there must be a health and safety rule about that though.

Thanksgiving break - and my BIRTHDAY!!

We survived our MCFE presentations last week and celebrated with a bit of late night dancing.  Big thanks to Fahd who very kindly drove MacD and myself home after the night of dancing - sorry for demanding MacDonalds the whole way home :)


Our leadership journey on Mon & Tues, led by the amazing Karen Ayas, started this Thanksgiving break well.  We reflected on our lives, our strengths and our mission crippling habits.  The day was topped off with a home made cake (pic to follow) from the house of lockdown ladies for Sandrine & myself (we are birthday buddies!).  Thanks for the presents!! The wine went down a treat last night.


We also wrote a to do list for the next 7 days, mine is rather long and includes cleaning my room.  I have never been sure how the clothes just end up scattered everywhere and why my keys constantly hide from me.


So to today - what a great start to being 25 (again).  Pancakes, bacon and maple syrup made by MacD plus presents and cards - wow.  We are heading off to social security office, which although not the highlight of the day must be done.


Also got a fab basket from my sis & Khiem, ma and pa, Harry and Chloe - thanks guys I have almost eaten everything but not cracked open the champers yet!

Celtics on court action - yes basketball again

Thanks to Prof Marken who arranged for us to get our pic courtside at last nights Celtics game.


Celtics 114 - 83 Wizards


Rondo is still the man!

Babson Beaver

Me, Babson Beaver and Jojo - what a happy trio

NY in pics

breakfast

Sandrine and Love!

Me & Love

Jojo Times Square

Me in Times Square

Largest margarita ever - yum

finished the day the way I started - with a little bit of pig!