Goodbyes....

Well in the last few days here I've said proper goodbye's to many people. And it's really starting to hit me. I'm going to be leaving this whole life behind. Sue I've just been working in England but I've made friends, confidants, people I've shared my life story with and them the same. I've made real connections with people I work with, hangout with, or literally meet on the street. Sure England couldn't give me the weather i wanted but it's given so much more. The relationships that I've made here will last a very long time, and that's the hard part. To be in someone's life then to leave it within a few days. To all English people whom I've made friends with or literally just chatted to in the shop thank-you all for a wonderful experience and a great year. England i will miss you. Shout out to all Gul Falmouth Staff Guy, James, Carmen, Jon, Rach and my boys here Lee, Ash, Rob, Saf, Ducky, Fraiser and the girls (not in that way) Pops, T, Meg, Lex, Christina, and Sophie and all of the Blue house girls!! Cheers!

I freakin love longboarding....

I have really started to get good at this. Longboarding down the street to work is what wakes me up in the morning. Literally I will prop my head up look the crack between the shades and the window and if I see a nice bright light you know its on! This video is of just half of my journey but I'm going to try again tomorrow to get some better footage of my ride to work!

Just take a look into how many people I annoy in this one, just another day in the life of Andrew haha!

The Scare......

So as some of you may know already I had a scare from back home. My mom started having some pain in her chest and soon realized that she needed to do something about it. Sister called the ambulance, dad and sis waiting whilst mom got lifted onto the gurney. She spent the night in hospital just getting checks done to see if she may have had a heart attack or not. It was slightly inconclusive that night but they are continuing to look into it.

I've learnt two things from this. Don't go away. It has killed me being in England whilst big and major events happen back home. My auntie died, another had a stroke, a good and long friend died, Owen's 2nd birthday (haven't been to one yet: ENGLAND!), birth of Lillian, and finally my mom's scare. I've lived the life over in England but i need to go home. I need to see my family, tackle my dogs, NOT USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT!!

But the most important is to take care of myself. That's not just my body but other people in which are deeply rooted within me. My parents, my sisters, nephew, niece. I have a mission to keep this people in the utmost care. Starting when I get home the exercise regiment will start, the constant vigilance over ones health will start.

So to all of you out there chowing down on the sweets and stuff. YOU CAN but make sure that extra bit gets worked off later!

Living in Prairie Manitoba...

As you all know my home is Winnipeg, Manitoba. And right now I live in what you could call the opposite climate to it. England is nice for those who don't like extreme weather, which in most cases, is everyone! But if you are one for plus 40's to a staggering minus 40's then Winnipeg is where you are home! We can get excruciatingly hot summer that turn into absolutely subzero nights; Season's that change in a day; flash floods; super chills; heat waves; tornado's; anything mother nature has in her arsenal.
This is the July 1oth storm approaching a little town close to Winnipeg. It ended up forming a tornado but I just had to blog about it because it just goes to show the ridiculous weather we can get in Manitoba.

Dream Land...

Have you ever felt that your life, your memories, and all the people, places, and things around are just a figment of your imagination. That all of this just a dream. Travel with me for a second here. What if you are dreaming this; The screen you are reading, the thoughts being conjured in your mind are merely just a dream. Don't put it past the human mind to construct a world in which every one of your senses tells you it is real. We've all had those dreams; Those eerily real dreams in which reality gets slightly distorted and your dream world imprints into your real world. So what if we are trapped in a very ordinary comfortable dream world, sleeping away. So one can think; if we are in a dream world, what happens when we die? In this thought you could presume that we would wake up in the next 'level' up. This could very well be how it all works.

After seeing the movie inception it gave my mind a jolt. I have had these thoughts before but never had I had something so well placed, so well designed to illustrate my thoughts. I'm sure every one of us have had these thoughts and doubts if we truly are in the 'real' world. Inception was a breath taking experience in to the power of the human mind and what it is capable of. The explanation or in fact the manipulation of dreams and thoughts was not groundbreaking but relative and easy to understand. Thoughts and idea's being directly affected by your dreams, and visa versa. Because we all know if we have a stressful day it will play out into a dream we may have.

It's curios to think of what this life really is. Some say religion, others say nothing, but rarely do we hear that this life is not life at all. How scary would it be to finally wake up right now, realizing all of this was a dream. The human mind is wondrous and frightening all at the same time...

Racism....

Tooday i was a victim. Yes me the Canadian was a victim of Racism. I mean in full honesty the man was probably kidding but you could tell it was said with a little too much venom. He pretty much told me I didn't belong in England. Come on we live in a world where every country established country is multicultural. Plus who has ANY beef with a Canadian, maybe Russian because we kick their asses in hockey but seriously is the anything wrong with a Canadian.

Racism has been a big discussion for quite sometime. For example, it is actually racist to believe that the white population of the US is going to become extinct and whites have to fight back? I think so, let nature take its course, skin colour has nothing ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with anything any more. The only people who actually care about the skin colour of a person are those who a under educated, unworldly, and ignorant in all things.

But this leads me to another question. Is it really racist to say such comments as the man above. I thought about this more when i got home and really asked my self if it was actually racist. I don't Canadians are a race but more so the man was ultimately rude, and uninviting.

Being for a country in which multiculturalism is HIGHLY and WIDELY accepted it was hard to take. I'm still not yet rounded on the all the words but I think i better word for it would be that the man was being over nationalistic. Meh, i think the next time someone is about to buy something from me and completely insult the land i call home, they won't be wearing those DuBarry's that day!

I WANT TO BE FAMOUS!

I want to be famous so badly. I was talking to Guy today about his little visit to freakin Buckingham Palace, and being treated like royalty. I really want someone to be holding a door open for me and saying 'welcome Mr.Moffatt' before I've even entered the building. Someone to 'top up' my drink, or to have everything in the world pretty much complimentary. How sweeet would it be to be the queen for instance, pretty sure if she wanted someone to dance on a table for two hours it would happen! The Queen is my example only because of Guy's wickedly famous experience at Buckingham palace. Strolling out the gates with people taking pictures of you after you've only given a presentation to Prince Andrew. And in classic Guy fashion he asked the prince "and how are your daughters?" You dog you haha. Anyway's if someone needs someone who's 6ft tall, about 180 pounds, named Andrew Moffatt from Winnipeg, Manitoba, I WILL BE YOUR MAN!!

AC SLATER GOOOOODNESSS.....

So since moving to England i have been immersed in the DubStep. No average North American will no what this is but holy crap it's my new dance music. The drops in Dub Step, ARE SOOOOO GOOD and SOOOO FILTHY haha. This is a word used with Dubstep because really it does describe it lol. Not so much english but the artist AC SLATER is the bomb. I've really taken a fancy to his style, it can be up beat and kind of housey but then he can then drop it into an 8ft pool of motor oil full of sludge and filth. SOOO good here's a snip bit.........

Anniversary??

Well what to do this summer....Mall of America??? This is Rach's haven, 4 stories of pure American and International Fashion. Cheap clothes and cool layout. Sporting the America's largest mall, it's sure to attract girls from around the world. But the real reason I'm posting this is to figure out what me and Rach should do for our anniversary. We're thinking the whole Mall of America Road trip, but don't know if we want to go spend a week at the cabin. The shop alcoholics dream or a lovely few days on many of Manitoba's beautiful lakes. All i know is that either way I'm going to look at guns while Rach shops and shake my head at the crazyness of Americans, or go fishing at the lake. Either way sounds pretty good!

Gul I Will Miss You....

So the time of working at Gul is soon coming to an end. Its been a long but extremely fun time. Working at Gul has given me really good experience with customer service, but a lot more. Working within a company that's nice and small lets you be more involved in the company than most. For example with the re-fit of Gul I was super involved in adding those details to the shop that would really change it, yeah the floor was done by builders but the walls, ah there's the show piece aha. But it's that involvement within the company that's make it feels like a part of it is mine. I'm probably coming back next summer to spend a couple months over here. Although a good ol' Canadian summer would be nice! So au revoir Gul and here comes the university times!

The Black Keys

So i know i haven't blogged in quite a bit but I've been trying to find something worth writing about. And I've found it.

The Black Keys have been around for about 10 years now, and for what reason i have never heard of them is a complete mystery. A soulful mix of blues and rock the Black Keys hit that uber rung of old school mixed with some new school tweaks. When i first listened to these guys i got that chill that usually get when I've found music that really does hit home with it lyrics and sound personally. I live a very chilled life, and like to live my life day to day by that motto.

This I could say is a very fitting soundtrack to my life.

The Black Keys were first introduced to me by a guy who came into Gul two days ago. We just got to talking about what music we liked at the moment. I said the southerner Lissie and he said the The Black Keys. I thought i was just going to be some little band no-one has heard of but after checking them out when i got home they are absolutely massive! The have a second band set up where they do collaborations with rap artists and that too, sound wicked!

So later on today I'm going to find they're tour schedule and see hats going on. Hopefully they'll either be coming to Winnipeg sometime soon, or somewhere close!

Homecoming Soon!

Ah so Winnipeg is soon up and coming. And I'm starting to get more and more anxious about going home. Starting university, moving countries, and just re-organizing my life. Well on top of that it will be the last month with RACH! Its going to be a little weird and sad that we're going to be going back to the long distant stuff. I really don't like it but it must be done!

Anyways Woop Winnipeg!

Longboard #2

So I've been riding for awhile now. Really gotten used the board I'm on now but i think I want to step it up a little and go with something a little more aggressive. The board I'm riding now is kind of just a cruiser. Really long, lots of flex, and nice spongy wheels. Now don't get me wrong that's what i want to continue with but i think i want something a little shorter for better turning and better equipment on it. I mean the Pin Tail i have now is kind of a generic brand with generic trucks and wheels. I want big wide wheels, taller trucks, and better bearings because I'm pretty sure the ones on my board are already shot. So yeah it's between the Land Yatchz Drop Carve below or the Land Yatchz Pinner above.

Lissie Catching a Tiger

I think i have a knack for finding bands and artists that then become huge. It all started with My Chemical Romance, then Alexisonfire (they were pretty big before i got on them, but soon after listening and liking Alexis they got on national television) and on and on. But this one is new...

I literally found Lissie online on YouTube. She did a cover of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Instantly i became curious because i could hear something different about this girl. After listening to here newest single 'When I'm Alone' i became hooked. I don't know hcow many times i listened to that song that week but it must of been in the 30's.

Lissie brings something to the table that I've been waiting for a long time. Something new, something different but entirely perfect. Her high feminine notes are matched with masculine low notes which gives her a very unique and tuned voice.

On top of that she brings a bluegrass, rock and roll sound to the mix. A very old sound but introduced with a fresh set of lungs that really can belt it out. All in all she is a wonderful artist and has amazing sound, bringing it back to old school.

Lissie's "When I'm Alone" can be found on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/lissiemusic#p/a/u/0/6i7jNwv_3oc

I'm just glad we have a artist in this world that understands something must be done about these cookie cutter pop artists that release a new single every week only because they're sound isn't timeless but is for the moment. All props to Lissie and returning us to good music.

Cheers!

I WANT AN iMAC!!!

So I've been on the hunt for an iMac for quite some time now. I've fallen in love with them and i want one now! My old art teacher usually gets one every year but i dont think he wants to let it go this year! AAHHHH i dont know if i can spill out 1900 for a computer. Thats loads! SOOO MUCH. Some please spare me and sell their used one to me for 1200. PLEASE!!!

Chunky Canadian Trucker

You know what I can't wait to get my iPhone for this very reason. Absolute hilarity. James downloaded an App called 'Fat Booth' and as you can see it works amazing haha. Some would relate me to Shay Carl from You Tube hah. This picture is scary man, definitely going to watch my weight so i don't end up like this one day!

ITS FINALLY FINISHED!!!!

So at exactly 11:17PM tonight we shut the doors on Gul Falmouth knowing tomorrow we would make some dosh! A long and stressful night lead us to the best store in Falmouth, probably the world! The blood, sweat, and tears of the mighty Gul Falmouth staff brought this monster to life. Many weeks of hacking up sticky pallets, numerous splinters, and many achy feet were incurred in the this endeavour.

The shop looks great and we hope the world will think so too. I haven't added any pictures of the actual shop because your meant to get your ass down there and take a look! See 'round!