Ring ring.

My friends, hope that you never get tinnitus.

That you don't lie awake at night with the ringing in your head.

That you don't feel like you're constantly at a high altitude, popping your ears.

That you don't feel like you're actually going crazy: that the world has stopped moving and all that is happening is the ringing.

The ringing.


Another week of this I'll be armed and dangerous.

Hiya!

I've spent maaaannnyy years of my life facing this odd interaction with people. Apparently, normal folk don't say "Hiya".

It's a simple, friendly greeting that implies informality and playfulness, and just, well, it's fun. And yet, everyone thinks I'm saying "How are ya" in some strange short-form.

The accents do amuse me here. You get your average Edinburger who sounds clear enough to understand, unless they're rushing through their name and business on the phone to where I am working, of course. And then there's the Weegies and the Highlanders with the broad accents who just look at you funny when you ask them to repeat, like it's insane that you might not catch what they are saying.

Oh and the mumbling. If it's not fast or broad, it's mumbled. I get so tired of saying "Sorry?" to folks that I sometimes try to hazard a guess - ill-advised in the corporate sector, unfortunately.

One thing I am getting used to, however, is the UK keyboard, with the " being where the @ is supposed to be and such. I was seriously confused the first time I had to type a quote into an email, staring dumbly at my fingers like they had forgotten my 13 or so years of geekness and completely failed me. It still throws me when I switch to my home laptop, however, and can't type an email address correctly..

Other things I am finding are silly problems like not knowing area codes, not understanding place names, not knowing quite how to follow the road signs and some intersections. I started driving manual again on the weekend, and while the concept of it came back to me quite quickly (which I was very surprised by - 2 days practice and I feel quite confident), the idea that I had to start getting ready to go on the 2nd amber light that they throw in here, made my head a little spinny. And the roundabouts that Dave calls the death traps, where you have to stick to your lane fastidiously or get taken out by a truck, or worse, a Merc.

But the most exciting thing in my week so far has been my first sighting of a fox. The concept of not having foxes, squirrels, badgers and the like completely confuses and bemuses Dave, having grown up chasing them out of his garden, but my first fox jumped over a wall, hid behind a tree, then decided to lift its head and stare right at me. I smacked Dave in the chest in surprise reaction, startled by how big they are and how they seem to slink through the night. Last night's fox decided to spend some time in the Corstorphine suburbs in the low fog that was settled, and I thought it was very nice of him (or her) to linger and take a glance my way. Dave quipped as we started to pull away again, "What are you going to do when you see a badger, then?"

So really, all is well in the land of the Scots. I am speaking a wee bit Scottish and aye, I have started to roll my rrrrrs a little. Work is varied and I'm looking forward to starting a long-term position in August after we go to Seattle and Victoria (!), Dave and I are just great and all I really need now are some friends.

Not advertising just yet, though.

Kat is in Edinburgh. Yes.

Hi there, folks. Here's a (longer than average) vlog to make up for my absence:



♥

Kat

I love you guys.

While trying to sort myself out for a new vlog, I realised that I haven't really taken any video footage of well.. anything. And the idea of another vlog of me sitting around, blathering on about the move just seems boring.

I understand that after all the build-up with the other vlogs, not having anything just seems a bit anti-climatic. But I assure you, something is in the works that will be both interesting and exciting. I live here now.

And I'm getting to know it, too. I went through this strange transition/arrival period where I just felt asleep most of the time, and like it was some strange dream-like holiday sequence in a film. How could I really live here now? I haven't felt like I barely said goodbye to home properly.

But after a few days of being lost in Edinburgh and finding my way around on foot, I'm starting to feel terribly glad to be here. Dave comes home from work and I can see him and kiss him and we can have dinner together. We can go to the movies. We meet friends for drinks. We have a normal existence as a couple, and suddenly all that long-distance seems worthwhile.

I apologise, though, to my friends who are emailing. I will be in touch, and we won't lose what we had. Hopefully. I don't want to be one of those who goes away and the contact dwindles.. until suddenly I'm off the radar, out of conversation, out of mind.

So. Vlog and emails to come. Job applications are flying out the door today.. and my bank information should be with me shortly. How adult.

Well, I am 25 now.

Well.

As you have probably guessed, I've been just a little bit busy settling in here.

And while I really wanted to vlog from an airport or at least film some in-transit moments, I was pretty much rushed from gate to gate, or talking to the lovely people I met along the way.

The trip over was surprisingly easy: pleasant airport staff, pleasant transitions. My bags were not lost (well until Edinburgh where we discovered my smaller suitcase hadn't been loaded at Heathrow), my FedEx boxes weren't delayed nor had they fees upon them, and my reunion with Dave was a surprise to the point where he was left speechless and hugging me, murmuring "..how are you here?"

Proper post/vlog to come on Wednesday, my first day alone in my new town. Now that all of my stuff has arrived.. well, I live in Edinburgh now.

xx

Kat

Farewell

My original intention was to post a final vlog with a big farewell montage and love for everyone, but it just all ran away with me and now I'm almost out of here and I won't be able to do anything before I actually go.

Just know that I love you, New Zealand. You are a fabulous country, despite what anyone says to the contrary (ie. Kiwis sometimes). You're small and far away and backwards in some ways, but I love you and I can't wait to come back to you, preferably with a gorgeous tall Scotsman. Or Dave. (Hee).

But mostly, I love the people in it. There's something special about New Zealanders and the way we see the world; there's something about the way we treat everyone like a friend we've always had and (mostly) have a Can Do attitude. Yeah, I sound like Air New Zealand marketing here but it's true.

And sometimes it just hits me: the enormity of what I am doing. I'm not going to change my mind and decide to stay, but the idea of taking off on this big adventure, mostly on my own, is such a move and somewhat baffling. But wow, what a story I'll have to tell.

Wish me luck, kids. I doubt I'll get a chance to post before I take off outta here. But when I get there? Kat in Edinburgh really begins.

xx

Kat

FedEx, leaving work, and getting close

Filmed when there were 8 days until leaving..



Of course, now there are 3..

♥

Kat