Skiing at Mont Tremblant

Today, I went skiing on the nothing less than #1 ski resort in Eastern North America, Mont Tremblant! It almost looks like a French or Swiss resort in the Alps but with the Walt Disney touch and the clean and lean American way which make it one of the most expensive resort in Canada too. You also feels like in US because it is full of Americans who can actually afford staying in that posh resorts and some Canadians from Toronto.
This time I choose to ski instead of snowboarding because after paying almost 100$ for ski pass and rentals, I felt like seeing a maximum of the resort... My snowboard skills being so weak and my bum still recovering from last time, it was a safe bet to ski and what a pleasure. Didn't fall once and managed to explore most of the Green slopes in the morning. In the afternoon, my confidence being boosted up, I sticked to the blue slopes and had so much fun. Next time, I'm even thinking of following the guys on the black ones if the snow conditions are good. After, I went for a long 'après ski' pub crawl with the boys while Suzanna was trying out the outdoor hot jacuzzi with her bf. Hmm...Who said Canada sucks?;-)

Boxing day Frenezy

Today, I teamed up with Sylvie to do my well deserved boxing day shopping. In Europe, we used to have the sales starting of on the 1st of January and lasting for a month. Shops are mad house during the first days and the weeks following. Here, imagine the same but concentrated in one day!!! Yes, the boxing day sales last only one day starts at 1pm and finishes at 9pm. Some fanatics start queuing early in the morning to get a chance to get the best bargains. I usually can't stand the crowd so I started later around 2pm to 9pm and avoided the big malls to concentrate on the small shops.
Well, I didn't shop much this year but in a few hours we went through a few selected shops (Urban Outfitters, Jacob, Sports Experts, Guess and Browns) and I think I spent about 400$ of clothes, winter/ski gears and shoes. Basically, the amount of shopping we've done was greatly limited by the fact that the shops closed but also the fact that the human body is only equipped by 2 arms which is really understating our shopping capacities... We finished our day by a nice meal at a turkish restaurant contemplating our bargains and shopping performance of the day! Needless to say, I love Boxing Day!:-)

The friday five

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?
Get admitted on the MBA, leave my job and move to Montreal.
2. What was your biggest disappointment?
Having to leave fantastic friends I made in London and the fun lifestyle behind me.
3. What do you hope the new year brings?
Success, Self-accomplishment and good job opportunities + love would be the cherry on the cake!;-)
4. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? If yes, what will they be?
Hum...Yeah! Stay really serious and focused about the MBA and the career thing in order to achieved my career and life goal. It's a really tough regime but 'only' 9 months to go...
5. What are your plans for New Year's Eve?
I want a great NYE spent with friends and good music. I have several options but yet to choose the best one and make sure I go to 2004 in good company.;-)

Christmas in Montreal

First of all, Happy Christmas to anyone who read these lines!
I had a nice Christmas this year eventhough I was away from the family and friends back in Europe. Sylvie, a german friend took the great initiative to organise a Christmas dinner for a few of us staying in Montreal for Christmas. It was very international. No Canadians at the table but a nice French, Polish, German, Turkish and Belgian combination. Very interesting! Everyone was in charge of a part of the meal and had to bring something specific from its country. As a Belgian, I picked chocolate and was in charge of the Christmas cake as dessert. Since my cooking skills in matters of cake are null, I didn't want to take any chance and bought a cake in the shop, which was delicious. Some took care of the Turkey as main so we had the real thing and the tree and so on.
We even went to the Midnight Mass to make the experience 100% Christmassy. We went to the St-Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, reputed second biggest church in the world after the one in Roma. One of our friends got us VIP tickets. We didn't know what that meant before we had to sit behing the priest in the hart of the basilica...Very amusing situation, I guess these seats are usually reserved for people who are fervents catholics and close to the church staff. Well, we weren't and I guess they noticed because three of us couldn't even get the communion as one was moslim and two were agnostics...;-) All in all, a great Christmas this year!

Rushing day

I was meant to meet my team at 9am on Friday to finish our finance's report but I felt in sleep drunk and in my smelly clothes from Parking with all the light on AGAIN! I woke up at 10.30, jumped in the shower and manage to meet my team at 11am...only 2 hours late! They were nice and I finished my report illico presto because we had an hair appointment downtown with the girls at 3ish so I had to rush. The four of us managed to go to Martin (the best and cutest hairdresser I know of). I love my new haircut! The last step was a dinner planned at Le Plateau at 7pm 'sharp' and we arrived there an hour late which is not bad at all since some people arrived 2 hours late... Shame on them! We dined in a italian restaurant where you can bring your own wine. I like the sounds of that. We had a terrific time, everyone was drunk and happy! Needless to say that I was drunk again and forgot to get ready to go to bed and to switch the light off for the zillions times. I just collapsed on my bed and slept til the morning. Little Tree (my upstairs flatmate) cooked me a delicious continental breakfast (Bless her!), then I went to the gym for a couple of hours and then did nothing for the rest of the day. I loved it!;-)

Classes are over!

I'm so happy that the Christmas break has started and how! Thursday was the last day course, I went dinner to a friend's place then we all went out to Drugstore for drinks then Parking for party.
There was singing contest just finishing when we arrived at Drugstore. It was so funny, two massive girls with long curly hair (the 'feminine' butch!) start fighting. Not a shy girly fight, it was the the 'You smashed me - I smash you' kind of thing. Very entertaining since they wouldn't stop and everytime the security would release the violent one, she would run to assault the other one. Women!
Parking was good, DJ Mini was spinning at the main floor some techno-ish electro beats and it was Hip Hop downstairs. Well, I would rather say it was the jungle downstairs. Mostly a staight crowd with girls in cage dancing like lap or pole dancers. It was fun for a while but we came back upstairs as DJ Mini's set was getting better and harder. We left around 3am. I like Parking but Unity's music and crowd are clearly better.

First time Snowboarding

Wow! Last night, I went snowboarding for the very first time at Bromont's snow resort.
It's only 40 mins from Montreal by car. All the slopes are lightened so we snowboarded till 10pm. The snow was just perfect, It has just started snowing since Sunday night non stop until yesterday so the snow was soft and nice for the hundreds times I felt.
I was meant to ski but then my friends were all snowboarding and one of them was beginner so I decided to give it a try. I'm so happy I did because beside the fact that I kept falling in the beginning, I managed near the middle to surf nicely without falling and really enjoying it. Near the end, I start falling again because my boots became looser and also my leg muscles were getting tired and not so responsive. After almost 4 hours, it was time to stop but I'll give it another go. It's so much fun!
I arrived home at midnight and I did sleep extremelly well, eventhough I had to wake up in the middle of the night to finish reading the cases for the next day morning strategy's class. Why is the reality always kicking when you least want it...:-/
Today, I'm so in pain. Each very part of my body is aching, it is a bit like if I had a car crash yesterday. The best place for me to stay is my bed.:-)

Placebo Concert

I went to see Placebo last night. They were fabulous!!! Placebo is known in Canada but not as much as in Europe so they were playing in a rather small place. We were right in front of the stage, really near the band which was ace. They gave a really good performance and finished the concert by the beautiful 'Where's my mind' song from the movie Fightclub.
After the concert, there was so much snow outside that we had some snowfights. We didn't made a great impression when we entered the nearest bar to have a last drink covered with snow from head to toe. I guess that's only foreigners and the kids that play with the snow in this country.;-)

MBA blog updated

I've updated my other MBA blog, have a look! HEC MBA in Montreal - Fun free zone!

Montreal's Webcam

It's snowing in Montreal!!! Have a look! Downtown - Montréal WebCam Network

London's Webcam

Oh God! I love this link: London Webcam,Trafalgar Square. It's like my little window with view on London. Can't get enough of the double-deckers and the black cabs view. I wish they had one in Soho or at French Kiss but with Dolby surround then with the possibility to chat the girls up!;-P
Mia, one day you should stand in front of the statue of Nelson with Guy and wave so I can see you guys!!!

Horoscope

I found this interesting G&L horoscope, mine says:

Pink Horoscope:: "Gemini girls have a wonderful temperament, a lot of energy and a positive sense of life. They always have a solution to all kinds of problems. They are noble; their anger is never demonstrated. Their best weapon is their smile, and they are very attractive to other girls, but they have some problems obtaining true love. Sometimes when she finds it, she becomes lost in love and loses all rationality. Then she suffers and laments her failure. These girls are intelligent; their imagination is very powerful and they love to invent some histories. They speak until they get tired, but do not listen to other people. They are very anxious and others can see easily their nervousness. They need change; their lovers must give them something different every moment. Avoiding routine is very important in a relationship with a Lesbian Gemini. They hate monotony. They start new activities, like knitting or rugby, with their lovers, but never follow through to see something finished. Sometimes they change their behavior depending on the situation they're in and who they're with. They are hot-blooded and like living passionate love stories in the limelight. If you have relationship with a lesbian Gemini, she'll certainly keep you on your toes."

Wow! This is ALL so true! I agree with each specific statement beside one that says that they don't listen to other. That's not true in my case, I do love listening to people that are meaningful to me such as friends, gf,etc, don't I???